Special Report: Key Updates From the 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines

In a Special Report, presented by Contemporary Pediatrics, HCP Live, The Educated Patient and Patient Care Online, Colleen Sloan, PA-C, RDN, was joined by Catherine McManus, Ph.D., RDN, LD, and Viet Le, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, FACC, to discuss key updates in the 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines and their implications for clinicians, patients and public health policy.

McManus highlighted a stronger emphasis on whole, nutrient-dense foods and a clearer discouragement of highly processed foods. While these principles were present in earlier guidelines, she noted that the updated document places greater urgency on shifting dietary patterns at a population level. She also emphasized the inclusion of gut health and the microbiome — an area newly acknowledged in the guidelines — as a growing body of evidence links microbiome health to metabolic, immune and overall health outcomes.

Le framed the guidelines within their broader purpose, noting that they are designed to shape food environments and policy — not just individual patient behavior. He emphasized that recommendations such as limiting added sugars and prioritizing water and unsweetened beverages send clear signals to industry and policy makers about food availability and regulation. He also underscored the challenge of creating guidance that applies broadly while acknowledging individual variability, particularly given differences in metabolism and gut microbiota.

The panel also discussed a major structural shift in how the guidelines are presented. McManus noted that the current version is shorter, more accessible and written with consumers in mind — a departure from prior editions that were largely designed for clinicians, researchers and policy makers. She shared that patients have responded positively to the streamlined format, using it as a springboard for conversations with their primary care providers.

While the simplified approach may leave clinicians wanting more nuance, Le suggested that pairing consumer-facing guidance with more detailed professional resources could strike the right balance. Sloan echoed this perspective, noting the ongoing challenge of translating evidence-based nutrition guidance into practical tools for both clinicians and the public amid widespread nutrition misinformation.

Our experts:
Colleen Sloan, PA-C, RDN, pediatric physician assistant and registered dietitian; host of The Exam Room Nutrition Podcast.

Catherine McManus, Ph.D., RDN, LD, assistant professor of nutrition at Case Western Reserve University; Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Reproductive Biology and OB/GYN.

Viet Le, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, FACC, preventive cardiology physician assistant and associate professor of research, Intermountain Health; CardioSmart editor, American College of Cardiology.