The NIH has taken a proactive approach to the prevention and treatment of obesity. In April 2003, the NIH Director established the NIH Obesity Research Task Force. The Task Force is co-chaired by the Director of the NIDDK and by the Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. In 2004, the group developed a Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research with input from external scientists and the public. The Strategic Plan guides coordination of obesity research activities across the NIH and for enhances the development of new research efforts based on identification of areas of greatest scientific opportunity and challenge. The plan is available at http://obesityresearch.nih.gov

The Strategic Plan represents a cohesive, multi-dimensional research agenda for addressing the problem of obesity. The Plan is organized around four major themes:
Preventing and treating obesity through environmental changes, including lifestyle adjustments;
Preventing and treating obesity using medical, surgical, and other interventions;
Understanding and perhaps breaking the link between obesity and its associated health complications; and
Cross-cutting topics.