This review considers a variety of perspectives on overweight and obesity (OW/obesity), including measurement and classification; prevalence and changes in prevalence in recent years; genetic, biological, medical, individual, and social correlates of OW/obesity; and treatment approaches. Despite increased attention, OW/obesity is escalating in prevalence worldwide, and the causes are exceedingly complex. A range of innovative studies, including basic research on gut microflora, dietary composition, pharmacologic interventions, and surgical procedures, is generating findings with potential for future prevention and treatment of OW/obesity. Social system changes such as school programs and the awareness of the roles of personal, family, health provider, and cultural experiences related to OW/obesity have also gained traction for vital prevention and treatment efforts over the past decade.

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Abstract-African Americans have higher reported hypertension prevalence and lower control rates than other ethnic groups in the United States. Hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control (outcomes) and potentially associated demographic, lifestyle, comorbidity, and health care access factors were examined in 5249 adult participants (3362 women and 1887 men) aged 21 to 94 years enrolled in the Jackson Heart Study. Hypertension prevalence (62.9%), awareness (87.3%), treatment (83.2%), and control (66.4%) were high. Control declined with advancing age; estimates for all of the outcomes were higher for women compared with men. Lower socioeconomic status was associated with prevalence and control. Smoking was negatively associated with awareness and treatment, particularly among men. Comorbidities (diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease), likely driven by the high rates of obesity, correlated with hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control. Lack of health insurance was marginally associated with poorer control, whereas use of preventive care was positively associated with prevalence, awareness, and treatment, particularly among men. In comparisons with the 1994 -2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data adjusted to Jackson Heart Study sex, age, and socioeconomic status distribution, control rates among Jackson Heart Study participants appeared to be higher than in their national counterparts and similar to that of whites. These results suggest that public health efforts to increase awareness and treatment among African Americans have been relatively effective. The Jackson Heart Study data indicate that better control rates can be achieved in this high-risk population. Key Words: hypertension Ⅲ detection and control Ⅲ population Ⅲ epidemiology Ⅲ blood pressure Ⅲ ethnicity H ypertension is likely the single most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet blood pressure (BP) control (Ͻ140/90 mm Hg) is reported in just over one third of all hypertensive participants, with widening disparities among treated African Americans. [1][2][3][4][5] Few studies have examined the levels of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among an all-African American population. The Jackson Heart Study (JHS), a community-based CVD study in an African-American cohort, offers a rich data source for extensive examination of factors contributing to these levels. Prevalence of hypertension, awareness of BP elevation, treatment with antihypertensive medications, and rate of BP control were described for the JHS cohort as a whole. Differences among subgroups classified by prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control levels were examined in relation to important demographic and health status characteristics. MethodsThe JHS is a single-site cohort study of CVD in African Americans residing in the Jackson metropolitan statistical area. From September 2000 to March 2004, 5302 participants were recruited and examined, including Ϸ50% (1626) of ...