WIN Plans for the Future

By Leslie Curtis, Director, WIN, NIDDK

The Weight-control Information Network (WIN) gathered experts in obesity, physical activity, social marketing, public relations, and community outreach to discuss strategies to improve its patient information, outreach activities, partnership opportunities, and future initiatives. At the October 3, 2000 meeting, held on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, participants also discussed program evaluation.

Since its launch in 1994, WIN has developed and distributed materials about weight control, obesity, and physical activity; responded to information requests from the public, media, and health care providers; and raised the visibility of obesity and weight control issues through targeted outreach and promotional activities. Additionally, WIN created a pilot communication program, Sisters Together: Move More, Eat Better, designed to encourage Black women aged 18 to 35 to exercise more and eat healthier foods.

"Convening a group, including experts outside of NIH, and developing a strategic plan for future activities will broaden the scope of WIN's efforts, put its resources to optimum use, and strengthen its outreach activities," said Jean Pennington, Ph.D., R.D., chair of the WIN Work Group and research nutritionist in NIDDK's Division of Nutrition Research Coordination.

Issues framing the group discussion included defining obesity and overweight, reviewing current research on the knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes held by the public about obesity, selecting groups at greatest risk for obesity and its health complications, and identifying effective channels for communication and dissemination. WIN has prepared a report of the discussions and action items to prioritize next steps and facilitate new initiatives with meeting attendees and others. s