After the holiday festivities the New Year is the perfect time to turn our focus back on health!

Why Is a Healthy Weight Important?

Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is important for overall health and can help you prevent and control many diseases and conditions. When you are overweight you’re at higher risk of developing serious health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, and breathing problems, among others.

What Factors Contribute To a Healthy Weight?

Many factors can contribute to a person’s weight. These factors include environment, family history and genetics, metabolism (the way your body changes food and oxygen into energy), and behavior or habits.

You can reach and maintain a healthy weight if you:

• Follow a healthy diet, and if you are overweight or obese, reduce your daily intake by 500 calories for weight loss

• Are physically active

• Limit the time you spend being physically inactive