Aim for a Health Weight is Right on Target

From clinical guides and electronic textbooks to recipes, shopping tips, and menus, the Aim for A Healthy Weight web page of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) proves to be an informative and interactive site for both those working in weight management and those who wish to manage their weight.

Patients and the public can find a wide array of valuable information, including guidelines for exercise and behavior change. They can use interactive tools such as the body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference calculators and tables. Preparing healthy, creative meals is made easy with access to shopping lists, sample reduced-calorie menus, an interactive menu planner, and recipes including heart-healthy soul food and Latino fare. Users can download and print a daily food and activity diary to help track eating and activity. Tip sheets and educational booklets are also available.

For the health professional, the site offers NHLBI’s Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults in PDF format. Its newly released companion piece The Practical Guide: Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, developed by the North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO) and NHLBI, provides tools to effectively manage overweight and obese clients. Other web site features include a slide show and an electronic textbook based on the clinical guidelines.

With consumer-based educational materials, interactive tools, and clinical information on weight management, Aim for a Healthy Weight is right on target. Visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/index.htm. s