Did the Food Pyramid Make America Fat?

Fork U with Dr. Terry Simpson · Jun 19, 2026 · 13m

If you read some low-carb sites, or Gary Taub's books, you will find the contention that the food pyramid - the last one being in 2011 - put America into a low fat, high carb diet responsible for today's obesity. That the government food pyramid misled a generation of people, and because we faithfully follow it, we became fat.

The problem is, that isn't the case, but I want to go back in time and see why we have those government issued guidelines, and see where we are today.

Dietary Recommendations

The first major food guide appeared in 1943. It wasn't even a pyramid. It was called the Basic…