Overweight and Obesity

Resources and Publications

See the Order Form for available hard-copy materials from CDC/DNPAO.

General Information About Weight, Nutrition, and Health

Healthy Weight – It's not just a diet, it's a lifestyle
CDC, Nutrition and Physical Activity
Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight isn't just about a "diet" or "program". It is part of a ongoing lifestyle that you can adopt now and stay with for years to come. A healthy weight contributes to good health now and as you age.

Body Mass Index (BMI)
CDC, Nutrition and Physical Activity
Information about the Body Mass Index (BMI), a calculated value used for identifying overweight and obese adults, access to a BMI calculator, and links to related information.

Diabetes and Me: Prevent Diabetes
CDC, Diabetes Public Health Resource
Research studies have found that moderate weight loss and exercise can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes among adults at high-risk of diabetes.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published jointly by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), provides advice about how good dietary habits for people aged 2 years and older can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases.
Also available, a brochure for consumers: Finding Your Way to a Healthier You: Based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (PDF-255K)

Interactive Toolbox
The Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) at the National Agricultural Library (NAL)
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.

MedlinePlus
MedlinePlus as service of the US National Library of Medicine brings together a wealth of authoritative obesity information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

MyPyramid
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
MyPyramid Plan can help you choose the foods and amounts that are right for you. An online dietary assessment that provides information on diet quality and related nutrition information. It also assesses physical activity.

Obesity, Physical Activity, and Weight Control Glossary
Weight-control Information Network NIDDK
This glossary defines words that are often used when people talk or write about obesity, physical activity, and weight control. It is written for people who are overweight or obese, or interested in learning more about obesity, physical activity, nutrition, and weight control.

smallstep.gov
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Weight-loss success stories, Small Step tips, and other resources for maintaining and losing weight.

Weight-control Information Network
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Weight-control Information Network (WIN)
General information, publications, and other resources on weight control, obesity, physical activity, and related nutritional issues for the general public, health professionals, the media, and Congress.

Weight Loss and Maintenance

Active at Any Size
National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Weight-control Information Network (WIN)
Some overweight people face challenges trying to be active. Find out how to get more active no matter what your size.

Aim for a Healthy Weight
National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Guidelines for the measurement of overweight and obesity and steps for safe and effective weight loss.

The American Society of Bariatric Physicians
ASBP offers information on the problem of obesity, tips on weight loss, and a referral program to bariatric physicians (specializing in obesity treatment) for professional consultation.

Binge Eating Disorder
National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Weight-control Information Network (WIN)
Fact sheet that discusses binge eating disorders.

Choosing a Safe and Successful Weight-loss Program
National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Weight-control Information Network (WIN)
Fact sheet to help consumers make an informed decision about joining a weight-loss program.

Consumer Information
Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Weight Loss & Fitness
Consumer information on topics such as finding the right weight loss program and avoiding deception.

Information About Losing Weight and Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)
Links to information related to losing weight.

We Can!
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) offers a national education program designed for parents and caregivers to help children 8-13 years old stay at a healthy weight. The booklet "Finding the Balance: A Parent Resources" offers an array of easy to use practical tips and tools for parents and guardians to help their children and families eat healthy, increase physical activity, and decrease screen time.

Weight Loss: Finding a Weight Loss Program That Works for You
Federal Citizen Information Center
Booklet designed to help consumers ask the right questions to choose a safe and effective weight loss method and to determine if their weight puts them at risk for health problems.

Weight Management Research to Practice Series

The Weight Management Research to Practice Series is designed to summarize the science on a weight management topic. An overview of the science will be compiled into a summary document appropriate for public health professionals, including implications for practice. In addition, some installments in the series will be accompanied by a brochure geared toward the general public.

Can eating fruits and vegetables help people to manage their weight? Research to Practice Series No. 1 (PDF-244k)
Consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is associated with lower risks for numerous chronic diseases, including some cancers and cardiovascular disease. Even so, the impact of eating fruits and vegetables on weight management has not been widely researched. This document will examine the evidence from available studies to determine whether eating fruits and vegetables can help with weight management.
Also available as a PowerPoint Presentation¹ (PPT–748k) intended for use by Health Professionals. It explains how fruits and vegetables can be substituted for higher calorie foods in weight management.
Also available for consumers:

How to Use Fruits and Vegetables to Help Manage your Weight
Print-friendly brochure (PDF-244k)
Order hard copies through our Publications page.

¹For best results, save this PowerPoint to your hard drive. Otherwise you may experience problems viewing the slides and long waits between slides.
These slides may be used as is, please do not alter format. If format is altered the CDC logo must be removed.

Do Increased Portion Sizes Affect How Much We Eat? Research to Practice Series No. 2 (PDF-245k)
This research-to-practice review examines what science underlies the notion that large portion sizes have contributed to weight gain among Americans. This section also offers ideas to practitioners about how to counsel their patients or clients about portion size.
Also available for consumers:

How to Avoid Portion Size Pitfalls to Help Manage Your Weight
Print-friendly game board brochure (PDF-9.7Mb)
Order hard copies through our Publications page.

Does Drinking Beverages with Added Sugars Increase the Risk of Overweight? Research to Practice Series No. 3 (PDF-1.24Mb)
One way to decrease calorie intake is by decreasing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. This research brief explores the relationship between drinking sugar-sweetened beverages and weight management, and provides suggestions for non-caloric beverages alternatives.
Also available for consumers:

Rethink Your Drink
Print-friendly brochure (PDF-526k)
Order hard copies through our Publications page.

Does Breastfeeding Reduce the Risk of Pediatric Overweight? Research to Practice Series No. 4 (PDF-1.3Mb)
The health of American children is being threatened by overweight and the conditions that may stem from this problem, such as elevated serum lipid and insulin concentrations, elevated blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and psychosocial problems. This Research to Practice (R2P) brief explores the relationship between breastfeeding and pediatric overweight.

In addition to the practitioner's scientific review, newborn infant Crib Cards are being offered, that can be used by hospitals for recording newborn's vital information and help parents make this important infant feeding decision at the pertinent time.

Crib Card for Boys (PDF-805k)
Crib Card for Girls (PDF-825k)

Low-Energy-Dense Foods and Weight Management: Cutting Calories While Controlling Hunger - Research to Practice Series No. 5 (PDF-2.3Mb)
Have you tried to lose weight by cutting down the amount of food you eat? Do you still feel hungry and not satisfied after eating? You can cut calories without eating less nutritious food. The key is to eat foods that will fill you up without eating a large amount of calories.
Also available for consumers:

Eat More, Weigh Less?
Print-friendly brochure (PDF-605k)
Order hard copies through our Publications page.

Incorporating Away-from-home Foods Into a Healthy Eating Plan - Research to Practice Series No. 6 (PDF-244k)
A growing body of literature indicates that the eating of away-from-home food can be a factor influencing energy intake. Informed choices pertaining to away-from-home food could help reduce calorie overconsumption and aid in weight management.

Community and Population-Based Strategies

Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
Also available in a PDF version (PDF-375k)
This report contains 24 recommended obesity prevention strategies focusing on environmental and policy level change initiatives that can be implemented by local governments and school districts to promote healthy eating and active living.
To assist local governments, states, and policy makers implement the CDC recommended obesity prevention strategies and report on the associated measurements a detailed Implementation and Measurement Guide (PDF-2.5Mb) was developed. The guide includes measurement data protocols, a listing of useful resources, and examples of communities that successfully implemented each obesity prevention strategy.

The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
A call to action that outlines strategies that communities can use in helping to address the problems of overweight and obesity.

Education and Research

CDC's State Legislative Information
The CDC's Legislative Database contains summaries of state legislative bills related to nutrition and physical activity from 2001 to present. Links are provided to each state legislature site to obtain the full-text version of the bill.

The Economics of Obesity: A Report on the Workshop Held at USDA's Economic Research Service
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) This report presents a summary of the papers and the discussions presented at a workshop focused on health economics research on the causes and consequences of rising obesity in the United States.

Obesity Education Initiative
National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Information on an initiative designed to help reduce the prevalence of overweight along with the prevalence of physical inactivity in order to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and overall morbidity and mortality from CHD.

Obesity/Nutrition Research Centers (ONRCs) and Clinical Nutrition Research Units (CNRUs)
National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Weight-control Information Network (WIN)
Information about grant programs to support obesity and nutrition research and research training: the Clinical Nutrition Research Unit (CNRU) and the Obesity/Nutrition Research Center (ONRC).

Reports and Studies on Obesity
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Information Center
Reports and studies on obesity.

2000 CDC Growth Chart Training Modules and Materials
You will find CDC Growth Chart Training Modules, CDC Growth Charts 2000 Slide Set and other resources for using the 2000 CDC Growth Charts.

Childhood Overweight and Obesity

CDC Childhood Overweight
Overweight is a serious health concern for children and adolescents. The most recent data indicate that in the United States about 16% of children ages 6–19 years are overweight.

CDC Healthy Youth: Childhood Overweight
CDC Division of Adolescent Health and School Health
General information about overweight among young people and general information on healthy eating and physical activity in childhood and adolescence.

Children and Weight: What Communities Can Do
Center for Weight and Health, University of California, Berkeley
A tool kit designed to help communities respond to the increasing problem of childhood obesity by mobilizing local resources.

Helping Your Overweight Child
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Weight-control Information Network (WIN)

Information to help parents teach children healthy eating and physical activity habits.
Overweight and Obesity
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
General information about childhood overweight and obesity.

The Institute of Medicine Report, Food Marketing to Children and Youth: Threat or Opportunity?
This new report explores the influence of food and beverage marketing on the diets and diet-related health of U.S. children and youth. The reports includes the committee's recommendations for how various stakeholders can promote healthful foods and beverages to children and youth.

Reducing Children's TV Time to Reduce the Risk of Childhood Overweight: The Children's Media Use Study Highlights Report (PDF-258k)
Results of a qualitative study with children and parents to understand barriers and opportunities for reducing children's television viewing.

School Health Programs: Key Strategies to Prevent Obesity
Overweight is a risk factor for health conditions such as diabetes and is associated with problems such as poor self-esteem. The good news is that schools can help students and staff adopt healthy eating and physical activity behaviors that are the keys to preventing obesity! Whether you are a teacher, parent, student, or school administrator, you can make healthy changes at your school.

Smallstep for Kids
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
A child-focused site offering nutritional advice, games and activity suggestions for children and parents as part of the obesity prevention campaign. The computer-animated character Shrek encourages kids to go out an play.

We Can! A Parent Handbook
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
We Can! stands for Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition. We Can! is a national education program designed for parents and caregivers to help children 8-13 years old stay at a healthy weight. Learn practical tips to help your family find the right balance of eating well and being physically active to maintain a healthy weight.

At A Glance Reports

At A Glace 2009 — Obesity, Halting the Epidemic by Making Health Easier

Recent MMWRs, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports

For more see MMWR.

Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
MMWR, July 24, 2009 / 58(RR07);1-26
Also available in a PDF version (PDF-375k)

Obesity Prevalence Among Low-Income, Preschool-Aged Children — United States, 1998–2008
MMWR, July 24, 2009 / Vol. 58 / No. 28
Also available in a PDF version (PDF-1.3Mb).

Differences in Prevalence of Obesity Among Black, White, and Hispanic Adults — United States, 2006–2008
MMWR, July 17, 2009 / Vol. 58 / No. 27
Also available in print-friendly format (PDF-1.3Mb).

QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Who Are Obese, by Type of Difficulty or Limitation – NHIS, US, 2001—2005
MMWR, October 10, 2008 / 57(40);1106
Also available in print-friendly format (PDF-1.2Mb)

State-Specific Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults – United States, 2007
MMWR, July 18, 2008 / 57(28);765–768
Also available in print-friendly format (PDF-1.1Mb)

Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.