5 Unexpected Tips for Healthy Weight Loss

What exactly a healthy weight is can be hard to define. Everyone has a different body size, health history, and other complex factors. 

If weight loss is one of your goals, and you have extra weight, experts say that a modest weight loss of  five to 10 percent of your total body weight may be beneficial to your health. It may help to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels and decrease your risk for other diseases related to extra weight. 

Keep in mind that safe and sustainable weight loss is only about one or two pounds a week. Rapid weight loss is generally not recommended.

What are some unexpected ideas for healthy weight loss?

If you’re interested in healthy weight loss, here are some ideas to help you meet your nutritional goals:

• Skip food commercials: It may be a good idea to avoid watching advertisements about food. Studies have shown that the sight of food ads causes people to eat more snack foods, even if they’re not hungry. That’s because seeing pictures of food may boost the release of ghrelin, a hormone that tells your brain that it’s time to eat.

• Keep less nutritious food out of sight:  One study showed that office workers ate more candy when the dish was visible or easy to reach. They also underestimated how much candy they ate. Instead, it could be helpful to keep nutritious food options (or no food options) in your sight at your office and healthy food choices  in your fridge or pantry.

• Drink unsweetened green tea: Green tea is filled with antioxidants, which may help your body to break down fats. It may also help hydrate you, which can help with weight loss.

• Weigh yourself regularly: While it’s not a good idea to obsess over your weight, studies have shown that weighing yourself regularly can be linked to weight loss.  You should generally weigh yourself at the same time each day that you weigh yourself, often in the morning. 

• Keep your kitchen clean: One study showed that a cluttered, messy kitchen (and house) can cause stress, which may lead some people to eat more unhealthy foods.

Make sure to talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions about healthy eating and safe weight loss.

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Written by:

Marisa Taylor Karas

Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.

Reviewed by:

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician. Prior to practicing medicine, she worked as a management consultant.

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