A. Adult Person Enrolled in the VHA or DoD Healthcare Systems

definition

Any adult eligible for care in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) or the Department of Defense (DoD) healthcare delivery system should be screened and if necessary, treated for overweight or obesity as described in this guideline. (See Module B: Treatment for Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance)

discussion

In this guideline, an adult is defined as an individual age 18 years or older.  This guideline is not directed to the treatment of children, adolescents (less than age 18), or pregnant/lactating women.  Patients with existing comorbid conditions should be managed in consultation with appropriate specialists or existing practice guidelines.  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the World Health Organization (WHO) all currently recommend that providers screen all adults for overweight and obesity using body mass index (BMI) (McTigue et al., 2003, NHLBI, 1998; USPSTF, 2003; WHO, 2000).