Obesity Resources

General Information

CDC - Overweight and Obesity
Overview of how to define overweight and obesity, the current situation, problems associated with overweight, and a list of resources.

The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity
Contains the full version and press release of the Surgeon General’s recommended strategies to combat the problem. Also includes fact sheets on overweight and obesity.

World Health Organization
A concise overview of overweight and obesity, including etiology, epidemiology and possible interventions.

American Obesity Association
A comprehensive site that has information on research, education, prevention, treatment and discrimination.

Center for Weight and Health, UC Berkeley
Comprehensive site. Has education tools on weight management, physical activity, body image & eating disorders, food security, and measures of weight status. Has surveys and data, funding resources, and  reference lists of literature on nutrition, physical activity and weight.

American Public Health Association: Obesity Resources
Tools for action against overweight and obesity for children, adolescents, adult and communities. Has reports on minority obesity epidemic and state approaches to childhood obesity.

Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity Prevention (Univ. of Delaware Cooperative Extension)
2006 national review of the literature on childhood obesity by Dr. Margaret B. Brown (68 pages). Also has highlights of the literature and key messages for parents.

Reports

Institute of Medicine Report: Preventing Childhood Obesity – Health in the Balance
Executive summary and fact sheets on national strategy recommendations for families, schools, industry, communities and government. Has order info for full report.

The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity
Surgeon General’s recommended strategies as press releases, fact sheets and full report. Also has leading health indicators to measure nation's health til 2010.

World Health Organization – Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health

Data and Statistics

CDC – Obesity trends
Obesity trends in the US from 1985-present. Has the CDC slides showing the states changing color based on prevalence of obesity.

A Nation at Risk: Obesity in the United States Statistical Sourcebook
A 2005 36 page pdf statistical sourcebook of facts about obesity from the American Heart Association and the Robert Wood Johonson Foundation.

Wisconsin Nutrition and Physical Activity Data
Taken from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Survey.

Nutrition

Childhood Obesity Prevention (Univ. of Delaware Cooperative Extension)
2006 national review of the literature on childhood obesity by Dr. Margaret B. Brown (68 pages). Also has highlights of the literature and key messages for parents.

Nutrition.gov
Government information on nutrition, healthy eating, and food safety. Has links to government nutrition recommendations.

Nutrition Subject Guide/Webography, UWEX Cooperative Extension
Annotated links to nutrition resources selected by Susan Nitzke, Nutrition Specialist, and to UW-Madison licensed databases.

CDC – Nutrition
A comprehensive list of web resources and programs relating to nutrition. Some are specific to overweight and obesity.

USDA – Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
Site contains information on Dietary guidelines, MyPyramid, Healthy Eating Index and USDA Food Plans:Cost of food.

Wisconsin DHS Nutrition and Physical Activity Program
Has both nutrition and physical activity information, resources and links to Wisconsin organizations.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005
The latest addition of guidelines, revised January 2005. From USDA and Health & Human Services. See http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/ for older versions.

MyPyramid.gov. (USDA)
Current food pyramids.

Fruits and Veggies Matter (CDC, USA.gov, DHHS, and National Cancer Institute)
Recipes, tips, serving size, and health professional links. (Formerly 5 a Day.)

Guide to Community Preventive Services: Nutrition(Community Guide) (CDC)
Evidence-based nutrition strategies to prevent obesity. Summary of findings and Logic framework for addressing nutrition and community health.

Physical Activity

CDC – Physical Activity
Physical activity resources for health professionals (some in Spanish), resources and recommendations to encourage physical activity in kids, adults and older adults. 

The Guide to Community Preventive Services: Physical Activity
Evidence-based physical activity strategies to prevent obesity through a systematic review of selected population based interventions.

Wisconsin DHS Nutrition and Physical Activity Program
Has both nutrition and physical activity information, resources and links to Wisconsin organizations.

Tracking Physical Activity

America On the Move
For individuals, groups, and health professionals.

President’s Challenge
Physical activity and fitness Awards program.

Wisconsin Governor’s Challenge
Similar to the president’s challenge.

Lighten Up Wisconsin
No online tracking, but a similar approach for people interested in keeping track of their physical activity and/or weight loss progress.

Weight loss

HealthierUS.gov (DHHS)
Encourages healthier habits including increased physical activity, healthier diets and quitting smoking.

Smallstep.gov and Smallstep Kids!
Encourages small changes to diet and activity levels to lose weight permanently.

Weight-control Information Network (WIN)
Publications (some in Spanish), and order forms (~25 items free), overweight and obesity statistics, and research. "Up-to-date, science-based information on weight control, obesity, physical activity, and related nutritional issues."

Shape Up America
Encourages weight loss through calorie reduction and increased activity. Site allows personal assessment, describes body fat measuring, has recipes, activity suggestions and tracking with free registration.

Weight Loss Products and Programs
Summary of strengths and weaknesses from Colorado State University Cooperative Extension.

Coalitions

Center for Weight and Health, UC Berkeley
Comprehensive site. Has education tools on weight management, physical activity, body image & eating disorders, food security, and measures of weight status. Has surveys and data, funding resources, and  reference lists of literature on nutrition, physical activity and weight.

Strategic Alliance
Promotes "environmental solutions and institutional and government policies and practices that support healthy eating and activity." Has tools and resources for coalitions to use for determining needs, strengths, plan etc.

Strategic Alliance: ENACT
Great tool for assessing the community environment surrounding food and physical activity. Helps to evaluate neighborhoods, preschools/daycare centers, schools, after-school programs, worksites, government and health care environments.

Center for Civic Partnerships
Publications (e.g. Fresh Ideas for Community Nutrition and Physical Activity) and tips, tools and resources for working with communities.

Wisconsin Extension Resources

Nutrition for Family Living Newsletter
Many articles in categories Overweight, obesity and weight control and Physical activity.

Weight and Health, Wisconsin Families - Issues and Demographics
Fact sheets and PowerPoint presentations to use in your communities.  Includes sample scripts and background resources

Families on the Move Press Releases, Wisconsin Families - Issues and Demographics
A year-long series of news releases about nutrition and physical activity.

Wisconsin Nutrition Education Network
" Facilitates collaborative planning of nutrition education programs at the state and local levels."

PSAs: Childhood Wellness Partnership-Marinette and Oconto counties.
Scroll down to the link "public service announcements."

Acknowledgements

Sites selected by Heather Harvey, Nutrition Specialist, University of Wisconsin Extension. Annotations by Heather Harvey and Barbara Lazewski, MLS, UW-Madison Steenbock Library.