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Introduction

When it comes to weight loss, there's no lack of fad diets promising fast results. But such diets limit your nutritional intake, can be unhealthy, and tend to fail in the long run.

The key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight isn't about short-term dietary changes. It's about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating, regular physical activity, and balancing the number of calories you consume with the number of calories your body uses.

Staying in control of your weight contributes to good health now and as you age.

Take Control

assessing your weight
Assess Your Weight
Assess Your Weight
The first step is to determine whether or not your current weight is healthy. BMI – Body Mass IndexBMI – Body Mass Index is one way to measure your weight.
losing weight
Lose Weight
Losing Weight
Healthy weight loss isn't just about a "diet" or "program". It's about an ongoing lifestyle that includes long-term changes in daily eating and exercise habits.
preventing weight gain
Prevent Weight Gain
Prevent Weight Gain

To stay at a healthy weight, it's worth doing a little planning now. If you are overweight but aren't ready to lose weight, preventing further weight gain is a worthy goal.

bmi calculator widgetWidget

You can add this widget to your Web site to let anyone calculate their Adult Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a number calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. This calculator provides BMI and the corresponding BMI weight status category. Use this calculator for adults, 20 years old and older.

Get the code on the CDC Widgets Page.


CDC-TV Screen Capture: Finding a Balance.Video

To support efforts to help individuals achieve caloric balance and to provide insights into ways in which communities can be involved, CDC-TV has just released a new video in its "Health Matters" series "Finding a Balance" providing expert perspectives on caloric or "energy" balance and personal stories of how individuals have made changes in their lives to achieve this balance.
Watch or download the video. (4:15 mins)


Podcast

Obesity and Women (3:57)
This women's health podcast focuses on obesity in women and girls. It discusses obesity-related health risks and includes tips to help achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Date Released: 5/11/2009


CDC Vital Signs - Adult Obesity

Obesity is a national epidemic, causing higher medical costs and a lower quality of life.


Contact Us:
  • Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity
    4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS/K-24
    Atlanta GA 30341-3717

  • 800-CDC-INFO
    (800-232-4636)
    TTY: (888) 232-6348
    24 Hours/Every Day
  • cdcinfo@cdc.gov
USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web PortalDepartment of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348 - Contact CDC–INFO

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