The US Department of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the US Department of Agriculture, has released the latest update of its Dietary Guidelines (www.health.gov). The emphasis this time is on weight loss through calorie restriction and exercise. A low-fat intake is recommended; a low-carbohydrate diet is not. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are encouraged. A review of Diet, Drugs and Surgery for Weight Loss appeared in the December 2003 issue of Treatment Guidelines from The Medical Letter.

Two new substitutes for fat will soon be available in supermarkets in the USA, not directly, but incorporated into low-fat foods. Simplesse (NutraSweet) has already been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is commercially available in some areas, but only in an ice-cream-like product called Simple Pleasures. Trailblazer (Kraft General Foods) is expected to be approved soon.