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Weight Management

Take a well-informed and healthy approach to weight management using our experts’ advice.

Diet Myths

Low-carb? Gluten-free? What works and what is just hype? Our nutrition experts guide you through the confusing claims.

How to Combat Your Food Cravings

Ignoring food cravings is hard, but you can learn healthy ways to cope and keep them in check.

Losing Weight the Healthy Way

Find out how to lose weight and keep it off in a healthy way, without following any special diets.

    Weight Management Topics

    • Diet and Weight Loss
    • Healthy Weight

    BMI Calculator

    CALCULATE YOUR BMI

    Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. The higher the BMI, the greater the risk of some diseases.

    CALCULATE YOUR BMI

    Ask an Expert

    Karen Handy

    Karen Handy, M.P.H.

    Palo Alto Medical Foundation

    I have successfully lost weight this year (almost 60 pounds), but now the scale won't move anymore. It is like my metabolism has acclimated to the diet. what can I do?

    First of all, congratulations on your weight loss! I have no doubt there was a lot of hard work that contributed to your success, and it is extremely frustrating when all the effort that's gotten the scale to m... continue reading  about  I have successfully lost weight this year (almost 60 pounds), but now the scale won't move anymore. It is like my metabolism has acclimated to the diet. what can I do?

    Mark Saleh

    Mark Saleh, M.D.

    Palo Alto Medical Foundation

    I'm a woman (45) who gets frequent migraines. I'm also about 40 pounds overweight. I read somewhere that being overweight might actually increase the number of migraines that I get. Is this true, and would losing weight help?

    Research has shown a link between being overweight and migraines -  headache frequency and severity are increased. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the link, including biological, behaviora... continue reading  about  I'm a woman (45) who gets frequent migraines. I'm also about 40 pounds overweight. I read somewhere that being overweight might actually increase the number of migraines that I get. Is this true, and would losing weight help?

    Karen Handy

    Karen Handy, M.P.H.

    Palo Alto Medical Foundation

    I exercise hard in the early evening and eat dinner after that. Each night at around 9:30, I'm ravenous. What is a good snack that will actually satiate the hunger without calorically unraveling the hard work of my work out?

    Snacks with high fiber and water content, that also include some protein and just a bit of heart-healthy fat, will help you feel the most full and satisfied. That same fiber and water content will also keep you... continue reading  about  I exercise hard in the early evening and eat dinner after that. Each night at around 9:30, I'm ravenous. What is a good snack that will actually satiate the hunger without calorically unraveling the hard work of my work out?

    Karen Handy

    Karen Handy, M.P.H.

    Palo Alto Medical Foundation

    How do I compute my basic healthy calorie intake? What are some basic facts about how many calories a person needs to burn to lose weight?

    I have a formula that you can use to calculate the calories you will need for your ideal body weight. Get ready for some math! Let's start by looking at how many calories you would need per day just to maintain... continue reading  about  How do I compute my basic healthy calorie intake? What are some basic facts about how many calories a person needs to burn to lose weight?

    Deborah Kurzrock

    Deborah Kurzrock, R.D.

    Mills-Peninsula Medical Center

    I've been hearing more and more about the nutritional benefits of chia seeds -- that they can help regulate blood sugar and promote weight loss. Any truth to this?

    Chia is an edible seed that comes from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, a member of the mint family. They have a nutlike flavor. It is a cousin of the seeds (Salvia columbariae) once used to grow green hair a... continue reading  about  I've been hearing more and more about the nutritional benefits of chia seeds -- that they can help regulate blood sugar and promote weight loss. Any truth to this?

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    I am 51 years old and weigh 256 lbs. I have several medical problems, including knee pain. I also sit all day in my job and my long commute. I want to lose weight - where do I start?

    Losing weight and becoming more active are fantastic goals! If you are mostly sedentary and knee pain is an issue for you, then I would start exercising with simple walking. Research shows that just 30 minutes ... continue reading  about  I am 51 years old and weigh 256 lbs. I have several medical problems, including knee pain. I also sit all day in my job and my long commute. I want to lose weight - where do I start?

    Junaid H. Khan

    Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS

    Eden Medical Center

    My goal next year is to improve my overall health. Can you tell me if I should focus more on lowering my weight (as I'm a few pounds heavier than I should be), or concentrate more on exercising?

    That is an excellent question. A study in the AHA journal Circulation, by Dr. Duck-Chul Lee from South Carolina, addressed this question. The title says it all: "Physical Fitness Trumps Body Weight in Reducing ... continue reading  about  My goal next year is to improve my overall health. Can you tell me if I should focus more on lowering my weight (as I'm a few pounds heavier than I should be), or concentrate more on exercising?

    Deborah Kurzrock

    Deborah Kurzrock, R.D.

    Mills-Peninsula Medical Center

    To reduce belly fat, I have read about diets that include using plant-based protein shakes or smoothies that are supposed to “melt away” belly fat. Is there any truth to this?

    I wish I could say there was a magic formula to "melt away" any kind of fat, but it is not as simple as that advertisement. Nothing can selectively “melt away” belly fat. In a similar ad that I read... continue reading  about  To reduce belly fat, I have read about diets that include using plant-based protein shakes or smoothies that are supposed to “melt away” belly fat. Is there any truth to this?

    Patricia Hockett

    Patricia Hockett, M.D.

    Palo Alto Medical Foundation

    Why do men put weight on at their stomachs? My husband tries to lose weight, but his belly is very slow to go down. He doesn't drink alcohol. Do you have any suggestions on how he can lose this belly fat?

    Weight gain and especially belly fat has been the topic of much discussion for years. This is evidenced by the plethora of websites and articles addressing it and claiming to have the solution to combat it. Whi... continue reading  about  Why do men put weight on at their stomachs? My husband tries to lose weight, but his belly is very slow to go down. He doesn't drink alcohol. Do you have any suggestions on how he can lose this belly fat?

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