Smith, Sidney CClark, Luther TCooper, Richard SDaniels, Stephen RKumanyika, Shiriki KOfili, ElizabethQuinones, Miguel ASanchez, Eduardo JSaunders, ElijahTiukinhoy, Susan DThis article provides an overview of our current understanding of the epidemiology of obesity, the metabolic syndrome, and hypertension among racial/ethnic groups. Three presentations made at the conference by the present writing group are summarized and updated with other information on ethnic groups, and recommendations developed by the writing group for programs, public policy, and research are put forward.PolicyCardiovascular DiseaseHypertensionObesityArticle