Weight Management: The Basics

Calories are a measure of the energy in the foods you eat. To stay at a healthy weight, you need to balance the calories you eat with the calories you use. To lose weight, you need to use more calories than you eat. A healthy diet and physical activity can help you control your weight.

How do I know if I'm eating the right number of calories?

Use this calculator to find out the number of calories your body needs each day to maintain your current weight. Remember, if you are overweight you need to burn more calories than you eat to lose weight.

How do I know if I'm overweight?

Finding out your body mass index (BMI) is the easiest way to learn if you are at a healthy weight. Enter your height and weight into this Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator to find out your BMI number and what it means for you.

What can losing weight do for me?

If you are overweight or obese, losing just 10 pounds may lower your risk of:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Early death

Getting active and eating healthy foods can also help you:

• Lower your blood pressure
• Lower your blood sugar
• Raise your "good" cholesterol
• Lower your "bad" cholesterol
• Prevent heart and blood flow problems that can lead to heart disease and nerve damage

If you are already at a healthy weight, continue to get regular physical activity and choose healthy foods.