Your Body Mass Index is a scale that uses your height and weight to estimate your body fat percentage -- anything 25 or above means that you need to lose weight. A proper diet and regular exercise are the only healthy ways to achieve lasting weight loss, and some education is essential. Knowledge is power, and the more valid information you have, the more able you are to make healthy choices. The key is to get your information from trusted sources, and not from someone who just wants to sell you the newest "magic pill".
Your Doctor
Your first stop on your journey to a healthy BMI should be your doctor. She will assess your current state of health to determine if you have any medical conditions that may alter your exercise or dietary needs. She may also be able to make recommendations specific to your body. The visit may also involve blood tests to check hormone and thyroid levels if obesity has been a chronic problem for you.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC website includes a section on obesity and features a resources and publications page with links to a wealth of weight loss information. You can find information about BMI, a glossary of diet-related terms as well as links to sites like MedlinePlus -- a site where you can look up information about different nutritional supplements. The site contains information about losing and maintaining weight, as well as information about children and obesity.
United States Food and Drug Administration
The USDA Make Your Calories Count page features training modules that teach you how to read a nutritional label and use the information correctly. Learning how to use the nutritional information published on food packaging is an important step in choosing the right foods. The tutorials are available in Flash, PDF and text form, and are divided into four sections -- the preface, Size Up Your Serving and Calories, See What's In It For You and Judge If It's Right For You.
United States Department of Agriculture
The USDA uses the familiar food pyramid to illustrate a balanced diet. The My Pyramid website includes information about each food group, including the importance of each one, the recommended serving sizes and the recommended number of servings per day. The site also makes suggestions as to how to fit all of the necessary foods into your day without exceeding your calorie limit, and offers guidance on menu planning and planning healthy meals for children.
American Council on Exercise
The American Council on Exercise offers certification programs for personal trainers and weight loss consultants, but the Get Fit section of the website is devoted solely to fitness information for the general public. The site includes an exercise database searchable by target muscle, difficulty, general muscle group or equipment, and each exercise is explained in step-by-step detail. The ACE website includes an Ask the Experts area, workout suggestions, product reviews and even recipe ideas to help you structure your new healthier lifestyle. There are links to research results as well as a variety of online calculators including BMI, body fat percentage, a calorie estimator as well as many other tools to help you reach your fitness goals.
Member Comments