The report is issued in compliance with a 1990 congressional mandate to publish a report at least every five years on the dietary, nutritional, and related health status of Americans and the nutritional quality of the food they consume. It was prepared with direction from the Interagency Board for Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research for the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, the agencies jointly responsible for carrying out the congressional mandate. The report profiles the nutritional status of the general U.S. population, as well as groups at higher risk. These results represent increases in the prevalence of overweight since the 1970's.
Hypertension remains a major public health problem in middle-aged and elderly people.