Weight Guidelines for Adults.

The article presents information on the guidelines on identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults, released in June 1998 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, in cooperation with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The guidelines, based on research into risk factors in heart disease, stroke, and other conditions, define degrees of overweight and obesity in terms of body mass index, which is based on weight and height and is strongly correlated with total body fat content. According to the reports, despite the advantages of controlling one's weight, the percentage of Americans who are overweight or obese has risen greatly in recent decades.