Mission: To promote sound guidance to the general public on strategies for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

Principle: Following sensible and healthy guidelines for eating and physical activity is important for healthy weight management. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease known to reduce the life span, increase disability and lead to many serious illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Excess weight is caused by an interaction of genetic (inherited) and environmental (social and cultural) factors, which include metabolic (physical and chemical) and behavioral (psychological and emotional) components. Because of the complexity of weight loss, gain, and maintenance, promises of quick and effortless weight loss are worthless. A sedentary lifestyle is a significant barrier to weight loss and preventing further weight gain. Losing weight requires burning more calories than the body takes in by either reducing caloric intake, increasing caloric expenditure, or, preferably, both. Achieving and maintaining even a modest weight loss can reduce the severity of illnesses associated with obesity.

Effective weight management involves behavior modification which is a lifelong commitment and includes at least two components: healthful eating by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, emphasizing a reduction in total calories, a lowered carbohydrates, processed and ultra processed food consumption, and an increase in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and increasingly frequent and regular physical activity of at least moderate intensity. Medical and pharmacological interventions may be options for individuals with more serious cases of overweight and obesity. These interventions, combined with a plan for healthy eating and physical activity, should be utilized in conformance with applicable treatment guidelines.