Weight loss is a major concern all over the country. Weight problems are more prevalent in the western world than they are in the eastern world. You don't hear about obesity being a problem in Asia or Africa. But it's everywhere that Americans are obese. North Americans are known to be the world's most obese people.

Every year, though, the definition of obese gets stricter. People can be considered perfectly happy one year and obese the next. If you don't know if you need to lose weight, talk to your doctor first. For those that definitely want to lose weight, here are some tips to help you.

Drinking lots of water will help you lose weight. You can jump start your weight loss by simply drinking water in place of other beverages. Drinks like fruit juice have several calories. Replacing your juice, tea, coffee, and other beverages with water is the easiest way to cut calories.

Did you know that eight ounces of Pepsi contain one hundred calories? Eight ounces of water, however, has zero calories. With that one switch you've saved yourself one hundred calories. Because water also flushes out the toxins in your system, it helps keep the rest of you healthy.

Don't use words like diet, try calling your new plan a lifestyle change." The word "diet" has become quite negative and will often lead to unnecessary questions or judgments from others. You can instead say you are trying to improve your health through the food you eat. You will gain a sense of positivity with this verbiage. People are more likely to cheat on diets than they are to cheat on a lifestyle change. Dieters can get discouraged easily when cheating rather than nudging the lifestyle a bit.

Talk to your doctor before taking anything. Weight loss products make all sorts of claims these days. There are rarely any truth to these claims. The real truth is that most of these products are harmful to you. Your doctor can help you make sure the product is safe. If your physician doesn't like it you should follow his/her advice.

Weight loss is something that everybody struggles with. The good news is that, when you work with your doctor you can lose weight without losing your health. Fad diets and weight loss products can do more damage to your body than good if not used properly. Keep in mind that the ultimate goal here is not to be super skinny, but healthy. If you are toothpick skinny you may not be healthy.