Treatment Options

Helping Yourself

The best way to lose weight successfully is to incorporate a combination of diet changes and exercise. Generally, reducing your daily caloric intake by 500 to 1,000 calories each day is a good start, although you should first talk to your doctor to find out what's most appropriate for you. For most women a general guideline for daily calorie intake is 1,000 to 1,200 calories and for most men is 1,200 to 1,600 calories. Fat calories should typically make up less than 30% of total calories in this diet.

You should also increase your physical activity to help in weight loss. Easy ways to do this include walking, swimming, taking the stairs instead of an elevator, and parking a little farther away from buildings when shopping or going to work. Walking is an easy and safe way to begin. Start by walking 30 minutes a day 3 times each week. Gradually increase this to 45 minutes a day on at least 5 days each week. This will not only increase your daily caloric expenditure by 100 to 200 calories, it will also help decrease your risk of other diseases such as diabetes mellitus and heart disease. Of course, you should always talk to your doctor before you begin an exercise regimen to be sure that the regimen is appropriate for you.

For more information on dietary guidelines, click on the following link: Dietary Guidelines

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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.