When: August 2004
Where: Nationwide
Institute: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has targeted obesity as a major national priority, prompting the development of a new Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research. This plan targets the development of new research in areas of greatest scientific opportunity and coordinates all obesity research across NIH. It places special emphasis on the serious problems emerging in overweight and obese children. The final report incorporates public input fro a wide variety of individuals and organizations.

The Plan calls for intensifying efforts along several fronts:

• Behavioral and environmental approaches to modifying lifestyles to prevent or treat obesity;
  
  
• Pharmacologic, surgical, and other medical approaches to effectively and safely prevent or treat obesity;
  
  
• Breaking the link between obesity and diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers;
  
  
• Research on special populations at high risk for obesity, including children, ethnic minorities, women, and older adults;
  
  
• Translating basic science results into clinical research and then into community intervention studies;
  
  
• Disseminating research results to the public and health professionals.

Next Steps
The report is available at http://obesityresearch.nih.gov. Free single copies are available (no bulk orders) by contacting the Weight-control Information Network at (202) 828-1025, toll-free (877) 946-4627, or by e-mailing win@info.niddk.nih.gov.