Overweight and Obesity Resources for Physicians and Consumers

Links to clinical information, patient education materials and other resources for treating and managing overweight and obesity.

• General information
• Clinical guidelines, research and education
• Treatment, management and prevention
• Patient education and consumer information
• Childhood obesity

General information

• CDC's Nutrition and Physical Activity Program—Research, training and education, publications and other resources for improving the public's health and preventing chronic diseases from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• CDC's Overweight and Obesity web page—Information on obesity trends, health consequences, state-based programs and a BMI calculator from the CDC
• Obesity and Overweight Facts—Facts from the World Health Organization on the global obesity epidemic and key elements of an integrated, population-based approach to effective weight management

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Clinical guidelines, research and education

• Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults—Links to the executive summary, full report and other resources from the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005—Guidelines and other resources on how good dietary habits can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases from HealthierUS.gov
• Methods for Voluntary Weight Loss and Control—NIH's consensus statement that includes an overview of the obesity problem and information on efficacy of various treatments.
• Obesity Education Initiative—A program from the NHLBI designed to help reduce the prevalence of overweight and physical inactivity in order to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease
• Obesity/Nutrition Research Centers (ONRCs) and Clinical Nutrition Research Units (CNRUs)—Information about grant programs to support obesity and nutrition research from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)  and the National Cancer Institute
• Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research—Published in August 2004, this NIH plan includes a case study on bariatric surgery

Find additional research under childhood obesity.

Treatment, management and prevention

• Assessment and Management of Adult Obesity—A primer for primary care physicians, from the American Medical Association Roadmaps for Clinical Practice series, offering recommendations on:
  • Evaluating patients for weight-related health risks
  • Understanding medication and surgical options
  • Improving communication and counseling
  • Making office environments more accommodating to obese patients
• How to Lose and Manage Weight—Information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on weight control, diet and approved obesity treatments
• The Weight-control Information Network (WIN)—Provides health care providers and consumers with up-to-date, science-based information on weight control, obesity, physical activity and nutrition from NIDDK

Patient education and consumer information

• Aim for a Healthy Weight—Website includes an interactive menu planner, a BMI calculator and information on food portions from the NHLBI
• Daily Food and Activity Diary—A printable diary for writing down diet, exercise and behavioral goals from the NHLBI
• Healthy Children, Healthy Choices—Advice and tips for parents from the CDC to promote healthy weight in growing children

Childhood obesity

• Childhood Obesity: Advancing Effective Prevention and Treatment—Action Brief from an NIHCM April 2003 forum on childhood obesity programs, research, and successful prevention and treatment options (PDF—18 pages)
• Childhood Obesity and Self-esteem—A study from PEDIATRICS on the social and emotional effects of decreased self-esteem in obese children.
• Many Obese Youth Have Condition That Precedes Type 2 Diabetes—NIH news release discusses impaired glucose tolerance in obese adolescents as precursor to Type 2 diabetes
• Obesity Development During Adolescence in a Biracial Cohort: The NHLBI Growth and Health Study—A 10-year study published in PEDIATRICS investigating the development of obesity in black and white girls—9 to 19 years old—and its environmental and psychosocial correlates
• Obesity Evaluation and Treatment: Expert Committee Recommendations—Recommendations published in PEDIATRICS of obesity experts for physicians, nurse practitioners and nutritionists to guide the evaluation and treatment of overweight children and adolescents
• Prevention of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity—American Academy of Pediatrics' policy statement proposes strategies for early identification of excessive weight gain.
• Racial Divergence in Adiposity During Adolescence: The NHLBI Growth and Health Study—A report published in PEDIATRICS examining the natural history of adiposity and weight accretion in black and white adolescent girls and the relationships between increases in adiposity and pubertal maturation, energy intake, and physical activity.
• Site Specific Approaches—Prevention or Management of Pediatric Obesity—Speakers' presentations at the NIDDK's June 2004 summit on site-based childhood obesity research and intervention initiatives. (PDF—47 pages)
• Soft Drinks in Schools—A policy statement published in PEDIATRICS on nutritional concerns and potential health risks related to soft drink consumption
• The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity—Explains the general problem of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents and offers healthy eating and physical activity suggestions.
• What We Know About Obesity Development During Adolescence: Findings from the NHLBI Growth and Health Study—Discusses the role of diet and physical activity in obesity development during adolescence

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