The public should be informed that the real American Heart Association eating plan gives recommended servings per day of various food categories, not of specific foods. The real American Heart Association eating plan recommends that healthy Americans get no more than 30 percent of their total calories each day from fat, and also recommends eating five or more servings of fruit and vegetables each and every day. Any diet that gives specific menus or suggests that the diet be followed for a set period of time is not from the American Heart Association. The real American Heart Association diet has been carefully researched and is intended for a lifetime of use. Most important, the real American Heart Association eating plan accommodates the needs of people with diverse food preferences.
Fad diets are flawed in other important ways.
Lack of physical activity is also a major risk factor for heart disease. Appetite suppressant medications should be used only for carefully selected patients who are at medical risk because of their obesity. Primary pulmonary hypertension affects the blood vessels in the lungs and results in death within four years in 45 percent of its victims. There is no way to determine who is at risk of developing this problem. Overweight people are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even in the absence of other cardiovascular disease risk factors.