Getting Started

You may have heard that losing weight is as easy as eating less and exercising more. Well it's true—taking in fewer calories than you use each day is the simplest way to lose weight. Never mind the fad diets, weight loss pills, and zany herbal remedies—it all comes down to a balanced diet and a regular exercise program.

In addition to traditional weight loss programs, such as Weight Watchers, there are now an astounding number of Internet-based weight loss programs. But do they really work? And how do they compare to traditional weight loss services?

Food, Nutrition, and Diet

What is the best diet to help you lose weight and improve heart health in the short-term? Find out here.

Ask not what your body can do for you, ask what you can do for your body. The government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans is a good reminder that we have a duty to our bodies. Read more here.

Diet detectives: spotting sensible diets

Here are 10 questions to ask yourself when considering a new diet.

Cueing into your eating patterns

Learn how to recognize and outsmart triggers for overeating.

Most people consume far more calories than they realize. The culprit? A warped sense of portion size. Read more here.

Satisfying your taste—and waist—in international restaurants: Greek, Indian, and Japanese

Here's how to enjoy some wonderful ethnic foods without adding extra fat, salt, or calories.

Exercise

For many people, starting an exercise program for the first time is quite safe. But depending on your age and whether you have certain cardiovascular risk factors, you may need to see your physician before starting a program of vigorous (as opposed to moderate) aerobic activity. The American Council on Exercise offers the following advice.

Walk this way to fitness

Walking for fitness is inexpensive, safe, and amazingly good for you. Read more here.

Health benefits of exercise for women

We've all heard that exercise keeps you healthy. But you may be surprised at just how long those benefits can last. Read more here.

Let's face it, finding stairs to climb isn't always easy. No sweat. Add a stairclimber to your home gym and you can climb anytime, no matter what the weather. Read more here.

Here's a workout that will kick those excess pounds right off! Read more here.

Lauren Kaiser remembers the first time she tried to scale the 30-foot-high textured gray face that is Connecticut College's indoor climbing wall. Her climb was going well until halfway up when her mouth "got all dry...I looked down and said 'what am I doing up here?'" Read more here.

Exercise (Continued)

Here is a different way to energize your exercise plan, which may help you add miles—and meaning—to your workout: exercise for a cause. Find out how you can help.

Medications

Short of gastric bypass surgery, prescription weight loss medications may be the next best bet for some. But how effective are these medications? And how do you know if you are a good candidate for them?

Weight loss: what are your options?

Our alternative health expert discusses the pros and cons of medications and dietary supplements for weight loss.

Weight Management: Children

How do you know if your child is overweight? The best way to find out is to schedule a visit with your pediatrician or family physician, who can tell you if your child’s weight is in a healthy range. But if you are concerned that your child may be overweight, there are some other ways you can assess your child’s weight. Learn more here.

Weight Management: Seniors

As you approach menopause, you may have concerns about managing symptoms such as hot flashes, disturbed sleep patterns, and vaginal dryness. But if you’re like many women, you may be unaware of your changing nutritional needs at this time. During menopause and beyond, your diet plays an important role in your health and well-being. What should you eat and why?

Health clubs are no longer the exclusive territory of the young and buff. Walk into a gym on any given day and you'll see a representative number of the 50+ crowd. Read more here.

Diagnostic and Surgical Procedures

The fashion world has decreed that there is no room for flabby abs, thick thighs, or love handles. In response, droves of average citizens with a little extra flesh here and there are turning to liposuction. Read more here.

• Surgical weight loss procedures:

• Bariatric surgery
• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
• Stomach stapling
• Vertical banded gastroplasty
• Weight reduction surgery

True or False?

You know that exercise is important, but there is a lot of conflicting advice out there concerning the “right” way to work out. One question that often arises is, “Will I lose more weight if I go running on an empty stomach?”

Eat late, gain weight? Research has shown that your body doesn’t process food differently at different times of the day.

Weight Loss Stories

• Real-life stories of weight loss

Natural and Alternative Treatments

• Alternative treatments for weight loss