Dietary factors are associated with 4 of the 10 leading causes of death—coronary heart disease, some types of cancer, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.^{1, 2} In addition, dietary factors are linked to high blood pressure, osteoporosis, iron deficiency anemia, and other conditions.² Overweight and obesity are also associated with the leading causes of death, identified above, as well as with a range of other negative outcomes, such as gallbladder disease, respiratory dysfunction, gout, and osteoarthritis.²

Continued national action and community involvement are essential to promote healthful diets among all Americans and to reverse the trend in increased overweight and obesity.³ The prevalence of overweight among Americans increased from 1988–94 to 1999–2002 due to imbalances in caloric intake and energy expenditure.² By 1999–2002, nearly one in three adults was obese. The estimated cost of obesity to the United States was $117 billion in 2000.⁴

Slight progress was made in increasing food security. Available data suggested little or no progress for the other Healthy People 2010 objectives aimed at promoting healthful diets and reducing iron deficiency and anemia.

One of the two overarching goals of Healthy People 2010 is to increase quality and years of healthy life. Poor nutrition and lack of physical activity have myriad negative effects on an individual's health. The second Healthy People 2010 goal is to eliminate health disparities by race and ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, disability status, and other characteristics. Disparities in the focus area of nutrition and overweight continue to persist for overweight and obesity, anemia in low-income pregnant women, and food security in the household.