Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight includes healthy eating, physical activity, optimal sleep, and stress reduction. Several other factors may also affect weight gain.

Healthy eating features a variety of healthy foods. Fad diets may promise fast results, but such diets limit your nutritional intake, can be unhealthy, and tend to fail in the long run.

How much physical activity you need depends partly on whether you are trying to maintain your weight or lose weight. Walking is often a good way to add more physical activity to your lifestyle.

Managing your weight contributes to good health now and as you age. In contrast, people who have obesity, compared to those with a healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions. See examples of programs that can help.

Helping people maintain a healthy weight is part of CDC’s work to achieve health equity.

A pitcher of fruit-infused water filling a glass.

Sugar is a main ingredient in many popular beverages. 

Assessing Your Weight

Photo: Girl on a scale
Find out if you are at a healthy weight with the body mass index (BMI) calculator and your waist circumference.

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Finding a Balance

Photo: Salad
How to balance the calories you consume with the calories your body uses; 

Healthy Eating

Eat healthy and enjoy it! Learn about planning meals, cutting calories and healthy recipes.


Preventing Weight Gain

To prevent weight gain; choose a healthy eating plan, get moving, and monitor your weight.


Physical Activity for Healthy Weight

Physical activity is important for weight loss and maintaining your weight.


Tips for Parents

Ideas to help children maintain a healthy weight.


Losing Weight

Healthy weight loss isn't just about a "diet" or "program". It's about lifestyle changes in daily eating and exercise habits.


Health Effects

Extra weight increases the risk for certain health conditions.


External Resources

Weight loss, weight management, nutrition, meal planning tools.

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