Manage Your Weight

America is facing a weight crisis. More than half of us are overweight and roughly 12 million Americans have severe obesity (defined as being 100 pounds or more overweight). Obesity is a major cause of premature death — more than 30 medical conditions are associated with severe obesity, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

You can take steps to beat this crisis. Read the stories below to learn more about the ill health effects of obesity — and ways to overcome them. And sign up for Be Well eNews to get even more wellness information.

Good Habits, Bad Habits
Looking to drop a bad habit? Adopt a good habit? These tips can help get you started.

Quiz: What's Your Eating Style?
Are you a convenience eater or stress eater? Are your portions out of control? Take this quiz to discover your eating style.

Food and Mood
Want to improve your mood? The solution may be as close as your pantry. Certain foods help jog your memory, improve performance, increase pain tolerance, improve sleep and boost your mood.

Weight Loss: Does Your Health Depend On It?
Obesity affects more than your pant size; it affects every organ system in the body. But one weight-loss method cannot only help you shed pounds — and keep them off — but also help you recover from the many “ills” of obesity.

How 'Love Handles' Are Linked to Heart Disease
Why is belly fat bad for your heart? Because unlike the inert padding on our thighs or behinds, belly (visceral) fat is metabolically active — it changes your body chemistry. Our heart disease expert explains.

10 Tips for Smart Dining Out
Rather than skipping dinner out, follow these easy tips and enjoy — without guilt — your time away from the kitchen.

Busting 5 Nutrition Myths
We set the record straight on these common beliefs, from late-night snacking's ill effects to carbs and calories.

The Shape of Kids to Come
From bringing back P.E. and restocking snack machines with healthy treats to selling vegetables on sidewalks, communities are stepping up to the challenge of shaping up America’s kids.

It’s All in the Numbers
You can learn a lot about your heart health by the numbers. The numbers you need to know include your cholesterol levels, blood pressure, ejection fraction, your fasting glucose levels, and your weight.

Taste Every Bite
Welcome to Chocolate Meditation, a way of eating that encourages people to savor every bite and end what some call “mindless eating.”

Omega-3 Fats Pack a Powerful Punch
Few nutrients come close to the one-two punch these polyunsaturated fats, found in oil-rich fish and supplements, deliver.

Outsmarting Diabetes
Managing type 2 diabetes can be challenging. Learn how lifestyle decisions such as closely watching your weight can change the course of the disease.

Say Ahh
Researchers are taking weight loss surgery to the next level: moving from small-incision laparoscopy to no-incision procedures through the mouth.

Working Weight
Read this first-person account of a young man who set out to lose 100 pounds before finishing college. He finished, with unforeseen long-term benefits.