High risk groups for overweight can be defined according to features such as ethnicity, pregnancy, smoking cessation, sudden changes in lifestyle and activities, low socioeconomic status and low educational level, and a positive (family) history of diabetes mellitus and obesity. Coronary heart death is to be attributed for 15-30% to overweight (body mass index (BMI) > or = 25 kg/m2) and for 4-25% to obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2). For diabetes mellitus these percentages are 64-82% and 33-75%, respectively. Population-based preventive and therapeutic measurements have to be aimed at less (fatty) food, more bodily activity, less consumption of alcohol, and better education and income. This requires policy changes at the ministries involved.