TABLE 1.
Criteria of 20 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Adherence Index (DGAI) components for individuals with an 1800-kcal/d caloric requirement to maintain body weight1
| Criteria for diet with an 1800-kcal/d EER3 |
||
| DGAI components2 | 0 point | 1.0 point |
| DGAI score4 | ||
| Food Group score5 | ||
| Dark green vegetables (cups/wk) | 0 | ≥3.0 |
| Orange vegetables (cups/wk) | 0 | ≥2.0 |
| Legumes (cups/wk) | 0 | ≥3.0 |
| Other vegetables (cups/wk) | 0 | ≥6.5 |
| Starchy vegetables (cups/wk)6 | 0 | 2.5 |
| Fruit (cups/d) | 0 | ≥6.5 |
| Variety (no. of components)7 | 0 | 6 |
| Meat and beans (oz/d) 6 | 0 | 4.5 |
| Dairy products (cups/d)6 | 0 | 2.5 |
| All grains (oz/d)6 | 0 | 5.5 |
| Added sugar (% of energy) | ≥7.5% | ≤5.0% |
| Healthy Choice score8 | ||
| Whole grains (% of grains) | 0% | ≥50% |
| Fiber intake (g/1000 kcal/d) | 0 | ≥14 |
| Total fat (% of energy) | ≤10%, ≥45% | ≥20%, ≤35% |
| Saturated fat (% of energy) | ≥15% | ≤10% |
| trans Fat (% of energy) | ≥1.5% | ≤1% |
| Cholesterol intake (mg/d) | ≥450 | ≤300 |
| Low-fat products (%)9 | 0% | ≥75% |
| Sodium intake (mg/d) | ≥3450 | ≤2300 |
| Alcohol consumption (drinks/d) | ≥1.5 | ≤1.0 |
The DGAI was calculated as the sum of 20 components with a possible score of 0 to 20; EER, estimated energy requirement per day calculated on the basis of formula provided from National Research Council (28).
1 cup = 237 mL (US), 0.946 cup in a metric unit; 1 kcal = 4.184 kJ; 1 oz = 28.35 g; 1 drink = 355 mL regular beer, 118 mL wine, or 45 mL distilled spirits.
Criteria of the food group components were determined on the basis of EER; the DGA determines 10 different criteria for 10 daily EER levels of 1400–3200 kcal incremented by 200 kcal (5.86–13.39 MJ by 0.84 MJ). The criteria based on intermediate EER were proportionately determined between the 2 criteria based on the EERs provided by the DGA; for example, the criteria for individuals with an EER of 1900 kcal were set middle values of the criteria for EER of 1800 and 2000 kcal. The criteria for individuals with an EER <1400 or >3200 kcal were set equal to criteria for individuals with daily EERs of 1400 and 3200 kcal, respectively. Intermediate intakes between criteria for 0 and 1.0 points were scored proportionately between 0 and 1.0.
Total score of the 20 components.
Total score of the 11 components below.
Overconsumption more than recommendation was penalized. Consumption ≥1.25 times recommendations was scored as 0.5. Intermediate consumption was scored proportionally between 0.5 and 1.0.
Variety is determined as the sum of scores of 6 fruit and vegetable components.
Total score of the 9 components below.
Adherence to recommendations of lean-fat meat and low-fat dairy product choice was the sum of adherences, calculated separately. For each adherence to recommendations of low-fat dairy product choices (%) and lean fat (%) meat product choices: ≥75% assigns 0.5 point to an individual, 0% assigns 0 points to an individual; intermediate %, proportionate score between 0 and 0.5. Sum of the 2 scores had a possible range from 0 to 1 and is considered the component score (14).