Media Coverage and Awareness of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate

Abstract

Purpose. To examine the extent and content of coverage of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and MyPlate in selected mass media outlets and to determine the prevalence of awareness of this recent guidance among adults. Design. Qualitative content analysis of media coverage, from January 2011 to October 2011, and a cross-sectional survey of the 2010 DGA and MyPlate. Setting. Large metropolitan area. Participants. Four major newspapers (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Daily News, and New York Post), three network television channels (ABC, CBS, and NBC), and six print magazines (Cooking Light, Ebony, Essence, Jet, O! The Oprah Magazine, and Shape). Adults aged ≥ 50 years (n = 200), college students (n = 219), and African-American women (n = 167); response rates > 70%. Methods. Number and content of news stories and self-administered survey of prevalence of awareness of DGA and MyPlate. Results. Twelve newspaper, 14 television, and two magazine stories covered the 2010 DGA and MyPlate. The DGA coverage emphasized population-group–specific sodium recommendations, and MyPlate coverage emphasized the plate icon. Awareness of the DGA and MyPlate varied from approximately 6% in college students to 22% among ≥ 50-year-olds. Conclusion. The newspapers and television (but not magazines) covered both the 2010 DGA and MyPlate; the content was accurate but brief. However, the awareness of this guidance in study samples was low.