Comparative Analysis of Chinese and American Dietary Guidelines

Abstract

Dietary guidelines are authoritative reference documents developed based on the national health status, nutritional science research, and dietary cultures of various countries, playing a pivotal role in guiding residents toward balanced diets, preventing chronic diseases, and enhancing public health literacy. This paper conducts a comprehensive comparison between the *China Dietary Guidelines for the Population (2022) * and the *Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2025-2030) * across five dimensions: development background, core principles, specific recommendations, practical implementation, and adaptation for special populations. The comparison reveals significant differences between the two guidelines in terms of dietary patterns, quantitative standards, behavioral guidance, and implementation approaches: the Chinese guidelines emphasize cultural adaptability, comprehensive coverage of special populations, and clarity of quantitative indicators; whereas the U.S. guidelines focus on systematic interventions in food environments and personalized self-management. These differences are closely related to factors such as dietary cultural traditions, the spectrum of national health conditions, the food industry system, and policy orientations. Drawing on international evidence-based practices and considering China's dietary culture and health challenges, this study aims to refine localized guidelines and provide scientific foundations and policy references for healthy nutrition practices in China.