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Healthcare Professionals & Facilities

Information geared to special needs of healthcare professionals and facilities

Clinical Resources/Adults - Clinical Management/Children - Patient Information

Clinical Resources/Adults

Aim for a Healthy Weight Primary Care Provider Education Kit
Available through the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's online catalog, this kit contains items a health care professional would need to start an effective weight management program in an office or clinic. Based on the latest scientific evidence on the treatment of overweight patients, the items in the kit include reference cards, measurers, profile sheets, food preparation tips and other information.

Clinical Guidelines on Identification, Evaluation, Treatment
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, in cooperation with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, released these federal guidelines on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity. Included are an executive summary of the report, practical guides, a body mass index calculator, and Obesity Guidelines for Palm OS ®.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans has been published jointly every 5 years since 1980 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Guidelines provide authoritative advice for people two years and older about how good dietary habits can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases. They serve as the basis for Federal food and nutrition education programs.

Food and Nutrition Information Center
This is the website for the Food and Nutrition Information Center, which is located at the National Agricultural Library as part of the USDA and the Agricultural Research Service. It is also supported by a cooperative agreement with the University of Maryland. The site includes information on dietary supplements, food composition, the Food Guide Pyramid, and other nutrition-related topics.

Lifestyle Management of Adult Obesity
This series of articles making up a case study was prepared by individuals from the School of Health Professions and School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, and is offered as 2.0 Continuing Education Units from the university.

USDA Nutrient Data Lab
This site is maintained by the Agricultural Research Service, USDA and offers data sets prepared by its Nutrient Data Laboratory. It includes a list of food composition and nutrition resource links, measurement conversion tables, and articles prepared by the lab's staff. There is also a paper on how the USDA has been compiling food composition data for 110 years.

Clinical Management/Children

Clinical Growth Charts
This site, maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offers clinical growth charts as well as related computer programs, reports and links. Among the tools available are interactive training modules.

Guidelines for Childhood Obesity Prevention Programs
Developed by the Weight Realities Division of the Society for Nutrition Education, this four-page document contains guidelines for obesity prevention programs to encourage a health-centered, rather than weight-centered, approach that focuses on the whole child -physically, mentally and socially.

Treatment of Overweight Children and Adolescents
Numerous papers from health practitioners on the topic of overweight children are found here. All have been published by Pediatrics, a publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Abstracts, full texts and pdf versions are offered.

USDA Weight and Obesity Resources
This site provides government reports and resources found at the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Information Center.   Find information and resources related to the definition of overweight and obesity, statistics, related organizations.

Patient Information

ACS: Food and Fitness
This home site for the ACS often features articles on exercise and a healthy diet, both of which are valid topics for obesity studies.

American Diabetes Association
Since the road to obesity and the road to diabetes is often a parallel road, much of the information offered to diabetics also serves as good advice on avoiding obesity.

American Dietetic Association
The American Dietetic Association provides information and tips on maintaining a healthy diet. Included is a "Find a Dietitian" service.

American Heart Association HeartHub for Patients
The American Heart Association offers tips on healthy meal planning, cooking and exercise programs since part of maintaining a healthy heart is avoiding obesity. Patient education material as well as information for researchers is available.

Fruits & Veggies Matter: Home: Eat a Colorful Variety of Fruits and Vegetables Every Day for Better Health (CDC)
Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this Web site offers various resources, including recipes and educational materials for promoting the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® campaign.  This campaign encourages consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables to promote better health and reduce disease risk. 

MyPyramid.gov - United States Department of Agriculture
Find information and resources for the current USDA food guidance system, MyPyramid. Also find MyPyramid for Kids resources as well as images and graphics for use in education efforts.

North American Association for the Study of Obesity
Calling itself "a scientific voice on obesity," this site offers medical education, obesity facts and statistics, treatment resources, research funding information, and job postings.