Who should lose weight? Health experts generally agree that adults who are overweight and have weight-related medical problems or a family history of such problems can benefit from weight loss. Some weight-related health problems include diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, or high blood sugar levels. Even a small weight loss of 10 to 20 pounds can improve your health by lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
How To Lose Weight Correctly
Your body weight is controlled by the number of calories you eat and the number of calories you use each day. So, to lose weight you need to take in fewer calories than you use. You can do this by becoming more physically active or by eating less.
Following a weight loss program that helps you to become more physically active and decrease the amount of calories that you eat is most likely to lead to successful weight loss. A weight loss program should also help you keep the weight off by making changes in your physical activity and eating habits that you will be able to follow for the rest of your life.
To lose weight and keep it off, you should follow a weight loss program that will work for you. Three types of weight loss programs commonly used include:
- Do-it-yourself programs: Any efforts to lose weight by you or with a group of like-minded others through support groups, work-site or community-based programs. These individuals rely on their own judgment, group support, and products such as diet books for advice.
- Clinical programs: These may be operated in a health-care setting such as a hospital, by licensed health professionals like physicians, nurses, dietitians, or psychologists. They often provide services such as nutrition education, behavior change therapy, and physical activity monitoring.
- Non-clinical programs: These may be commercial programs or privately-owned chains. They often use pre-prepared books and pamphlets by health-care providers, and services are offered by counselors who may or may not be licensed professionals. Some programs also require the use of specific food products or supplements.
Other weight loss methods used to treat severely overweight patients include low-calorie diets, prescription weight loss drugs, and surgery. If you are considering a weight loss program and you have medical problems, or if you are severely overweight, programs run by trained health professionals may be best for you. These professionals can monitor you for possible side effects and coordinate with your doctor as needed.
The key to successful weight loss is making changes in your eating and physical activity habits that you will be able to maintain for the rest of your life.
The first step is to look at your current habits, such as television watching or snacking, that lead to overeating or inactivity. The next step is learning how to change those behaviors in a sustainable way.
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