Translation and Education

Since 1991, the NHLBI has supported a variety of educational and outreach activities to encourage all Americans to aim for a healthy weight, and to alert physicians and other primary care providers of the risks associated with overweight and obesity particularly as it relates to cardiovascular disease. These activities encompass a two-pronged strategy; the former is the population-based strategy that encourages all Americans to maintain a healthy weight, while the latter is the high risk strategy that deals with clinical issues in overweight and obese patients who need to lose weight and maintain weight loss.

The main thrust of the population-based strategy is currently the We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition)^® national education program. The high risk strategy includes updating the 1998 Expert Panel Report on the Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults using a systematic evidence based review process. Information on the treatment of overweight and obesity in adults from the 1998 report for patients and providers is available on the Aim for a Healthy Weight website.

We Can!®	Aim for a Healthy Weight	Clinical Practice Guidelines

The educational activities of the Institute are supported by Public Health Service Act, Chapter 6a, Subchapter III, Part C, Subpart 2, 285b-2, that states, "The Director of the Institute shall collect, identify, analyze, and disseminate…through publications and other appropriate means, to patients, families of patients…and the general public, information on research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases, the maintenance of health to reduce the incidence of such diseases ... In carrying out this section, the Director of the Institute shall place special emphasis upon the utilization of collaborative efforts with both the public and private sectors to…develop and disseminate to health professionals, patients and patient families, and the public information designed to encourage adults and children to adopt healthful practices concerning the prevention of such diseases."

Last Updated March 2011