Long-Term Weight Loss-What Works? Tips from the POUNDS LOST Study

When it comes to counseling individuals about weight loss, separating fad from fact can be a never ending battle. A recent study shows heart healthy diets that reduce calorie intake—regardless of differing proportions of fat, protein, or carbohydrate—can help overweight adults achieve and maintain weight loss. The findings serve up evidence that the key to weight loss success has nothing to do with fads, and provide insight into developing successful weight-loss programs.

Read a summary of the research study

Tip Sheet

Aim for a Healthy Weight Patient Booklet

This popular booklet for adults contains practical, easy-to-use information for losing and maintaining weight - including tips on healthy eating and physical activity, other options such as weight loss medications and weight loss surgery, setting weight loss goals, and rewarding success. The booklet also includes portion and serving size information, sample reduced calorie menus, tips on dining out, a sample walking program, weekly food and activity diaries, and more.

Explore the healthy weight booklet

NHLBI Diseases and Conditions Index (DCI)

Overweight and Obesity

Overweight is having extra body weight from muscle, bone, fat, and/or water. Obesity is having a high amount of extra body fat. The most useful measure of overweight and obesity is the body mass index (BMI). BMI is based on height and weight and is used for adults, children, and teens.

Learn all about overweight and obesity
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Resources

Aim for a Healthy Weight Primary Care Provider Education Kit

This kit is designed to offer health care providers tools to help them identify, assess, and manage their overweight and obese patients and reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease.

Portion Distortion!

Do You Know How Food Portions Have Changed in 20 Years? Take the online interactive quiz.

The Practical Guide: Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults

This highly rated guide was developed cooperatively by the North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO) and the NHLBI.

Archived page, reproduced from a 2011 copy. It is reference material, not current guidance.