Losing Weight

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Lose Weight and Keep It Off
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Why Lose Weight?

The benefits of maintaining a healthy weight go far beyond improved energy and smaller clothing sizes. By losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight, you are also likely to enjoy a higher quality-of-life too.

Healthy Weight Loss: Questions & Answers

Why is maintaining a healthy weight important for heart health?

Focus on long-term habits rather than fad diets. A combination of healthy eating, regular physical activity, and gradual lifestyle changes can help you lose weight and keep it off over time.

What is BMI and how is it calculated?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of weight in relation to height. For most adults, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m² is considered a healthy weight range

How does fiber help you lose weight?

Fiber-rich foods can help you feel full longer because they often take more time to chew and digest. This can help you feel satisfied on fewer calories and support healthy weight management.

Why do I eat when I'm not hungry?

People sometimes eat for reasons other than physical hunger, such as stress, boredom, sadness, or other emotions. Recognizing these triggers and finding healthier ways to cope with them can help build healthier eating habits.

Why Do I Eat When I’m Not Hungry?

 How can I make healthy meals that actually taste good? You can find hundreds of heart-healthy recipes on Recipes.heart.org, including meals, snacks, desserts, and recipes that fit a variety of dietary preferences. The site also lets you browse by ingredient, cooking method, and health goals to make healthy eating easier and more enjoyable.

Do fad diets really help you lose weight and get healthy?

Dr. Charlotte Markey, a Rutgers University psychology professor and a specialist in body image and eating behaviors, joins House Calls to discuss how to tell the difference between a healthy eating plan and an unhealthy fad diet.

Healthy Living BEYOND Weight™ Study

Your health is about more than just a number on the scale. It’s about how you feel—your energy, your mood, and your quality of life. The American Heart Association’s Healthy Living BEYOND Weight™ Study explores real-world experiences of adults navigating weight and health challenges to help improve care and redefine what it means to live well.
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How Weight Impacts Body Systems

Weight is an important part of metabolic health, the system that helps the body create, store, and use energy. Metabolic health is closely connected to heart and kidney health.

These systems are often described together as cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) health, since they work together and are all connected.

When weight reaches an unhealthy level, it can lead to higher blood pressure and blood glucose (sugar), along with lower heart and kidney function. Over time, these changes can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease.

Learn more about CKM

No Nonsense Nutrition

Through our healthy eating focus, we’re helping everyone experience joy and health in food again. Check out our video series to separate fact from fiction.
No Nonsense Nutrition: How to Spot a Fad Diet
No Nonsense Nutrition: Decades of Dangerous Diets Debunked
No Nonsense Nutrition: Best and Worst Diets in America

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