In contrast, people who have obesity, compared to those with a healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions. See examples of programs that can help.

Sugar is a main ingredient in many popular beverages. Learn how to Rethink Your Drink. Spanish language resources for healthy weight, nutrition, and physical activity.

Find out if you are at a healthy weight with the body mass index BMI calculator and your waist circumference. How to balance the calories you consume with the calories your body uses; also includes a video.

Healthy weight loss isn't just about a "diet" or "program". It's about lifestyle changes in daily eating and exercise habits. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search. Español Other Languages.

Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity. Español Spanish. Minus Related Pages. It can also lower your chance of developing weight-related health conditions. You gain weight when you take in more calories through food and drinks than you use up from physical activity and daily living.

But there are many different factors that can affect weight gain, such as:. Getting to and staying at a healthy weight involves finding a balance of food and activity. To lose weight, you need to take in fewer calories than you use up. Some ways to do this are:.

You may decide to do these lifestyle changes on your own, or you may decide to try a weight-loss diet or program. Before you start, it's important to check with your health care provider first.

Your provider can tell you what a healthy weight is for you, help you set goals, and give you tips on how to lose weight. If making lifestyle changes or doing a weight-loss program are not enough to help you lose weight, your provider may prescribe medicines.

The prescription medicines to treat overweight and obesity work in different ways. Some may help you feel less hungry or full sooner.

Others may make it harder for your body to absorb fat from the foods you eat. Another treatment is weight loss surgery. Your provider may recommend the surgery if you have severe obesity or serious obesity-related health problems and you have not been able to lose enough weight.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Weight Control. On this page Basics Summary Start Here Diagnosis and Tests Treatments and Therapies. Learn More Living With Related Issues Specifics.

See, Play and Learn Health Check Tools Test Your Knowledge. Research Statistics and Research Clinical Trials Journal Articles.

Resources Reference Desk Find an Expert. For You Children Teenagers Women Patient Handouts. Why is weight control important? What factors affect weight and health? But there are many different factors that can affect weight gain, such as: The world around you. Your home, community, and workplace all may affect how you make daily lifestyle choices.

For example: It is often easier to find food and beverages high in calories, sugar, and fat. For instance, vending machines, cafeterias, and special events may not offer healthy, lower calorie options. Less healthy foods may be cheaper than healthier foods. Many people are getting less physical activity because they are spending more time using smartphones and other devices.

Overweight and obesity tend to run in families. There are many reasons for weight gain including certain medications corticosteroids, antidepressants, beta-blockers, antipsychotics, insulin , pregnancy, chronic stress, chronically poor sleep, an excessive calorie intake, and lack of adequate exercise.

It is beneficial to keep a steady weight as much as possible and control excessive weight gain over time, which is strongly associated with health risks.

Maintaining a healthy weight can lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and many different cancers. Your weight, waist size, and the amount of weight gained since your mids can have health implications.

These factors may strongly influence your chances of developing the following diseases and conditions:. Most adults gain on average pounds each year. Some studies have suggested that having overweight and obesity is associated with lower mortality than having normal weight.

If you have gained more than 25 pounds in adulthood, losing that weight may seem daunting. The number of health-related apps targeting behavior change has boomed, with more than , apps commercially available in For example, if a healthcare provider advises a patient to lose weight to improve a chronic health condition, a nutritional app can provide tracking, accountability, and interaction that engages the patient until the next healthcare provider visit.

Also, most of the studies were of short duration at less than 6 months. Still, health apps are worth a try for anyone starting a healthy lifestyle plan and for those who might not have easy access to other support systems.

The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products.

Skip to content The Nutrition Source. The Nutrition Source Menu. Search for:. Home Nutrition News What Should I Eat? What Is a Healthy Weight? How useful are the MET Life Height-Weight Tables?

Does having overweight reduce mortality? There was no distinction made between these unhealthy normal weight people and lean healthy individuals.

The groups with overweight and obesity did appear to have a lower mortality rate than this mix of healthy and very unhealthy normal-weighted individuals, and this flaw led to false conclusions that overweight and obesity carry no risk and may offer reduced mortality. Other large studies that accounted for this and other methodological issues have found that having overweight and obesity is associated with increased risk of mortality compared with having a normal weight.

The influence of our environments As important as individual choices are when it comes to health, no one person behaves in a vacuum. The physical and social environment in which people live plays a huge role in the food and activity choices they make.

And unfortunately, in the U. and increasingly around the globe, our environments are not optimized for healthy living. From the persistent marketing and availability of unhealthy foods and sugary drinks, to time and safety constraints for staying active, individuals are faced with a variety of challenges.

Obesity and its causes have, in many ways, become woven into the fabric of our society. To successfully disentangle them will take a multifaceted approach that not only gives people the skills to make healthier choices but also sets in place policy and infrastructure that support those choices.

Should I try a health and nutrition app? Smartphone or mobile health apps are self-monitoring easily-accessible tools people can use to track their weight and dietary intake.

Apps may provide a food database from which to search, a photo function to take pictures of meals, a scanning tool to find food products using barcodes, or food icons. Other apps monitor eating behaviors such as stress-related or emotional eating, eating quickly or on-the-run, and overeating.

They may wish to record everything they eat and drink for several days. Additionally, a person can examine situations that pose a challenge to weight management. For instance, this may include factors such as having a busy travel schedule. Individuals can aim to develop strategies to deal with these challenges.

This may mean trying to lose 1 lb per week for a period of time. Individuals can also expect occasional setbacks. When these occur, they can aim to resume their efforts to meet goals and consider how to help avoid such hindrances. If someone consistently meets a goal, they may consider changing the goal to one that is a little more challenging to spur them forward.

After meeting a goal, people should reward themselves in ways unconnected to food, such as an outing with friends. The National Institutes for Health NIH advises people to manage their portion sizes.

The following tips may help with weight loss:. A person can still enjoy their favorite comfort foods if they eat them occasionally or in smaller amounts.

Learn more about following a healthy, balanced diet. In addition to a balanced diet, a lifestyle that promotes weight management includes exercise and stress-reducing techniques. According to the CDC, people should get at least minutes of moderate exercise per week.

Moderate intensity refers to activities that cause someone to breathe harder and make their heart beat faster, but it does not overwork them. An example is brisk walking. If an individual is new to exercise, they should check with a doctor before starting a new exercise plan.

This is particularly important if they have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a heart condition. Managing stress can help a person lose weight. A clinical trial evaluated the effects of an 8-week stress management program on weight loss.

The stress-reducing interventions included:. These interventions had an association with a reduction in body mass index and lower levels of anxiety and depression. A person may also consider asking a doctor for resource suggestions that could help with weight management.

This may entail referrals to a dietician and a community weight loss program. Such a program may help someone adhere to a suitable eating plan and exercise regimen, as well as track progress.

Developing a network of support sources that may include family members, friends, and local or online weight loss groups is also beneficial. This can provide encouragement, empathy, and motivation. Learn 10 tips for successful weight loss.

Components of weight management involve following a healthy eating plan that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and regular exercise, such as brisk walking.

It also entails engaging in stress-reduction techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing. Management strategies include making a commitment to lose weight, evaluating factors that promote weight gain, and setting realistic goals.

Being a healthy weight offers many health benefits, as well as a feeling of wellbeing. Fast weight loss is rarely easy, but it is possible to lose…. A look at some of the best foods for weight loss.

Included is detail on what foods to incorporate into your diet and why they work. Many people wish to lose weight but find that trying one diet after another does not seem to work. Should they eat less food? Eat different food…. Body fat scales can be an easy way to track body composition, but research debates their accuracy.

Here, learn about body fat scales and the best…. Pannus stomach occurs when excess skin and fat hang down from the abdomen. because that's the max weight that hospital X-ray equipment can accommodate. Fast food is easy and tasty, but it is often high in calories, fat and sodium.

These things can be bad for you in large amounts. Snacks can be an important part of a nutritious eating plan if the foods you choose contribute to a well-balanced diet. Find healthy snack ideas here. Patient Education.

Related Conditions. A major component of losing weight is to make smarter food choices. Related clinics. Recommended reading. Behavior Modification Ideas for Weight Management Weight management involves adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes a knowledge of nutrition, exercise, and a positive attitude.

Body Mass Index Chart Body mass index BMI is a number based on both your height and weight and can help determine the degree to which a person is overweight. Bariatric Surgery Requirements and Evaluation To be eligible for bariatric surgery, you must weigh less than lbs.