What does the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) measure?

• A. A measure of diet quality that can be used to assess compliance with the Dietary Guidelines
• B. Blood pressure
• C. Cholesterol level
• D. Physical activity

Answer: (A)

Diet quality as defined by alignment with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is what the Healthy Eating Index quantifies. It uses a composite score that reflects how closely a person’s usual eating pattern matches recommendations for dietary adequacy and moderation, across multiple components such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, protein foods, fatty acid balance, refined grains, added sugars, and sodium. A higher HEI score means the diet is more in line with the guidelines, which makes it a useful tool for assessing compliance, guiding nutrition interventions, and comparing dietary patterns over time or between populations. It does not measure health outcomes like blood pressure, cholesterol, or physical activity, since those are separate factors rather than direct measures of diet quality.