Download Weight Control: Eating Right and Keeping Fit

Weight Control: Eating Right and Keeping Fit
Keeping a healthy weight is good for your physical and mental well-being. Good eating habits and
moderate exercise are crucial to keeping a healthy weight and a fit body.
Factors That Affect Weight
Every function of the body — from building cells to moving muscles — needs energy. Energy is measured
in calories. Calories also measure how much fuel is in a certain food. The body uses only as much of its
daily intake of food as it needs for energy. The energy that remains is stored as fat in the body. Fat
normally makes up about 22 percent to 28 percent of a woman's body weight.
An average woman needs about 2,000 calories a day. Women who eat more than that and do not burn the
extra calories in exercise are likely to gain weight. A number of other factors affect weight gain:
Age
It is normal for women to gain a little weight as they grow older, especially after menopause.
Pregnancy
A woman might not lose all of the weight she gained during pregnancy.
Metabolism
Some women may have a hard time losing weight because of their metabolism — how their bodies use the
energy found in foods they eat.
Growth
People gain extra weight when their fat cells grow larger. In most people, this happens with growth
spurts.
Genes
Genes may affect a person's weight directly or in-directly.
What Is a Healthy Weight?
To stay healthy, you should keep your weight at the level that is best for your height.
Health Hazards of Being Overweight
Many health concerns relate to being obese or overweight.
High cholesterol levels
Diabetes
Cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure
Gallbladder disease
Certain types of cancer, such as cancer of the endometrium, breast, colon and gallbladder
Sleep apnea
Musculoskeletal disease (damage to joints)
Infertility
Weight Control
The best way to achieve and maintain a healthy weight is to balance the number of calories you eat and
drink with the number you burn.
Nutrition
A healthy diet should be the first step to weight loss. It is important to get the nutrients your body needs
to grow, replace worn-out tissue, and provide energy.
It is important to balance food and physical activity: getting more physical activity lets you eat more
without gaining weight.
Exercise
To be healthy, it is important to stay active. Regular exercise promotes health, mental well-being and a
healthy weight.
Medication
For some people, it may be hard to maintain weight only through diet and exercise. It is possible that
medication will help with weight loss. It will be used in addition to diet and lifestyle changes. These
medications should be used only under a doctor's care.
Surgery
If all other options fail, a special type of surgery, bariatric surgery, may be an option for people who are
very obese.
Finally . . .
The key to weight control is a blend of good eating habits and regular exercise. Eat foods that are rich in
nutrients, but low in calories. Choose exercise that you like, and vary it to get an overall workout. Talk to
your doctor.
This excerpt from ACOG's Patient Education Pamphlet is provided for your information. It is not medical
advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for visiting your doctor. If you need medical care,
have any questions, or wish to receive the full text of this Patient Education Pamphlet, please contact your
obstetrician-gynecologist.
To ensure the information is current and accurate, ACOG titles are reviewed every 18 months.
Copyright © October 2006 The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists