Managing Weight in a Healthy Way

The number of young people who are overweight has doubled in the last two to three decades. Currently one child in five is overweight. This increase is in adolescents, of all ages, genders, and ethnic. This trend can be traced to lifestyle factors. These include overeating or eating too many empty-calorie foods, and getting too little physical activity. The extra pounds mean added stress on the heart and lungs. They also mean an increased risk of lifestyle related illnesses.

Both the media and your peers can put pressure on you to look a certain way. This kind of pressure is negative because it is not concerned with what is healthy for you. It is only concerned with achieving an unrealistic ideal, no matter how dangerous. People who need to lose weight should do so gradually by slowly increasing physical activity and eating only as many calories as their bodies need. They should not turn to fad diets, diet pills, smoking, or extreme workout programs that promise fast results. Some of these products may be ineffective and even life threatening.

When it comes to managing your weight in a healthy way, there are no shortcuts. If you need to adjust your weight, talk to your health care provider. He or she can recommend a safe, healthy approach that will help you reach your goal in a reasonable amount of time.