You need to burn 3,500 calories to lose a pound of body weight.

You know your height and weight. You also should know your blood pressure, cholesterol level, and Body Mass Index (BMI).

Dieting, exercising, and creating healthy options for dealing with stress take time. Consider that time an investment in good health.

In children, obesity may be related to depression, behavioral problems, and genetics.

Unlike alcohol, tobacco, and other habits, you cannot decide to give up on food. It is better to modify your eating habits early - before a heart attack, diabetes, or other diagnosis forces the lesson upon you.

When you have had enough to eat, fat cells release the hormone, leptin , to curb you appetite. If there is a problem with your production of leptin, fat cells are unable to "tell you" that you are full. Research into the leptin-obesity link is underway.

It is estimated that up to 10% of mildly obese people who repeatedly try to lose have binge eating disorders in which they eat large quantities of food with no sense of self-control. Those with severe binge eating problems are also likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem. They find it more difficult to lose weight and keep it off than those without binge eating problems. This disorder is more common in people who are severely obese.

A large amount of abdominal fat indicates a higher risk of having high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, and heart and blood vessel disease. Weight and its distribution on the body should be considered along with gender, amount of exercise, age, blood pressure, and smoking habits when assessing the risk of heart disease, stroke, blood vessel disease and metabolic syndrome.