The Theory and Practice of Losing Weight

One of the most important ways to preserve good health is to control your weight. By losing pounds, overweight people can reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary heart disease (CHD) which are all traitor diseases. Losing weight may lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is often referred to as “bad” cholesterol. Losing weight can also lower levels of triglycerides and even increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, referred to as “good” cholesterol. In addition, weight loss can help reduce the risk of gallbladder disease and reduces stress on the back, hips, and knees, thus not aggravate arthritis. On the other side, it also boosts ones confidence by having a good and healthy shape.

In theory, weight control is a simple matter of balancing energy intake (the calories supplied by food) with energy output (the calories expended by physical activity and metabolism). To lose weight, you need to expend more energy than you take in, more exercises and workouts. In practice, however, the task is clearly not that simple. While the basic principle of energy balance remains true, several mechanisms–genetic, metabolic, and environmental–control how much you eat and how your body uses and stores energy.