A Brief History and Future of the Traffic Light Diet

The Traffic Light Diet is a commonly used component of many behavioral treatment programs for pediatric obesity. Vorland, Brown, Cardel and Brown (1) raise some interesting and important issues related to the Traffic Light Diet. This commentary is designed to provide a background on the history and purpose of the Traffic Light Diet, to indicate the Traffic Light Diet is only one component of effective Family-Based Behavioral Treatments for pediatric obesity, and to support an idea for future directions for the Traffic Light Diet based on unique dietary and nutritional requirements for specific diseases.

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