Although 45% of Americans say they worry about their weight, a smaller percentage, 29%, say they are seriously trying to lose weight.

High blood pressure can strain your heart, damage blood vessels, and raise your risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and death. Overweight and obesity may raise your risk for certain health problems such as high blood pressure.

We can influence our weight but we don’t have direct control. Weight is actually influenced by more than 50 different processes, many of which we have no control over. How much you eat and how much you exercise are only two small factors in weight. This also has important implications for how to manage weight.

Obesity is serious because it is associated with poorer mental health outcomes and reduced quality of life. Obesity is also associated with the leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.

“Skinny fat” is a term that refers to having a relatively high percentage of body fat and a low amount of muscle mass, despite having a “normal” BMI. People of this body composition may be at a heightened risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.

Get off to the best possible start on the NHS weight loss plan with these 12 diet and exercise tips.

1. Do not skip breakfast. Skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight.
2. Eat regular meals.
3. Eat plenty of fruit and veg.
4. Get more active.
5. Drink plenty of water.
6. Eat high fibre foods.
7. Read food labels.
8. Use a smaller plate.

9 weight-loss tips that actually work

1. Be mindful. Mindful eating is half the battle, Trotter says.
2. Eat breakfast.
3. Eat more protein — wisely.
4. Don’t cut out carbs.
5. Speaking of vegetables…
6. Reduce your alcohol intake.
7. Don’t ignore calories completely.
8. Use the “power of the pause”

There are some medical conditions that can drive weight gain and make it much harder to lose weight. These include hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and sleep apnea. Certain medications can also make weight loss harder — or even cause weight gain.

When you space out your meals too much, your metabolism slows down and isn’t able to burn off all the calories you eat in your next meal. Those extra calories may wind up as extra weight. And you may overeat because you’re too hungry. Try eating smaller portions, and eat more often.

Most people who have difficulty losing weight are simply eating too many calories. An important factor in weight loss is how many calories you’re eating versus how many calories you’re burning. It may seem easy, but if you’re not tracking your calories each day, you may be consuming more than you think.

If a person has a high metabolism, they may not gain much weight even when eating high-energy foods. Frequent physical activity. Athletes or people who engage in high levels of physical activity, such as runners, may burn significant amounts of calories that result in low body weight.

You can check if you’re underweight by using our BMI healthy weight calculator, which shows your body mass index (BMI). If your BMI is below 18.5, this suggests that your weight may be too low.

The 12 Best Foods to Boost Your Metabolism

1. Protein-rich foods. Protein-rich foods — such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, nuts, and seeds — could help increase your metabolism for a few hours.
2. Mineral-rich foods.
3. Chili peppers.
4. Coffee.
5. Tea.
6. Beans and legumes.
7. Ginger.
8. Cacao.

Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew—these are naturally good for metabolism. Watermelon may even help with weight loss because it contains the amino acid arginine, which was found in a study of obese mice to reduce body fat gains by 64 percent.

What are the signs of a fast metabolism?

• Weight loss.
• Anemia.
• Fatigue.
• Elevated heart rate.
• Feeling hot and sweaty often.
• Feeling hungry often throughout the day.

Four weight-loss drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for long-term use:

• Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave)
• Liraglutide (Saxenda)
• Orlistat (Xenical)
• Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)

Phentermine-Topiramate extended release (Qsymia) is the most effective weight loss drug available to date. It combines an adrenergic agonist with a neurostabilizer. Daily doses with four strengths start at 3.75/23mg to 15mg/92mg. Adults with migraines and obesity are good candidates for this weight loss medication.

Weight loss: 5 simple morning drinks to melt belly fat

• 01/6​Weight loss: 5 simple morning drinks to melt belly fat. Do you not fit in your favourite pair of jeans anymore?
• 02/6​Jeera water. Jeera is a must -use spice in all Indian curries.
• 03/6​Saunf water.
• 04/6​Ajwain water.
• 05/6​Lemon water.
• 06/6​Green tea.

20 Effective Tips to Lose Belly Fat (Backed by Science)

1. Eat plenty of soluble fiber.
2. Avoid foods that contain trans fats.
3. Don’t drink too much alcohol.
4. Eat a high protein diet.
5. Reduce your stress levels.
6. Don’t eat a lot of sugary foods.
7. Do aerobic exercise (cardio)
8. Cut back on carbs — especially refined carbs.

Eight Delicious Foods That Help Fight Belly Fat

• Belly Fat-Fighting Foods.
• Avocados.
• Bananas.
• Yogurt.
• Berries.
• Chocolate Skim Milk.
• Green Tea.
• Citrus.

7 Foods that Burn Belly Fat

• Beans. “Becoming a bean lover can help you lose weight and whittle your middle,” registered dietitian Cynthia Sass told Today.
• Swap your beef for salmon.
• Yogurt.
• Red bell peppers.
• Broccoli.
• Edamame.
• Diluted vinegar.

Lemons are known to help you lose weight; thanks to the presence of vitamin C and antioxidants that promote good digestion. Lemons also have diuretic properties, which help in detoxifying the body, thereby helping burning fat. According to experts, this magic potion can boost the body’s metabolism to a great extent.

Here are 12 healthy foods that help you burn fat.

• Fatty Fish. Fatty fish is delicious and incredibly good for you.
• MCT Oil. MCT oil is made by extracting MCTs from coconut or palm oil.
• Coffee. Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide.
• Eggs.
• Coconut Oil.
• Green Tea.
• Whey Protein.
• Apple Cider Vinegar.