A national survey reveals that celebrity endorsements, specifically those advertising the importance of cancer screenings, have made a big impact on people taking action.

The government-funded survey conducted by scientists at Dartmouth Medical School, found that more than half of adults in a nationwide survey recalled celebrity endorsements for cancer screening, and more than a fourth said the pitch made them more likely to get tested

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, of the United States Department of Agriculture, unveiled MyPyramid, a new symbol and interactive food guidance system. "Steps to a Healthier You," MyPyramid's central message, supports President Bush's HealthierUS initiative which is designed to help Americans live longer, better and healthier lives. MyPyramid replaces the Food Guide Pyramid introduced in 1992, and is part of an overall food guidance system that emphasizes the need for a more individualized approach to improving diet and lifestyle. MyPyramid incorporates recommendations from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which was released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in January. The MyPyramid plan, unlike its predecessor, incorporates physical activity into the pyramid structure of a healthy diet and lifestyle. The new food guidance system utilizes interactive technology found on MyPyramid.gov. The Web site contains interactive activities that make it easy for individuals to key in their age, gender, and physical activity level so that they can get a more personalized recommendation on their daily calorie level based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. A child-friendly version of MyPyramid for teachers and children is being developed - intended to reach children 6 to 11 years old with targeted messages about the importance of making smart eating and physical activity choices. Additional information about USDA's MyPyramid is available at MyPyramid.gov