Who needs to lose weight?
Doctors generally agree that people who are 20 percent or more overweight, especially the severely obese, can gain significant health benefits from weight loss.

Many obesity experts believe that people who are less than 20 percent above their healthy weight should try to lose weight if they have any of the following risk factors: family history of certain chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes; preexisting medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, or high blood sugar levels; and an "apple" shaped body, in which weight is concentrated around their abdomens. (NIDDIK)

You do not need to lose weight if your weight is already within the healthy range, if you have gained less than 10 pounds since reaching your adult height and if you are otherwise healthy.

What about children?
Children need enough food for proper growth. Teach them to eat a healthy diet. Encourage them to play actively in a safe environment, and consider limiting television time.

Fat should not be restricted for children younger than two years of age. Helping overweight children should be done carefully, with major diet changes accompanied by regular monitoring of growth by a health professional.

How to lose weight: Healthy diets and exercise are the key to maintaining a healthy weight and to losing weight. If you are trying to lose weight, do so slowly and steadily. A generally safe rate is .5-1 pound a week until you reach your goal.

Avoid crash weight-loss diets that severely restrict calories or the variety of foods. Extreme approaches to weight loss, such as self-induced vomiting or the use of laxatives, amphetamines or diuretics, are not appropriate and can be dangerous to your health.

Diet tips:
Eat a variety of foods that are low in calories and high in nutrients
Check the Nutrition Facts Label on food products
Eat smaller portions and limit extra helpings of foods high in fat an calories
Eat more vegetables and fruits without adding fats and sugars
Eat pasta, breads, rice and cereals without adding fats and sugars Eat less sugars and fewer sweets Drink less or no alcohol
Be aware of your eating patterns. Snacks make up a large percentage of daily calories for many Americans, and frequent binge-eating may also contribute to weight problems
Eat less fat and fewer high-fat foods, which contain more calories per serving than other foods