Authors' objectives: The dietary guidelines focus on the prevention of chronic diseases in the general population. These guidelines describe the nutrients, foods and dietary patterns needed to achieve health gain in the Netherlands. The description of the evidence is based on the international scientific literature. Yet, dietary guidelines are country-specific, so this advisory report is focused on the Dutch situation. Differences between Western countries mainly reflect differences in dietary patterns. The extent to which the average consumption of a nutrient or food (or food group) deviates from the optimal level of consumption determines the health gain that can be achieved by changes in intake. For instance, information about the optimal consumption of fruit and vegetables is less important in countries where people already eat sufficient amounts of fruit and vegetables. Dietary guidelines may also differ from one country to another due to differences in the prevalence of chronic diseases and the associated risk factors. For example, due to the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, the Dietary guidelines for the Americans place substantial emphasis on the prevention of obesity and on the health gain that obese individuals can achieve by dieting.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2015

URL for published report: http://www.gezondheidsraad.nl/sites/default/files/a1503e_methodology_for_the_evaluation_of_the_evidence_for_the_dutch_dietary_guidelines_2015_0.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Netherlands

Organisation Name: Health Council of the Netherlands Gezondheidsraad

Contact Address: Postbus 16052, 2500 BB Den Haag, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 70 340 7520;Fax: +31 70 340 7523

Contact Name: info@gr.nl

Contact Email: info@gr.nl

Copyright: Health Council of the Netherlands