(From DCist Contributor Angela Gaw)

First came the introduction of the food pyramid in 1992, which whimsically suggested the recommended number of servings of grains, vegetables, dairy, meat, and fat in a polygonic form. When the public chose to ignore these recommendations and continue to eat ice cream straight out of the tub, the government issued a new set of dietary guidelines, which pushed for the addition of more fruits and vegetables, more low-fat milk, and more whole grains into the American diet. Based on those new guidelines, the USDA has the old pyramid and released a brand new plan set to take the nation by storm. So what could be better than one colorful food pyramid? Apparently, twelve pyramids.

The federal government unveiled 12 different “triangle-shaped guides” today, each geared towards different body types, nutritional needs, and lifestyles. This change is one of the many recommendations from the “Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005,” a booklet created by a panel of scientists and doctors released in January. This fast turnaround time, especially when the federal government is generally bogged down by beauracracy, reflects an urgent need to combat the as-yet uncontrolled and unabating obesity problem in America. “If we don’t change these trends, our children may be the first generation that cannot look foward to a longer lifespan than their parents,” said Eric Bost, the Agriculture Department’s undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services.