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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

    Sue Hazeghazam

    Sue Hazeghazam, R.D.

    Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento

    Experts say not to skip meals because it slows metabolism down. We are also advised to exercise to burn fat. Now they say you can't just do aerobics, you need resistance training. I'm training with weights and all I'm doing is getting bigger.

    You should try to do both types of exercise. Both have benefits. Aerobic exercise is helpful to improve circulation and to burn calories and, if done long enough, to also help burn fat stores. When you do resis... continue reading  about  Experts say not to skip meals because it slows metabolism down. We are also advised to exercise to burn fat. Now they say you can't just do aerobics, you need resistance training. I'm training with weights and all I'm doing is getting bigger.

    Larry K. Fan

    Larry K. Fan, M.D.

    California Pacific Medical Center

    If I get liposuction to get rid of my belly fat, will I reduce the health risks associated with being "apple" shaped?

    Liposuction is a great way to contour and reshape the body (including the belly) by removing unwanted fat. Unfortunately, liposuction is not a treatment for weight loss, nor does it appear to influence the risk... continue reading  about  If I get liposuction to get rid of my belly fat, will I reduce the health risks associated with being "apple" shaped?

    Jane Varner

    Jane Varner, M.D.

    Palo Alto Medical Foundation

    I'm 54, eat well and exercise five times per week. Yet my BMI is 27, which translates as obese. Is a BMI of 27 really that indicative of my overall health?

    First of all, congratulations on getting all of that wonderful exercise! Exercise is so good for your physical AND mental health. Don't go calling yourself obese just yet. Technically, a BMI of 27 classifies yo... continue reading  about  I'm 54, eat well and exercise five times per week. Yet my BMI is 27, which translates as obese. Is a BMI of 27 really that indicative of my overall health?

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    What are the risks of having a baby when you're overweight? I need to lose weight, but I'm worried I'll never have a baby if I hold off until I've lost weight.

    Ideally, a woman will want to start her pregnancy at a healthy weight for her height, to minimize complications during her pregnancy.Several studies have been done to understand the effect that being overweight... continue reading  about  What are the risks of having a baby when you're overweight? I need to lose weight, but I'm worried I'll never have a baby if I hold off until I've lost weight.

    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?

    Astrin Damayanti

    Astrin Damayanti, R.D.

    Sutter Gould Medical Foundation

    My daughter and I are vegans. We are knowledgeable and eat a very healthy diet. She is about 40 lbs overweight and I need to lose 10 lbs. She has significantly reduced her food quantity, but it's hard to get nutrition and diet at the same time. Any tips?

    First off, great job for trying to improve your health and eating healthy! Weight loss is really comes down to calories in and calories out. Eating healthy is a good start but for weight loss, how many calories... continue reading  about  My daughter and I are vegans. We are knowledgeable and eat a very healthy diet. She is about 40 lbs overweight and I need to lose 10 lbs. She has significantly reduced her food quantity, but it's hard to get nutrition and diet at the same time. Any tips?

    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

    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?

    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?

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