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American Morning

New Food Guidelines Released

Aired October 07, 2002 - 08:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I want to get to our "House Call" this morning, and this morning on feeling fit. We are going to tell you what is wrong and what is right about the government's food guidelines.
But first, the latest information, too, on SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and some disturbing news about who is not getting the message on the best way to help prevent it.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta back with us at the CNN Center -- good morning to you, Sanjay. Let's start with that, on SIDS. What are we learning?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. Yes. Well, I will tell you first of all it is the leading cause of death among infants one month to one year old. That is an important thing to keep in mind.

Leading cause of this, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or crib death, also it's called, leading to about 5,000 deaths per year. People really don't know what causes it for sure, and for a long time, the conventional wisdom is we are not exactly sure why this is occurring. However, there has been a great deal of research now, and now more evidence that, in fact, the way that the baby sleeps in the crib, actually sleeping on his or her stomach greatly contributes to that, leading to about a third of all SIDS deaths.

What is sort of remarkable is that the number of SIDS deaths overall in the United States is actually two to three times higher among African-American communities, almost three times higher among Native American communities, and one fifth of all SIDS deaths actually occur in day care settings, especially in day care settings where older, retired women -- who haven't received the message about how to prevent SIDS deaths, they are actually occurring there.

So, some new evidence, in fact, that SIDS deaths most likely linked directly to sleeping on a baby's stomach, as opposed to sleeping on their back -- Bill.

HEMMER: And when we look at that, what advice do you give the parents? Is it greater vigilance, is it the placement of the baby in the crib?

GUPTA: Some important tips here, and we can just put those up right away. You can look. Baby sleeping on their backs, there is one point that I can get across here. This is really crucial. People worry about aspiration or choking, that just isn't true. That just doesn't happen with babies sleeping on their backs. Put them on their backs. Firm mattresses. You don't want them to sink in and possibly block the airway, nose, or mouth.

Remove all fluffy and loose bedding -- Bill, this is an increasing problem in the colder months, I think in part because of some respiratory infection, but also in part because a lot of loose bedding finds its way into the crib. Rather, put the baby in a sleeper, as opposed to putting a lot of bedding around the baby, and keep the face and head uncovered at all times during sleep, tuck in the blanket so it can't get above the chest. Those are some tips, Bill.

I will say, again, that no one knows exactly for sure what causes SIDS, and this isn't always the cause, but this certainly can help.

HEMMER: Let's talk about feeling fit. Let's talk about the diet and the conflicting guidelines that sometimes we hear and sometimes we don't. What is the deal today?

GUPTA: I tell you, it's very hard to defend. There is no question. The guidelines come out every five years, but despite that, the nation is just getting increasingly obese, 61 percent. You and I have talked about this. Sixty-one percent of adults now considered overweight in this nation.

The guidelines, if anything, instead of getting more specific, have become even more general. Let's take a look at a few of them. The older guidelines was with regards to exercise, actually 30 minutes a day for adults and 60 minutes for kids. What they did this, after five years, the only thing they changed was say it is an hour a day now for both adults and kids.

Let's look at the dietary guidelines, even more confusing. If you look those, if you look at specifically the carbohydrates, you say at least 45 to 65 percent of calories must come from carbohydrates. Previously, it was 50 percent. It actually was more specific before. Twenty to 35 percent from fat, previously 30 percent. More specific before. And 10 to 35 percent from protein. If anything, the guidelines are becoming increasingly general. The country needs some specific guidelines, and needs to take a hard look at some of the diets, the high protein diets, low-fat diets, see what is possible. The food pyramid, really, just isn't compatible with a lot of people's diets nowadays.

HEMMER: Now we have to go figure those percentages and how they add up.

GUPTA: That is right. Exactly.

HEMMER: Thank you Sanjay. Dr. Sanjay Gupta in our "House Call" today.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired October 7, 2002 - 08:45   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I want to get to our "House Call" this morning, and this morning on feeling fit. We are going to tell you what is wrong and what is right about the government's food guidelines.
But first, the latest information, too, on SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and some disturbing news about who is not getting the message on the best way to help prevent it.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta back with us at the CNN Center -- good morning to you, Sanjay. Let's start with that, on SIDS. What are we learning?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. Yes. Well, I will tell you first of all it is the leading cause of death among infants one month to one year old. That is an important thing to keep in mind.

Leading cause of this, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or crib death, also it's called, leading to about 5,000 deaths per year. People really don't know what causes it for sure, and for a long time, the conventional wisdom is we are not exactly sure why this is occurring. However, there has been a great deal of research now, and now more evidence that, in fact, the way that the baby sleeps in the crib, actually sleeping on his or her stomach greatly contributes to that, leading to about a third of all SIDS deaths.

What is sort of remarkable is that the number of SIDS deaths overall in the United States is actually two to three times higher among African-American communities, almost three times higher among Native American communities, and one fifth of all SIDS deaths actually occur in day care settings, especially in day care settings where older, retired women -- who haven't received the message about how to prevent SIDS deaths, they are actually occurring there.

So, some new evidence, in fact, that SIDS deaths most likely linked directly to sleeping on a baby's stomach, as opposed to sleeping on their back -- Bill.

HEMMER: And when we look at that, what advice do you give the parents? Is it greater vigilance, is it the placement of the baby in the crib?

GUPTA: Some important tips here, and we can just put those up right away. You can look. Baby sleeping on their backs, there is one point that I can get across here. This is really crucial. People worry about aspiration or choking, that just isn't true. That just doesn't happen with babies sleeping on their backs. Put them on their backs. Firm mattresses. You don't want them to sink in and possibly block the airway, nose, or mouth.

Remove all fluffy and loose bedding -- Bill, this is an increasing problem in the colder months, I think in part because of some respiratory infection, but also in part because a lot of loose bedding finds its way into the crib. Rather, put the baby in a sleeper, as opposed to putting a lot of bedding around the baby, and keep the face and head uncovered at all times during sleep, tuck in the blanket so it can't get above the chest. Those are some tips, Bill.

I will say, again, that no one knows exactly for sure what causes SIDS, and this isn't always the cause, but this certainly can help.

HEMMER: Let's talk about feeling fit. Let's talk about the diet and the conflicting guidelines that sometimes we hear and sometimes we don't. What is the deal today?

GUPTA: I tell you, it's very hard to defend. There is no question. The guidelines come out every five years, but despite that, the nation is just getting increasingly obese, 61 percent. You and I have talked about this. Sixty-one percent of adults now considered overweight in this nation.

The guidelines, if anything, instead of getting more specific, have become even more general. Let's take a look at a few of them. The older guidelines was with regards to exercise, actually 30 minutes a day for adults and 60 minutes for kids. What they did this, after five years, the only thing they changed was say it is an hour a day now for both adults and kids.

Let's look at the dietary guidelines, even more confusing. If you look those, if you look at specifically the carbohydrates, you say at least 45 to 65 percent of calories must come from carbohydrates. Previously, it was 50 percent. It actually was more specific before. Twenty to 35 percent from fat, previously 30 percent. More specific before. And 10 to 35 percent from protein. If anything, the guidelines are becoming increasingly general. The country needs some specific guidelines, and needs to take a hard look at some of the diets, the high protein diets, low-fat diets, see what is possible. The food pyramid, really, just isn't compatible with a lot of people's diets nowadays.

HEMMER: Now we have to go figure those percentages and how they add up.

GUPTA: That is right. Exactly.

HEMMER: Thank you Sanjay. Dr. Sanjay Gupta in our "House Call" today.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com