Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
November 1, 2005, Vol. 05-133

HHS Unveils A Healthier You, A New Consumer-Oriented Book on Healthy Living, Based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will enter the nation's bookstores, libraries and Web sites in time for the holidays with a consumer-friendly interpretation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the benchmark federal recommendations for healthy living, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced today.

A Healthier You: Based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans gives consumers simple steps for healthy living, drawn from the science-based nutrition and physical activity advice of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, the latest update of the report.

"A Healthier You is about healthy lifestyles and common sense ideas to help us improve our health one step at a time. It's important information to share with the people you share about," Secretary Leavitt said.

To make the advice easier to find, the new book will be offered in places where people usually look for diet and exercise books, including retail bookstores. However, the federal government does not profit from the sale of the book -- under law, it can only cover its costs. Publication is a collaboration of HHS and the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), and A Healthier You also will be available directly from GPO. The book also will be available on the Web at www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines and in bookstores in November.

A Healthier You offers healthy doses of understanding and encouragement along with its practical advice and easy recipes. It was written based on research into what consumers have said they want to know.

The tools include healthy eating plans with nearly 100 recipes, ideas on how to use food labels, fun tips on physical activity, helpful Web sites, practical advice to help people get through the day, and reproducible worksheets to help them track their progress.

For those who want to dig deeper into the science, A Healthier You includes the complete Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the consumer book's scientific foundation. The Dietary Guidelines is based on research reviewed by many of America's leading scientific specialists in nutrition and physical activity. A Healthier You is the latest addition to a family of products that the department is developing based on the Dietary Guidelines. Other products coming in November include a health professional toolkit and a brochure targeted to older adults. Other population-specific materials are to follow.

"It's great to develop healthy habits, and it's never too late to start," Secretary Leavitt said. "We know even small steps can make a big difference and lead to a more rewarding life."

Secretary Leavitt announced the new publication at a Washington, D.C., luncheon for the Third Annual Innovation in Prevention Awards, part of the National Prevention Summit, which highlights health promotion and prevention of chronic disease. The awards were created as part of President Bush's HealthierUS initiative and HHS' continuing focus on preventing chronic disease and improving Americans' lives. The awards highlight businesses and organizations that are leading efforts to promote healthier lifestyles
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The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.