The U. S. Preventive Services Task Force reported its 2003 recommendations in the August 26 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. These recommendations were largely in the context of dietary counseling for adults who are at a risk of cardiovascular diseases.

They came up with these recommendations after considering the fact that in recent years there has been an increase in the number of overweight and obese people with CVD risk factors.

So, taking view of the seriousness of this issue, USPSTF in a statement said that overweight or obese adults should receive counseling if they have at least one of the following risk factors: hypertension, dyslipidemia, impaired fasting glucose or the metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by blood sugar levels above normal or near the level for diagnosing type II diabetes.

Dr. Michael L. LeFevre, the chair of the Task Force said, "My message for patients would be that we have the ability by changing our behavior to modify our risk for heart disease and stroke and your doctors can help you do that".

After doing systematic review of 74 trials, USPSTF found that intensive behavioral counseling can go a long way in helping patients with CVD risk factors. Behavioral counseling will involve changes in their daily habits and will lower the risks in the long-run.

The most important change that the patients should aim at is losing some weight. This can be done by being more physically active. Also, doctors should make sure that all their overweight and obese CVD candidates opt for multi-session behavioral counseling, so as to bring about effective changes in diet and lifestyle.

The USPSTF, an independent body, comprises a panel of experts. It was created in 1984 and serves in prevention and proof-based medicine. The basic aim of this committee is to improve the health of all Americans by making evidence-based recommendations on clinical preventive services.