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Definition
Nearly two out of every three adults in the United States is overweight.
Experts often rely on a formula called the body mass index (BMI) to determine if a person is overweight. The BMI estimates your level of body fat based on your height and weight.
The risk of many medical problems is higher for adults who have excess body fat and fall into the overweight groups.
An active lifestyle and plenty of exercise, along with healthy eating, is the safest way to lose weight. Even modest weight loss can improve your health. Get support from family and friends.
Your main goal should be to learn new, healthy ways of eating and make them part of your daily routine.
Many people find it hard to change their eating habits and behaviors. You may have practiced some habits for so long that you may not even know they are unhealthy, or you do them without thinking. You need to be motivated to make lifestyle changes. Make the behavior change part of your life over the long term. Know that it takes time to make and keep a change in your lifestyle.
Work with your health care provider and dietitian to set realistic and safe daily calorie counts that help you lose weight. Keep in mind that if you drop pounds slowly and steadily, you are more likely to keep them off. Your dietitian can teach you about:
Jensen MD, Ryan DH, Apvian CM, et al. 2013 AHA/ACC/TOS guideline for the management of overweight and obesity in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and The Obesity Society. Circulation. 2014;129:S102-S138.
Klein S, Fabbrini E, Romijn JA. Obesity. In: Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, Kronenberg HM, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 36.
UF Health research scientists make medicine better every day. They discover new ways to help people by running clinical trials. When you join a clinical trial, you can get advanced medical care. Sometimes years before it's available everywhere. You can also help make medicine better for everyone else. If you'd like to learn more about clinical trials, visit our clinical trials page. Or click one of the links below:
This study is open to adults who are at least 18 years old and have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or more, or a BMI of 27 kg/m² or more and at least one health problem related to their weight. People with type 2 diabetes cannot take part…
This study is open to adults who are at least 18 years old and have a body mass index of 27 kg/m² or more. People can take part if they have type 2 diabetes and if they are currently being treated only with diet and exercise or with specific…
December 13, 2022
Socioeconomically disadvantaged people fare better at losing weight when they are given modest financial incentives, a new study by a University of Florida…
College of Medicine, +2 more
Authors: Maggie Dungey and Madelyne Egan Obesity is a complex disease and one that many people struggle with. More than one-third of adults in the United…
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Different types of weight gain
Lipocytes (fat cells)
Obesity and health