Anorexia can have dangerous psychological and behavioral effects on all aspects of an individual’s life and can affect other family members as well.

* The individual can become seriously underweight, which can lead to depression and social withdrawal.

* The individual can become irritable and easily upset and have difficulty interacting with others.

* Sleep can become disrupted and lead to fatigue during the day.

* Attention and concentration can decrease.
» Read more: What are anorexia symptoms and signs (psychological and behavioral)?

1. The desire to lose weight must come from the individual. If you’re truly ambivalent about making changes in your lifestyle or are doing this to please someone else, you’re likely to fail. When making changes, decide what’s right for your lifestyle. Your best friend’s diet and exercise plan may be completely wrong for your habits and interests. The key is to find a system that works for you.
» Read more: 7 tips for successful weight loss

Maintenance of a healthy body weight is important for maintaining both physical and emotional well-being and preventing disease. Excess weight and obesity have been associated with an increased risk for numerous medical conditions, including

* heart disease,

* high blood pressure,

* stroke,

* diabetes,

* osteoarthritis,

* some types of cancers,

* sleep apnea, and

* elevated blood cholesterol levels.
» Read more: Why is weight loss important?

Many people prefer to have a set of rules to follow when dieting. Others may crave the emotional support from attending counseling sessions or meetings. Diet products, books, and services have become a billion-dollar industry, so there are obviously many people looking for help with weight control. Before you jump on the latest diet bandwagon, remember that organized diet plans and programs can only result in weight loss if you burn more calories than you consume. No dietary supplements, exercise devices, combinations of foods, or specific patterns of eating will change this fact.
» Read more: What about special diet plans (fad diets and popular diets)?

By adopting sensible eating habits and practicing portion control, you can eat nutritious foods so that you take in as many calories as you need to maintain your health and well-being at your ideal weight. Often, weight loss occurs on its own simply when you start making better food choices, such as avoiding

* processed foods,

* sugar-laden foods,

* white bread and pasta (substitute whole-grain varieties instead),

* foods with a high percentage of calories from fat, and

* alcoholic drinks.

While nothing is absolutely forbidden, when you do succumb to temptation, keep the portion size small and add a bit more exercise to your daily workout.
» Read more: The no-diet approach to weight control

Most experts agree that a safe, healthy rate of weight loss is one to 1 ½ pounds per week. Modification of eating habits along with regular exercise is the most effective way to lose weight over the long term. It is also the ideal way to ensure that the weight stays off.
» Read more: How fast should you expect to lose weight?

The most effective method for weight loss is reducing the number of calories you consume while increasing the number of calories you burn through physical activity. To lose 1 pound, you need an expenditure of approximately 3,500 calories. You can achieve this either by cutting back on your food intake, by increasing physical activity, or ideally, by doing both.

For example, if you consume 500 extra calories per day for one week without changing your activity level, you will gain 1 pound in weight (seven days multiplied by 500 calories equals 3,500 calories, or the number of calories resulting in a 1-pound weight gain). Likewise, if you eat 500 fewer calories each day for a week or burn 500 calories per day through exercise for one week, you will lose 1 pound.

Examples of calorie content of some popular foods and beverages include:

* one slice original-style crust pepperoni pizza – 230 calories

* one glass dry white wine – 160 calories
» Read more: How do you “lose” weight?

Whether you are trying to lose 5 pounds or more than 50, the same simple laws of physics determine whether or not you will lose weight and how fast your weight loss will occur. Remembering these simple guidelines and putting them into practice can lead to weight loss without the aid of any special diet plans, books, or medications.
» Read more: Introduction to weight loss