Losing Weight for Better Health

Obesity in Americans may soon cause as much preventable disease and death as cigarette smoking says the U.S. Surgeon General. In fact, as many as 300,000 deaths a year are linked to excessive weight, compared with about 430,000 from smoking.

That certainly puts overeating in perspective—and provides the motivation to lose weight. Yet the only way to lose weight and keep it off is to eat less and move more. (COMPANY NAME) suggests these ideas to make positive, realistic and long-lasting changes to your lifestyle.

Follow the 90-10 principle

Don’t diet. Try this formula for maintaining balance and moderation in your diet. Ninety percent of your daily intake should be high in lean protein—fish, skinless chicken and beans—and complex carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, brown rice and potatoes. The other 10 percent can be foods of your choosing. And, don’t forget to drink at least eight glasses of water a day.

Get moving

Whether at the gym or at home, regular exercise will reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and diabetes. In Time magazine, Dr. JoAnn Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said that regular exercise is probably as close to a “magic bullet” as we will ever get in modern medicine. She said that if everyone in the United States were to walk briskly for 30 minutes a day, the incidence of many chronic diseases could be cut 30 percent to 40 percent.

Make fitness and eating right a family affair

Sadly nearly 13 percent of children and adolescents are considered obese or overweight. Help your kids learn healthy habits by setting an example and enjoying physical activity together.

If you need help assessing your diet, visit (Insert URL) or call (insert NUMBER) for help.