The 1990 National Nutrition Objectives: lessons for the future

The 1990 objectives are a first attempt to establish quantified goals in public health nutrition. Lessons from this experience can benefit future efforts. Apparent problems related, for example, to data, methodology, feasibility, and clarity have hindered the implementation and monitoring of progress on several goals. A major step toward improvement is the development of standard criteria for evaluating proposed objectives. Dietitians and nutritionists have a special interest and responsibility in developing the National Nutrition Objectives for the Year 2000. They also have special opportunities for integrating current and future nutrition objectives into programs at the state and local levels.