Everywhere we look we see society's idea of the "perfect" body. Skinny supermodels and well-muscled men cover the pages of our magazines and dominate our movie screens. These picture perfect bodies often come at a price to the person's health. Everyone doesn't have the same shape or health condition, so care must be taken when we select a diet for attaining our weight goals. While dieting, it's important to make sure your body continues to be well nourished while you burn unneeded calories. You can do as much damage to your body by not maintaining proper nutrition while dieting as being overweight.

Many people today are threatened with obesity. According to studies, one out of three Americans is obese, and it’s rapidly growing out of control in other countries as well. The fast food explosion and lack of information regarding the consequences to our health are contributors in this escalating problem. Everyone should make weight loss a priority, but not just to look good. Excess weight can cause many health problems that could do serious damage to your body. Heart problems, diabetes, stroke, and cancer can all be a result of obesity. So many health problems can be avoided simply by taking control over your weight.

Many diets promise rapid, even overnight weight loss. They can work temporarily, but these are not permanent solutions. Fad diets can have serious, even dangerous consequences if undertaken apart from a physician's care. Low carb diets may help you lose weight quickly, but too few carbs can increase your risk of certain types of cancer and heart disease. You need a certain amount of carbohydrates to maintain energy and stay healthy. If you avoid all carbs, your body's defense mechanisms will kick in and not burn the calories you do take in, storing them for energy to use later. This will cause your weight loss to be much more difficult in the long run.

The key to weight loss is the discipline to maintain a healthy diet, along with a proper amount of exercise. One must choose to eat the right food at the right time. Your body needs protein and a moderate amount of carbohydrates as well. You need those energy-supplying carbs as well as protein, which burns fat. Remember, if you skip meals your body may not allow itself to burn what you do take it. Regular exercise is an important component to weight loss. The energy you receive from the carbs you ingest helps you burn excess fat when you exercise. A healthy diet can make sure you aren't a slave to obesity. For more information on healthy dieting, see http://LosingWeightWithoutStarving.info.