title: Position of the American Dietetic Association: optimal weight as a health promotion strategy.
abstract: The American Dietetic Association supports the concept of optimal weight that considers a variety of factors to determine the most favorable weight for the individual. Adequate research exists to support the following: The prevention of obesity in children and adults through nutrition and health education should be a primary objective for registered dietitians and other health care professionals. Optimal weight for individuals should be determined by considering health risks, heredity, age, sex, percentage body fat, and realistic goal-setting. Children should not be placed on restricted-calorie diets; rather, efforts should be made to encourage the child to be physically active, to eat a well-balanced diet, and to return to internal control of eating. Also, normalization of the feeding relationship between parent and child is important. Weight control programs should include behavioral management techniques for food intake, exercise, stress, and improved self-esteem. The programs should focus on loss of body fat and avoidance of repeated diet failures. Healthful behaviors that can prevent and reduce the incidence of obesity should be encouraged by registered dietitians and other health care providers, educators, the food industry, insurance companies, employers, school programs, and families. The concept of optimal weight may be modified as scientific evidence is accumulated on the determinants of body composition and weight, effective nutrition and health education approaches, and effective weight management strategies. Research is needed to permit development of more effective weight management strategies and programs for the overweight population.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D004046:Dietetics; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012952:Societies; D014481:United States