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Overweight / Obesity Resources
Nutrition Resources
Physical Activity Resources
Nutrition and Physical Activity Resources
Other Resources

Overweight / Obesity Back To Top

Aim for a Healthy Weight
38 page booklet for adults that contains practical, easy-to-use information for losing and maintaining weight including tips on healthy eating and physical activity: setting weight loss goals, portion and serving size information, sample reduced calorie menus, guidance on dining out, a sample walking program, weekly food and activity diary, and rewarding success.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/aim_hwt.pdf

Choosing a Safe and Successful Weight-Loss Program
Short fact sheet that guides the reader through a number of questions to ask their health care provider and additional steps to identify an appropriate weight loss plan.
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/PDFs/Choosingprogram0208.pdf

Do You Know the Health Risks of Being Overweight?
6 page fact sheet that provides general information about the health risks of overweight/obesity and suggests additional resources.
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/PDFs/hlthrisks1104.pdf

Overweight and Obesity
This site defines overweight and obesity and presents information on prevalence, contributing factors, health and economic consequences, frequently asked questions, recommendations, state programs and other resources.
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/index.htm

Understanding Adult Obesity Fact Sheet
This fact sheet covers how obesity is measured, Body Mass Index (BMI), causes of obesity, body fat distribution, risks of obesity and its psycho-social effects. Also provides information on additional resources.
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/PDFs/adultobesbw1201.pdf

Weight Loss for Life
14 page color brochure for adults provides information on the reasons to lose weight and how to do so.
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/PDFs/WeightLossforLife_04.pdf

Weight-loss and Nutrition Myths: How Much Do You Really Know
6 page fact sheet on diet myths.
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/PDFs/Myths.pdf

Nutrition Back To Top

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are published jointly every 5 years and provide authoritative advice for people two years and older about how good dietary habits can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases. También se ofrece unas partes en Español.
http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines/

Finding Your Way to a Healthier You
Short booklet that provides nutrition facts based on new Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005.
http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/pdf/brochure.pdf

5 A Day for Better Health
A site aimed at promoting the healthy consumption of fruits and vegetables among adults, 5 A Day has resources catered to both men and women, including quizzes, scientific evidence, information on serving sizes, and recipes as well as resources catered to African Americans. The 5 A Day website includes a link to The Color Guide, an informative section on the nutrients associated with fruits and vegetables arranged by color.
http://5aday.nci.nih.gov/homepage/index_content.html

Men Eat 9 a Day
A short booklet for African American Men reminding them to eat 9 servings of fruits and/or vegetables a day. The booklet offers tips on how to ensure men are eating the right assortment of fruits and vegetables and information on what is a serving.
http://www.5aday.gov/tools/assets/pdf/AAmensBro_print.pdf

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Eating Plan
This website contains the DASH Eating Plan and includes information on the research findings that demonstrate its health benefits. The website describes the Eating Plan and provides sample 7-day menus and several recipes. It also gives helpful tips on how to get started, how to use the DASH Eating Plan if trying to lose weight, how to reduce sodium intake and how to read and interpret the Nutrition Facts label.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/

Facts About the DASH Eating Plan
This full color glossy brochure provides information on hypertension, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension eating plan and strategies to reduce sodium intake. It also offers a number of recipes.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/new_dash.pdf

FirstGov for Consumers: Food
Provides consumer information related to fruits and vegetables, seafood, meat and poultry, labeling, nutrition, product recalls, and safety. The website offers recipes; an FAQs section on food safety and nutrition with questions ranging from "Why should you not use homemade infant formulas?" to "How will I know if food has been irradiated?"; and links to additional resources. También se ofrece unas partes en Español.
http://www.consumer.gov/food.htm

Food and Nutrition Information Center Interactive Toolbox
The Interactive Toolbox contains links to Web sites that allow consumers and professionals to input information and receive individual feedback to help with dietary assessment and planning, checking personal health risks, testing knowledge, and evaluating needs.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/etext/000035.html

How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label
A useful site that offers easy-to-understand information on Nutrition Facts labels.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/foodlab.html

Interactive Menu Planner
This site provides an online tool that calculates the servings and calories of your selections from a list of available foods and beverages to make up a meal of specified calories. It also has a link to a Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator and an explanation of Portion Distortion.
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/menuplanner/menu.cgi

Keep the Beat Heart Healthy Recipes
145 page collection of recipes. Contents include information on planning a nutritious day, reducing heart disease risks and reading food labels.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/ktb_recipebk/ktb_recipebk.pdf

MyPyramid.gov
The interactive component of the USDA's new food pyramid, this site allows users to input their age, sex, and amount of daily physical activity to create a personalized food pyramid. The personalized pyramid comes along with recommendations of consumption of specific foods and a meal-tracking worksheet to follow your progress. MyPyramid Tracker is a tool that allows users to take an interactive, in-depth assessment of their food intake and physical activity.
http://www.mypyramid.gov/

El Plan MiPirámide
(Spanish version of MyPyramid)
http://www.mypyramid.gov/sp-index.html

Anatomy of MyPyramid
An in-depth description of the new MyPyramid, developed to remind consumers to make healthy food choices and to be active every day.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/tnforms/TIPS.pdf

Nutrition for Everyone
This website helps everyone in developing healthier eating habits. Key areas of focus in which good nutrition can help promote better health include: healthy weight, fruits and vegetables, bone health and iron deficiency. There is also a section of quick tips, resources for health professionals and several other nutrition-related topics.
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/nutrition_for_everyone/index.htm

Nutrition.gov
Nutrition.gov is a great resource for up-to-date food and nutrition information. In addition to serving as a gateway to reliable information on nutrition, healthy eating, and food safety for consumers, educators and health professionals, the site offers current food and nutrition news and publications, information on weight management, information on food assistance programs and grocery-shopping tips.
http://www.nutrition.gov

Physical Activity Resources Back To Top

Exercise: A guide from that National Institute on Aging (NIA)
The NIA Exercise Guide contains valuable information about how exercise and proper nutrition are crucial for staying healthy as we age. Scientists and doctors collaborated to provide useful tips on establishing and maintaining a regular exercise program. The Guide is for older people who want to take those first steps toward an active lifestyle. Also has a companion DVD.
http://www.niapublications.org/exercisebook/ExerciseGuideComplete.pdf

El Ejercicio y Su Salud: Su Guía Personal para Mantenerse Sano y Fuerte
(Spanish version of Exercise: A guide from that National Institute on Aging)
http://www.niapublications.org/pubs/ejercicio/El_Ejercicio_Y_Su_Salud.pdf

Physical Activity for Everyone
This site provides visitors with an overview of the importance of physical activity and resources to encourage physical activity. Features a Measuring Physical Activity Intensity section which includes the Talk Test, target heart rate and estimated maximum heart rate tests, a perceived exertion test, a metabolic equivalent level test, and lists of sample activities by intensity level. Also provides recommendations for physical activity, a strength training for older adults section, and links to additional resources.
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/index.htm

President's Challenge—You're it. Get fit!
A central component of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, the President's Challenge - You're it. Get fit! - encourages all Americans to make being active part of their everyday lives. This website is the interactive component of that challenge and provides information for kids, teens, adults, seniors, teachers and physical activity advocates on how to register, track progress, calculate fitness and earn awards for meeting goals.
http://www.presidentschallenge.org/

Take the President's Challenge: The Active Lifestyle and Presidential Champions Programs.
This booklet gives an overview of the President's Challenge, provides information on using a pedometer, a six week activity log and an order form for awards and other Challenge materials.
http://www.presidentschallenge.org/pdf/active_lifestyle.pdf

Recreation.gov
A partnership among Federal land management agencies to provide an easy-to-use website with information about all federal recreation areas, the site allows you to search for recreation areas by state, recreational activity, agency, or map. It also provides links to recreation maps, weather advisories, and sites where visitors can make advanced reservations for camp sites and tours.
http://www.recreation.gov

Your Guide to Physical Activity and Your Heart
This guide presents comprehensive and easy-to-understand information on the impact of physical activity on your heart as well as the power of physical activity to keep you healthy overall. The guide also addresses the many other benefits of regular physical activity like burning extra calories, building stamina, improving balance, strengthening your lungs, and boosting the way you feel. It includes sample walking and jogging programs, instructions for finding your target heart rate zone, ideas for making fitness a family affair, and an overview of the best physical activities for a healthy heart.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/phy_active.pdf

Nutrition and Physical Activity Back To Top

Better Health and You: Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Across Your Lifespan: Tips for Adults
26 page brochure on healthy eating and physical activity, featuring activity log and food diary examples for readers.
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/PDFs/tipsforadults804bw.pdf

Energize Yourself and Your Family
20 page brochure created for African American women and their families. Provides information on the benefits of exercise and integrating it into their lives. Includes nutrition guidance on keeping track of serving sizes and reading food labels. Also offers information on free healthy cookbooks.
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/PDFs/EnergizeYourself2004.pdf

HealthierUS.gov
HealthierUS.gov is a website supporting the President's HealthierUS initiative focusing on physical fitness, prevention, nutrition and making healthy choices. It serves as a source of credible, accurate information to help Americans choose to live healthier lives.
http://www.healthierus.gov

A Healthier You
This book brings together nutrition information from the Federal Government that may reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain cancers, and increase your chances for a longer life. This one-stop, easy-to-use resource will help you make wise food and physical activity choices to manage your weight with: healthy eating patterns with a seven-day menu from the DASH* Eating Plan; ways to use the Nutrition Facts label to make healthy product choices; tips for eating out and when you are on the go; nearly 100 easy, healthy and tested recipes along with helpful websites; reproducible worksheets to track your progress; steps for incorporating physical activity into your life; and the complete Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/healthieryou/contents.htm

El Plan MiPirámide
(Spanish version of MyPyramid)
http://www.mypyramid.gov/sp-index.html

Anatomy of MyPyramid
An in-depth description of the new MyPyramid, developed to remind consumers to make healthy food choices and to be active every day.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/tnforms/TIPS.pdf

Physical Activity and Good Nutrition: Essential Elements to Preventing Chronic Disease and Obesity
This site provides evidence for and information on how physical activity and good nutrition can help to prevent chronic disease and obesity.
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/aag/dnpa.htm

SmallStep.gov
SmallStep.gov aims to prevent obesity by encouraging small dietary and physical activity changes in the form of 120 steps, such as Step 5 - "Drink water before a meal", Step 35 - "Sit up straight at work", and Step 106 - "When eating out, ask your server to put half your entrée in a to-go-bag". The site includes the list of steps as well as success stories and tips. Website visitors can create an activity tracker to monitor their progress and sign up for a newsletter with tips and recipes. También se ofrece informacion en Español.
http://www.smallstep.gov

You Can! Steps to a Healthier Aging Consumer Materials
The You Can! Campaign is an outreach campaign designed to increase the number of older people who stay active and healthy. This website helps older adults to make wise food choices, be physically active, set goals and record progress.
http://www.aoa.gov/youcan/youcan.asp

Other Resources Back To Top

healthfinder.gov
healthfinder® is a free guide to reliable consumer health information. This site links to carefully selected information and websites from over 1,700 health-related government agencies and not-for-profit organizations, includes many online checkups and offers daily health news in English and Spanish. También se ofrece informacion en Español.
http://www.healthfinder.gov/

HealthierUS.gov
HealthierUS.gov is a website supporting the President's HealthierUS initiative focusing on physical fitness, prevention, nutrition, and making healthy choices. It serves as a source of credible, accurate information to help Americans choose to live healthier lives.
http://www.healthierus.gov

Steps to a Healthier US
Forty communities have received grant funding from the US Department of Health and Human Services to address poor nutrition, physical inactivity and tobacco use in an effort to reduce obesity, diabetes and asthma.
http://www.cdc.gov/steps/

My HealtheVet (MHV)
My HealtheVet (MHV) is the gateway to veteran health benefits and services. It provides access to trusted health information, links to Federal and VA benefits and resources, the Personal Health Journal (click on Track Health to access journals for blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, weight, food intake, activity, etc.), and online VA prescription refill. My HealtheVet is a powerful tool to help you better understand and manage your health.
http://www.myhealth.va.gov

MEDLINEPlus
MedlinePlus has extensive information on over 700 diseases and conditions as well as prescription and nonprescription drugs. There are lists of hospitals and physicians, a medical encyclopedia, a medical dictionary, health information from the media, and links to thousands of clinical trials.
http://medlineplus.gov/

MEDLINEPlus - En Español
(Spanish version of MEDLINEPlus)
http://medlineplus.gov/spanish/

Pick Your Path to Health
A site dedicated to the health of women, Pick Your Path to Health is an online resource of the Pick Your Path to Health public education campaign to help women take simple and time-sensitive steps to improve their health. The campaign encourages local communities to promote practical, culturally interesting and relevant action steps to wellness. The site consists of articles, health calendars and information on community programs as well as a section on themes and action steps to improve health. The themes and action steps section provides yearly action steps that cater to all women.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/pypth/index.cfm

US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine
The USACHPPM team is a linchpin of medical support to combat forces and of the military managed-care system. It provides worldwide scientific expertise and services in clinical and field preventive medicine, environmental and occupational health, health promotion and wellness, epidemiology and disease surveillance, toxicology, and related laboratory sciences. It supports readiness by keeping soldiers fit to fight, while also promoting wellness among their families and the Federal civilian workforce.
http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/

VA National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
The VA National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NCP), a field-based office of the Office of Patient Care Services, provides input to VHA leadership on evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention policy. NCP provides programs, education, and coordination for the field consistent with prevention policy to enhance the health, well-being, and quality of life of veterans.
http://www.nchpdp.med.va.gov

Management of Overweight and Obesity (OBE)
VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines
http://www.oqp.med.va.gov/cpg/OBE/OBE_base.htm

Reviewed/Updated Date: April 18, 2007