New Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research Seeks To Combat Epidemic

To address the obesity epidemic, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging diverse scientific investigations through a new Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research.

More than one-third of U.S. adults and nearly 17 percent of U.S. children are considered obese, a condition that increases risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. In addition to its health costs, obesity imposes a financial burden. (In 2008 alone, obesity-related medical costs were about $147 billion.)

The Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research highlights the crucial role of research in reducing obesity. Developed by the NIH Obesity Research Task Force, the plan stresses moving science from the laboratory to clinical trials to practical solutions.

The NIH has long been investing in research related to obesity and its health risks. In 2010, the NIH provided $824 million in research funds, plus awards totaling $147 million made through the Recovery Act. The strategic plan will guide NIH investments in research, interventions, and outreach to understand and reduce the prevalence of obesity. “This plan is a bold blueprint that will encourage the research community to examine the prevalence of obesity from diverse perspectives,” said NIH Director Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D.

The plan includes the following overarching themes:

Discover key processes that regulate body weight and influence behavior.
Understand the factors that contribute to obesity and its consequences.
Design and test new approaches for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
Evaluate promising strategies for obesity prevention and treatment in real-world settings and diverse populations.
Use technology to advance obesity research and improve health care delivery.

The NIH Obesity Research Task Force is co-chaired by Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Susan B. Shurin, M.D., acting director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and Alan E. Guttmacher, M.D., director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. These three Institutes led the plan’s development together with the National Cancer Institute.

The task force aims to accelerate progress in obesity research across the NIH. Since the release of the first strategic plan in 2004, research produced the following findings:

Lifestyle interventions for weight loss reduce risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. NIH-funded studies are testing ways to bring these proven strategies to more people.
Recent NIH-funded research is identifying new targets and pathways for prevention and treatment of obesity, through novel technologies such as brain imaging studies.
When a woman with obesity or diabetes becomes pregnant, her child’s chances of developing obesity or diabetes may increase, suggesting a critical period to intervene. Researchers can study approaches to help woman achieve a healthy weight before and during pregnancy.