How to Lose Weight Healthily

Losing weight can be difficult, because to do so healthily will often involve changing your diet and lifestyle habits. Many people will be tempted to follow "crash" diets to lose weight, essentially starving themselves and potentially harming their bodies in the process. However, once the desired weight is reached, most people will go back to their previous routines because they haven't properly addressed the foundation of their weight problems.

By making long-lasting lifestyle changes and eating more healthily, you can lose weight and manage your health more easily and effectively. Medical treatments may be used to assist this process, allowing for more weight loss, but should never become the only measure for losing weight.

Advice from Dr Hilary Jones on healthy weight loss

Ways to lose weight safely and effectively

The most important factor to help you lose weight safely and effectively is diet. The principle comes down to this: if the amount of calories a person eats during the day is higher than what is burned, weight may increase as a result. Weight loss is dependent on this process being reversed – when the calories you burn in a day are higher than the calories you eat.

To lose weight through a balanced diet will therefore rely on lowering the amount of calories taken in through the day while the "burn rate" either stays the same or is increased. This should be done gradually rather than suddenly, as muscle could be converted to energy in order to make up for any abrupt decrease in calories.

If you are already trying this, but aren't getting the results, then you may be eligible to use a prescription weight loss treatment. To find out more about the range of treatments available, click below to start your free online consultation.

Guideline Daily Amounts

Guideline daily amounts are widely used in the UK and considered by the Food and Drink Federation to be a handy tool to help moderate daily calorie intake. The aim of GDA labelling is to help you make the most informed decision possible as to what you are including in your diet. Here is an example of what a GDA label may look like:

They should only be used for guidance purposes, as dietary needs vary depending on the individual. In general GDAs are based on the needs of an average sized woman that does an average amount of exercise.