Weight Management Resource Center
Health ConditionsWeight Management

Weight Management

by
Weight management involves strategies to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. Both having obesity or being underweight can have profound effects on health and contribute to sometimes life-threatening complications over time. Treatment and prevention strategies emphasize balanced eating, portion control, regular physical activity, and behavior changes, sometimes involving specific eating plans. Medication and surgery are available for people with immediate or underlying health concerns due to obesity.

FAQ

What are the key components of weight management?
Balanced diet, regular exercise, and behavior changes.
Calorie intake, portion sizes, and food choices impact weight. Choosing natural, fresh fare in its whole form over prepackaged foods and snacks and prioritizing healthy proteins, fruits, vegetables, and oils can help you manage weight more effectively.
Both aerobic and strength training are beneficial. Diet has a more significant effect on initial weight loss, but exercise is vital for keeping the weight off. A balanced approach to diet and exercise can support weight management.
Sustainable weight management involves a lifestyle that provides adequate nutrition, regular exercise, stress management, and sufficient sleep. Reducing exposure to sugary snacks, fitting physical activity into your schedule, and maintaining social connections can also help.
Long-term changes are crucial for successful weight management, and these can take time to achieve. Slow, sustainable weight loss and long-term lifestyle adjustments take time to put in place, but they also give you long-term health benefits.
Meet Our Experts In Weight Management
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network
Everyday Health’s team of board-certified physicians and health professionals contribute to the creation and review of content, ensuring that the information is useful, up to date, and accurate.
Sean-Hashmi-bio

Sean Hashmi, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Sean Hashmi, MD, is an experienced nephrologist and obesity medicine specialist based in Southern California. As the regional director for clinical nutrition and weight management ...

See full bio

Jennifer Logan, MD, MPH

Medical Reviewer
Justin Laube

Justin Laube, MD

Medical Reviewer

Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, a...

See full bio
Kara-Andrew-bio

Kara Andrew, RDN, LDN

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Kara Andrew, RDN, LDN, is the director of health promotion for Memorial Hospital in Carthage, Illinois. She is also licensed as an exercise physiologist and certified in lifestyle ...

See full bio
Lynn Griger photo

Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES

Medical Reviewer

Lynn Grieger is a registered dietitian-nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist, certified personal trainer, and certified health and wellness coach. She comp...

See full bio
kayli-anderson-bio

Kayli Anderson, RDN

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Kayli Anderson has over a decade of experience in nutrition, culinary education, and lifestyle medicine. She believes that eating well should be simple, pleasurable, and sustainabl...

See full bio
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Weight Management. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

ALL WEIGHT MANAGEMENT ARTICLES

See All Articles