Weight Control

Summary

Keeping a healthy weight is crucial. If you are underweight or overweight, or have obesity, you may have a higher risk of certain health problems.

About two thirds of adults in the U.S. are overweight or have obesity. Achieving a healthy weight can help you control your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. It might also help you prevent weight-related diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and some cancers.

Eating too much or not being physically active enough will make you overweight. To maintain your weight, the calories you eat must equal the energy you burn. To lose weight, you must use more calories than you eat. A weight-control strategy might include:

• Choosing low-fat, low-calorie foods
• Eating smaller portions
• Drinking water instead of sugary drinks
• Being physically active

Eating extra calories within a well-balanced diet can help to add weight.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Teenagers

• 5 Ways to Reach a Healthy Weight Nemours Foundation
• Take Charge of Your Health: A Guide for Teenagers National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Treatments and Therapies

• 6 Things To Know About Dietary Supplements Marketed for Weight Loss National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• Bitter Orange National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements
• Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Ephedra National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• Hoodia National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight & Obesity National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Prescription Weight-Loss Drugs: Can They Help You? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Weight Loss Surgery: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Diagnosis and Tests

• Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Obesity Screening National Library of Medicine

Start Here

• Basics of Weight Control Department of Veterans Affairs
• Choosing a Safe and Successful Weight-Loss Program National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Health Tips for Adults National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Weight Management National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Patient Handouts

• Body mass index Medical Encyclopedia
• Can you boost your metabolism? Medical Encyclopedia
• Diet for rapid weight loss Medical Encyclopedia
• Losing weight after pregnancy Medical Encyclopedia
• Managing your weight with healthy eating Medical Encyclopedia
• Portion size Medical Encyclopedia
• Snacks for adults Medical Encyclopedia
• Ways to burn more calories every day Medical Encyclopedia
• Weight loss and alcohol Medical Encyclopedia
• Weight-loss medicines Medical Encyclopedia

Health Check Tools

• Calculate Your Body Mass Index National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Calorie Counter American Cancer Society

Statistics and Research

• Cancer and Obesity Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Specifics

• Changing Your Habits for Better Health National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Diets: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Guide to Behavior Change National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Guide to Physical Activity National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• How to Handle Food Cravings Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Metabolism and Weight Loss: How You Burn Calories Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Selecting a Weight-Loss Program National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Weight Management and Healthy Living Tips National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Body Mass Index National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Weight Loss National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Weight Reduction Programs National Institutes of Health

Living With

• Daily Food and Activity Diary National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Eat More, Weigh Less? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Food Portions: Choosing Just Enough for You National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Nutrition: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Some Myths about Nutrition and Physical Activity National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Weight Loss: 6 Strategies for Success Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Weight-Loss: Gain Control of Emotional Eating Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Reference Desk

• Definitions of Health Terms: Nutrition National Library of Medicine

Find an Expert

• Find a Nutrition Expert Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Encyclopedia

• Healthy habits for weight loss Medical Encyclopedia
• Weight gain after quitting smoking: What to do Medical Encyclopedia

Children

• Keeping Portions Under Control (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Women

• Menopause Weight Gain: Stop the Middle Age Spread Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• Physical Activity Does More Than Help You Look Good

Games

• Portion Distortion! Do You Know How Food Portions Have Changed in 20 Years? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Journal Articles

• Weight Control

Related Issues

• Sample Menus to Eat Right and Lose Weight National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute