|  | Diet Nutrition | Weight Control

Clinical Research on the Effects of Obesity

The official definition of obesity is having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. With nearly one-fourth of Americans classified as being obese, research on the effects of excessive weight are leading to more questions about the widespread public impact. Everything from sleep apnea and respiratory problems to infertility and certain cancers have been linked to excessive body fat. Information about clinical research on obesity can be found through the many organizations and institutes studying this.

  1. National Institutes of Health, Obesity Research

    • Obesity has become an epidemic and the National Institutes of Health, which is the U.S. Health and Human Services' medical research arm, has put together an Obesity Research Task Force to better understand this public health concern. They work with all major federal health agencies to study the molecular, genetic, behavioral, environmental, clinical and epidemiological aspects of obesity. These efforts are stored in their CRISP (Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects) database and made available to the public. NIH also funds and supports research efforts on understanding obesity at many academic institutions around the country.

    The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

    • The Office of Obesity Research at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) works with many groups to coordinate research efforts on the study of obesity. They identify research opportunities, plan conferences and workshops and prepare reports and inquiries. Their primary aim is to fund grants to support studies and clinical trials in such areas as neurobiology of obesity, obesity and eating disorders and pediatric clinical obesity.

    MEDLinePlus: Obesity

    • MEDLinePlus, an initiative of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, provides an online gateway that gathers information about diseases, conditions and wellness. Their guide to obesity provides general information along with links to specific journal articles and research initiatives. Visitors to this site can locate dozens of articles from academic institutions, leading medical publications and newsletters. The site is updated daily with the most current information.

Weight Control - Related Articles