Obesity is a major international public health problem and Americans are among the heaviest people in the world. The percentage of obese people in the United States rose steadily until 2003, after which time the percentage has remained unacceptably high.

Many people find that although they initially lose weight by dieting, they quickly regain the weight after the diet ends. Because it so hard to keep weight off over time, it is important to have as much information and support as possible before starting a diet. You are most likely to be successful in losing weight and keeping it off when you believe that your body weight can be controlled. Programs that help you to change your lifestyle are usually run by psychologists, nutritionists, or other professionals.

The goals of lifestyle changes are to help you change your eating habits, become more active, and be more aware of how much you eat and exercise, helping you to make healthier choices.

This type of treatment can be broken down into three steps:

● The triggers that make you want to eat
● Eating
● What happens after you eat