The sports medicine culture, personified by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), has always emphasized the concept of promotion of health through exercise in various populations. ACSM has recently begun to appoint and stress the importance of people who are certified in both exercise and nutrition to battle the obesity epidemic in their organization. Knowledge will be required from multi-dimensions and organizations to successfully combat obesity as a disease, particularly in a complex population such as children with disabilities. The nutritional needs of children with disabilities will depend on the requirements of the type and cause of the disability. However, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans in 2010. Some Key recommendations include:

• Prevent and/or reduce overweight and obesity through improved eating and physical activity behaviors
• Increase daily intake of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and nonfat or low-fat milk and milk products
• Control calorie intake to manage body weight
• Reduce sodium intake below 2,300 mg, or 1,500 mg for persons who are African American or have hypertension, diabetes, or chronic heart disease
• Consume less than 10 % of calories from saturated fatty acids by replacing them with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids
• Consume less than 300 mg per day of dietary cholesterol
• Keep trans fatty acid consumption as low as possible
• Reduce the intake of calories from solid fats and added sugars
• Limit the consumption of food that contained refined grains
• Make smart choices from every food group
• Increase physical activity and reduce time spent in sedentary behaviors