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A
balanced diet and regular physical activity are the building blocks of
good health. Poor eating habits and too little physical activity can lead
to overweight and related health problems. By eating right and being active,
you can stay at or reach a healthy weight. Do it for yourself and your
family!
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The
basis of a healthy diet is eating a wide variety of foods. Every day,
you should try to eat:*
-
6
to 11 servings of bread, cereal, rice, or pasta. One serving equals
one slice of bread, about 1 cup of ready-to-eat cereal, or 1/2 cup
cooked cereal, rice, or pasta.
-
3
to 5 servings of vegetables. One serving equals 1 cup of raw leafy
vegetables, or 1/2 cup of other vegetables, cooked or raw.
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2
to 4 servings of fruit. One serving equals one medium apple, banana,
or orange; 1/2 cup of chopped, cooked, or canned fruit; or 3/4 cup
of fruit juice.
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2
to 3 servings of milk, yogurt, or cheese. One serving equals 1 cup
of milk or yogurt, 1 1/2 ounces of natural cheese (such as Cheddar),
or 2 ounces of processed cheese (such as American). Choose low-fat
or fat-free products most often.
-
2
to 3 servings of meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, or nuts.
One serving equals 2 to 3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry without
skin, or fish. You should eat no more than 5 to 7 ounces per day.
One half cup of cooked dry beans, one egg, or 1/2 cup of tofu counts
as 1 ounce of meat. Two tablespoons of peanut butter or 1/3 cup
of nuts counts as 1 ounce of lean meat.
The
larger number of servings is for active men. Eat a smaller number of
servings if you are a woman, inactive, or trying to lose weight.
*
Servings and serving sizes are from the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Department
of Health and Human Services Food Guide Pyramid
You
can not always measure your food. Here are some ways to help you estimate
serving sizes.
1/2
cup of rice or pasta = size of ice cream scoop
1
cup of salad greens = size of a baseball
1/2
cup of chopped fruit or vegetables = size of a lightbulb
1
1/2 ounces of cheese = size of four dice
3
ounces of meat or fish = size of a deck of cards or cassette tape
2
tablespoons peanut butter = size of a ping pong ball
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Tips
for healthy eating
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- Eat
breakfast every day.
People who eat breakfast are less likely to overeat later in the day.
Breakfast also gives you energy and helps you think and learn.
- Choose
whole grains more often.
Try whole wheat breads and pastas, oatmeal, brown rice, or bulgur.
- Select
a mix of colorful vegetables each day.
Different colored vegetables provide different nutrients. Choose dark,
leafy greens such as kale, collards, and mustard greens, and reds
and oranges such as carrots, sweet potatoes, red peppers, and tomatoes.
- Choose
fresh or canned fruit more often than fruit juice.
Fruit juice has little or no fiber.
- Use
fats and oils sparingly.
Olive, canola, and peanut oils, avocados, nuts and nut butters, olives,
and fish provide heart-healthy fat as well as vitamins and minerals.
- Eat
sweets sparingly.
Limit foods and beverages that are high in added sugars.
- Eat
three meals every day
instead of skipping meals or eating a snack instead of a meal.
- Have low-fat, low-sugar snacks on hand at home, at work, or on the go, to combat hunger and prevent overeating.
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Quick
breakfast ideas
- low-fat
yogurt sprinkled with low-fat granola
- oatmeal
with low-fat or fat-free milk, or soy-based beverage
- whole
wheat toast with thin spread of peanut butter
- fruit
smoothie made with frozen fruit, low-fat yogurt, and juice
- low-sugar
cereal with soy-based beverage
Easy
snack ideas
- low-fat
or fat-free yogurt
- rice
cakes
- fresh
or canned fruits
- sliced
vegetables or baby carrots
- dried
fruit and nut mix (no more than a small handful)
- air-popped
popcorn sprinkled with garlic powder or other spices
- low-sugar
cereal
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What
is a healthy weight?
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Body
mass index (BMI) is one way to tell whether you are at a healthy weight,
overweight, or obese. It measures your weight in relation to your height.
A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is in the healthy range. In the chart below, find
your height in the left-hand column and move across the row to find your
weight. If you are in the overweight or obese range on the chart, you
are more likely to have certain health problems.
*Without shoes **Without clothes
Another
way to find out if you are at risk for health problems caused by overweight
and obesity is to measure your waist. If you are a woman and your waist
is more than 35 inches, or if you are a man and your waist is more than
40 inches, your risk of disease is higher.
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What
are the health risks of being overweight?
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Extra
weight can put you at higher risk for:
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type
2 diabetes (high blood sugar)
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high
blood pressure
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heart
disease and stroke
-
some
types of cancer
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sleep
apnea (when breathing stops for short periods during sleep)
-
osteoarthritis
(wearing away of the joints)
-
gallbladder
disease
-
irregular
periods
- problems
with pregnancy such as high blood pressure or increased risk for cesarean
section (c-section)
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What
makes people overweight?
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People
gain weight when the number of calories they eat is more than the number
of calories their bodies use. Many factors can play a part in weight gain.
- Habits.
Eating too many calories can become a habit. So can choosing activities
like watching TV instead of being physically active. Over time, these
habits can lead to weight gain.
-
Genes.
Overweight and obesity tend to run in families. Although families
often share diet and physical activity habits that can play a role
in obesity, their shared genes increase the chance that family members
will be overweight.
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Illness.
Some diseases can lead to weight gain or obesity. These include hypothyroidism,
Cushing's syndrome, and depression. Talk to your health care provider
if you think you have a health problem that could be causing you to
gain weight.
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Medicine.
Some medicines can lead to weight gain. Ask your health care
provider or pharmacist about the side effects of any medication you
are taking.
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The
world around you. You can find food and messages about
food at home, at work, at shopping centers, on TV, and at family and
social events. People may eat too much just because food is always
there. On top of that, our modern world—with remote controlled televisions,
drive-in banks, and escalators—makes it easy to be physically inactive.
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Emotions.
Many people eat when they are bored, sad, angry, or stressed, even
when they are not hungry.
Although
you may not be able to control all the factors that lead to overweight,
you can change your eating and physical activity habits.
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If
you need to lose weight
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Losing
as little as 5 to 15 percent of your body weight over 6 months or longer
can do much to improve your health. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds,
losing 5 percent of your body weight means losing 10 pounds. Losing 15
percent of your body weight means losing 30 pounds. A safe rate of weight
loss is 1/2 to 2 pounds per week.
Try
some of these ideas to support your weight loss efforts:
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Shop
from a list and shop when you are not hungry.
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Store
foods out of sight.
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Dish up smaller servings. At restaurants, eat only half your meal and take the rest home. See WIN's brochure Just Enough for You, About Food Portions for more tips on controlling portion size.
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Eat
at the table with the TV off.
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Be realistic about weight loss goals. Aim for a slow, modest weight loss.
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Seek support from family and friends.
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Expect
setbacks and forgive yourself.
- Add physical activity to your weight-loss plan. Doing regular physical activity can help you control your weight.
Write down all the food that you eat in a day. Also write down the time you eat and your feelings at the time.
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Getting
active
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You
do not have to be an athlete to benefit from regular physical activity.
Even modest amounts of physical activity can improve your health. Start
with small, specific goals such as walking 10 minutes a day, 3 days a
week and slowly build up from there. Keep an activity log to track your
progress.
Try
these activities to add more movement to your daily life:
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Take
the stairs instead of the elevator. Make sure the stairs are well
lit.
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Get
off the bus one stop early if you are in an area safe for walking.
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Park
the car farther away from entrances to stores, movie theatres, or
your home.
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Take
a short walk around the block with family, friends, or coworkers.
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In
bad weather, walk around a mall.
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Rake
the leaves or wash the car.
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Visit
museums, the zoo, or an aquarium. You and your family can walk for
hours and not realize it.
- Take
a walk after dinner instead of watching TV.
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Are
you ready to be even more active?
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As
you become more fit, slowly increase your pace, the length of time you
are active, and how often you are active. Before starting a vigorous physical activity program, check with your health care provider if you are a man and over age 40 or a woman and over age 50, or have
chronic health problems.
For a well-rounded workout plan,
combine aerobic activity, muscle-strengthening exercises, and stretching. Do
at least 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity on most or all
days of the week. Add muscle-strengthening activities to your aerobic
workout two to three times a week.
To reduce the risk of injury, do a
slow aerobic warm-up, then stretch before aerobic or strengthening activities.
Follow your workout with a few more minutes of stretching. See WIN's brochure Walking-A Step in the Right Direction for stretching exercises.
Aerobic
activity is any activity that speeds up your heart and breathing while
moving your body at a regular pace. If you have been inactive for a while,
you may want to start with easier activities such as walking at a gentle
pace. This lets you build up to more intense activity without hurting
your body.
Regular
aerobic activity can help to:
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Control
weight. Aerobic activity burns calories, which may help you manage your weight..
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Prevent
heart disease and stroke.
Regular aerobic activity can strengthen your heart muscle and lower
your blood pressure. It may also help lower cholesterol, a type of
fat in your blood.
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Maintain
strong bones. Weight-bearing aerobic activities that involve lifting
or pushing your own body weight, such as walking, jogging, or dancing,
help to maintain strong bones.
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Improve
your outlook. Aerobic exercise relieves tension and decreases
stress. As you get fit, it can help to build confidence and improve
your self-image.
Choose
aerobic activities that are fun. People are more likely to be active if
they like what they are doing. It also helps to get support from a friend
or a family member. Try one of these activities or others you enjoy:
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brisk
walking or jogging
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bicycling
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swimming
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aerobic
exercise classes
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dancing
(square dancing, salsa, African dance, swing)
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playing
basketball or soccer
Strengthening
activities include lifting weights, using resistance bands, and doing
push-ups or sit-ups. Besides building stronger muscles, strengthening
activities may help you to:
-
Use
more calories. Not only does the exercise burn calories, but having
more muscle means you will burn more calories-even when you are sitting
still.
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Reduce
injury. Stronger muscles improve balance and support your joints,
lowering the risk of injury.
- Maintain
strong bones.
Doing strengthening exercises regularly helps build bone and may prevent
bone loss as you age.
Strengthening
exercises should focus on working the major muscle groups of the body,
such as the chest, back, and legs. Do exercises for each muscle group
two or three times a week. Allow at least 1 day of rest for your muscles
to recover and rebuild before another strengthening workout. (It is safe
to do aerobic activity every day.)
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Be
good to yourself
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Many
people feel stress in their daily lives. Stress can cause you to overeat,
feel tired, and not want to do anything. Regular physical activity can
give you more energy. Try some of these other ideas to help relieve stress
and stay on track with your fitness and nutrition goals:
-
Get
plenty of sleep.
-
Practice
deep breathing and relaxing your muscles one at a time.
-
Take
a break and go for a walk.
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Take
short stretch breaks throughout the day.
-
Try
taking a yoga or tai chi class to energize yourself and reduce stress.
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Try
a new hobby, like a pottery class or any activity that sparks your
interest.
-
Surround
yourself with people whose company you enjoy.
A
balanced eating plan, regular physical activity, and stress relief can
help you stay healthy for life.
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Tips
for Adults
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- Eat
breakfast every day. People who eat breakfast are less likely to overeat
later in the day.
-
Choose
whole grains more often. Try whole wheat breads and pastas, oatmeal,
brown rice, or bulgur.
-
Select
a mix of colorful vegetables each day. Different colored vegetables
provide different nutrients.
- Eat
three meals every day instead of skipping meals or eating a snack instead
of a meal.
Have low-fat, low-sugar snacks on hand at home, at work, or on the go, to combat hunger and prevent overeating.
- At
restaurants, eat only half your meal and take the rest home.
- Visit
museums, the zoo, or an aquarium. You and your family can walk for
hours and not realize it.
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Additional
Reading
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Dietary
Guidelines for Americans
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 2000.
Phone: 1-888-878-3256.
www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines
Exercise and Weight Control
The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
www.fitness.gov
Healthy Weight, Healthy Living
Shape Up America!
www.shapeup.org
Walking...A Step in the Right Direction
Weight-control Information Network (WIN), 2001.
Phone: 1-877-946-4627.
www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/walking/walkingbro/walking.htm
www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/pubs/spanish_walking/index.htm
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Additional
Resources
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American
Dietetic Association
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
Phone: 1-800-877-1600
www.eatright.org
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Phone: 1-800-575-9355
www.nhlbi.nih.gov
National Diabetes Education Program
Phone: 1-800-438-5383
www.ndep.nih.gov
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
Department W
200 Independence Ave., SW
Room 738-H
Washington, D.C. 20201-0004
Phone: (202) 690-9000
www.fitness.gov
Shape Up America!
www.shapeup.org
Food and Nutrition Information Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
National Agricultural Library, Room 105
10301 Baltimore Avenue
Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
Phone: (301) 504-5719
www.nal.usda.gov/fnic
Inclusion
of resources is for information only and does not imply endorsement by
NIDDK or WIN.
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Weight-control Information Network
1 WIN WAY
BETHESDA, MD 20892-3665
Phone: (202) 828-1025
FAX: (202) 828-1028
Toll-free number: 1-877-946-4627
Internet: www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/nutrit.htm
E-mail: win@info.niddk.nih.gov
The Weight-control Information Network (WIN) is a service of
the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of
the National Institutes of Health, which is the Federal Government’s
lead agency responsible for biomedical research on nutrition and obesity.
Authorized by Congress (Public Law 103-43), WIN provides the general public,
health professionals, the media, and Congress with up-to-date, science-based
health information on weight control, obesity, physical activity, and
related nutritional issues.
WIN answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works
closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies
to coordinate resources about weight control and related issues.
Publications
produced by WIN are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside
experts. This publication was also reviewed by Roland Weinsier, M.D.,
Dr.P.H., Professor and Director, Clinical Nutrition Research Center, University
of Alabama at Birmingham; Rena Wing, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and
Human Behavior, Brown University; and F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, M.D., M.P.H.,
Director, Obesity Research Center, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center.
This e-text is not copyrighted. The clearinghouse encourages users of
this e-pub to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
NIH Publication No. 04-4992
June 2004
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