CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/","20090422013230","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1240363950"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>BBC - Health - Healthy living</title><meta content="Expert medical advice on how to ensure you maintain a healthy weight" name="description"/> <meta content="weight control, weight management, weight loss, healthy eating" name="keywords"/>          <script src="/web/20090422013230js_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cs/jst/mod/1/jst_core.v1.3.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/web/20090422013230js_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cs/jst/mod/1/jst_css.v1.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/web/20090422013230js_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cs/jst/mod/1/jst_cookies.v1.1.js" type="text/javascript"></script>  <script type="text/javascript" language="Javascript" src="/web/20090422013230js_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifestyle/javascript/cssswap.js"></script> <noscript><link href="/web/20090422013230cs_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifestyle/css/lifestyle_main.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/></noscript> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20090422013230cs_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/css/cosmetic.css" type="text/css" media="all"/> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"/> <style type="text/css"> .bbcpageTopleftlink,a.bbcpageTopleftlink,a:link.bbcpageTopleftlink,a:hover.bbcpageTopleftlink,a:visited.bbcpageTopleftlink {background:#FFFFFF;color:#333366;text-decoration:underline;} .bbcpageToplefttd {background:#FFFFFF;color:#333366;} </style>  <style type="text/css"> @import '/web/20090422013230cs_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/includes/bbcpage/v3-2/toolbar.css'; </style>   <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">  </script> <script type="text/javascript">if(typeof BBC == "undefined") {var BBC = {}}; BBC.adverts = {setZone: function(){}, configure: function(){}, write: function(){}, show: function(){}}; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20090422013230js_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc.com/script/3/direct_ads.js?v=3.22"></script> <link href="/web/20090422013230cs_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc.com/css/adverts.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/> <script type="text/javascript"></script> </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#003366" link="#003366" vlink="#003366" alink="#003366" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" topmargin="0" leftmargin="0" background="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/bgnorhn.gif"> <a name="top" id="top"></a><ul class="bbcpageHide"><li><a href="#startcontent" accesskey="2">Skip to main content</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/education/betsie/parser.pl">Text only version of this page</a></li><li><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/accesskeys/keys.shtml" accesskey="0">Access keys help</a></li></ul><div id="toolbarContainer"><form method="get" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl" accept-charset="utf-8"><table id="bbcpageToolbarTable" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" lang="en"><tr valign="middle"><td width="200" id="bbcpageBlocks"><font size="2"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/toolbar/blocks/-/home/d/" accesskey="1"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/images/bbcpage/v3-0/bbc.gif" width="77" height="22" alt="BBC" border="0" hspace="2" vspace="0"/> Home</a></font></td><td width="295" align="right"><input type="text" id="bbcpageSearch" name="q" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" title="BBC Search" accesskey="4"/></td><td width="105"><input type="submit" name="Search" value="Search" id="bbcpageSearchButton"/><input type="hidden" name="uri" value="/health/healthy_living/your_weight/"/></td><td width="170" align="right" class="bbcpageblue"><font size="2" id="bbcpageExplore"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/toolbar/wlm/-/a-z/">Explore the BBC</a></font></td></tr></table></form></div><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" width="100%" id="bbcpageTableTop"><tr><td class="bbcpageToplefttd" width="125"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td width="8"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="8" height="1" alt=""/></td><td width="117"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="117" height="1" alt=""/><br clear="all"/><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="1" class="bbcpageToplefttd">22 April 2009<br/><a class="bbcpageTopleftlink" style="text-decoration:underline;" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/">Accessibility help</a><br/><a class="bbcpageTopleftlink" style="text-decoration:underline;" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/education/betsie/parser.pl">Text only</a></font></td></tr></table></td><td width="100%" valign="top"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="645"> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/banner.gif" width="645" height="90" alt="" border="0" usemap="#banner"></td></tr></table> <map name="banner"> <area alt="TV and radio" coords="425,55,505,75" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/tv_and_radio/" shape="RECT"> <area alt="Directory A to Z" coords="520,55,590,75" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifestyle/" shape="RECT"> <area alt="Talk" coords="605,55,640,75" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifestyle/talk/" shape="RECT"> <area alt="Lifestyle" coords="553,16,641,44" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifestyle/" shape="RECT"> <area alt="Health homepage" coords="6,127,234,24" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/" shape="RECT"> </map> </td></tr></table><table style="margin:0px;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="left" id="bbcpageTableNav" width="125"><tr><td class="bbcpageCrumb" width="8"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="8" height="1" alt=""/></td><td class="bbcpageCrumb" width="115"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="115" height="1" alt=""/><br clear="all"/><font face="arial, helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"><a class="bbcpageCrumb" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/" lang="en">BBC Homepage</a><br/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0"><br> </font></td><td width="2" class="bbcpageCrumb"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="2" height="1" alt=""/></td><td class="bbcpageGutter" valign="top" width="10" rowspan="4"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="10" height="1" vspace="0" hspace="0" alt="" align="left"/></td></tr><tr><td class="bbcpageLocal" colspan="3"><div class="toplevel"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifestyle">Lifestyle</a></div><div class="lhnlevel1"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health">Health</a></div> <div class="lhnlevel2container"> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="ask_the_doctor" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_the_doctor/">Doctor's advice</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="conditions" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/">Conditions</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="awareness_campaigns" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/fertility/">Fertility</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="awareness_campaigns" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/first_aid/">First aid</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="healthy_living" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/">Healthy living</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>  <div class="lhnlevel3"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="nutrition_index" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel3text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/nutrition/">Nutrition</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>  <div class="lhnlevel3"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="fitness_index" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel3text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/fitness/">Fitness</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>  <div class="lhnlevel3"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="your_plan_index" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel3text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_plan/">Your plan</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>  <div class="lhnlevel3"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="your_weight_index" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel3text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/">Your weight</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>  <div class="lhnlevel4container"><div class="lhnlevel4"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="whatis_index" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="11" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel4text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/whatis_index.shtml">Are you a healthy weight?</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>  <div class="lhnlevel4"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="medical_index" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="11" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel4text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/medical_index.shtml">Understanding your weight</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel4"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="active_index" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="11" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel4text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/active_loss.shtml">Losing weight</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel4"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="reaching_index" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="11" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel4text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/reaching_index.shtml">Maintaining your weight</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel3"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="travel_health_index" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel3text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/travel_health/">Travel health</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>  </div> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="womens_health" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/womens_health/">Women's health</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="mens_health" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/mens_health/">Men's health</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="health_over_50" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/health_over_50/">Health over 50</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="sexual_health" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/sexual_health/">Sexual health</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="talking_to_your_doctor" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/talking_to_your_doctor/">Talking to your doctor</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="expert_biographies" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/expert_biographies/">Expert biographies</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="mobile" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/mobile/">Mobile service</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="newsletter" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/newsletter/">Newsletter</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="lhnlevel2"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" id="tv_and_radio" vspace="1"/><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/furniture/tiny.gif" alt="" border="0" width="3" height="12" vspace="1"/></td><td class="lhnlevel2text"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/tv_and_radio/">TV and radio</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>   </div> <img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/lhn_dots.gif" width="121" height="3" alt="" border="0" vspace="7"/><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" width="125"></table> </td></tr><tr><td class="bbcpageLocal" colspan="3"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="1" height="5" alt=""/></td></tr><tr><td class="bbcpageServices"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="1" height="1" alt=""/></td><td class="bbcpageServices"><hr width="50" align="left"/><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a class="bbcpageServices" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/feedback/">Contact Us</a><br/><br/><font size="1">Like this page?<br/><a class="bbcpageServices" onclick="popmailwin('/cgi-bin/navigation/mailto.pl?GO=1&REF=http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/index.shtml','Mailer')" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/navigation/mailto.pl?GO=1&REF=http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/index.shtml" target="Mailer">Send it to a friend!</a></font><br/> </font></td><td class="bbcpageServices"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="1" height="1" alt=""/></td></tr></table><table width="635" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" id="bbcpageTableContent" style="margin:0px;" style="float:left;"><tr><td><a name="startcontent" id="startcontent"></a>  <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="635" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="bottom" class="titlebar"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/title_corner.gif" width="10" height="10" alt="" border="0"></td> <td class="titlebar"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/title_your_weight.gif" width="249" height="34" alt="" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="10" height="10" alt=""/></td> <td><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="625" height="10" alt=""/></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="subIndexABCDSummary"><tr><td valign="top" class="summary"><div class="subIndexSummaryc" style="width: 205px;"><div><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/corner_tl_e.gif" alt="" width="10" height="10" class="corner" style="display: none"/></div><h1 class="subIndexSummaryHeadingc">Dissatisfied with your weight?</h1><p>We're bombarded with scare stories about weight, from size zero to the obesity 'epidemic'. But a healthy weight is determined by different factors for each of us. Our expert advice is designed to help you achieve and maintain a healthy, life-enhancing weight. </p></div></td><td rowspan="2"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" alt="" height="1" width="10" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"/></td><td rowspan="2" valign="top"><img alt="Your weight (image: woman's feet on weighing scales)" border="0" height="190" hspace="0" src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/images/420/scales.jpg" vspace="0" width="420" style="float: left;"/></td></tr><tr><td class="summary" valign="bottom"><div class="roundbottome"><img alt="" width="10" height="10" class="corner" style="display: none" src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif"/></div></td></tr></table><div class="subIndexPrimarySpace"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" alt="" height="10" width="1" border="0"/></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="subIndexCDPrimary" width="635"> <tr> <td class="subIndexCDPrimary" valign="top" width="455"><div class="roundcontf"><div class="roundtopf"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" alt="" width="10" height="10" class="corner" style="display: none"/></div></div><div class="subIndexPrimaryPromoFirstc"><h2 class="subIndexPrimaryPromoHeadingc">In this section</h2><p></p></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" class="subIndexCDPrimary"> <tr> <td class="subIndexCDPrimary" valign="top"> <div class="subIndexPrimaryPromoc"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" border="0"><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/youllfind_box.gif" alt="" border="0" width="8" height="8" align="left" hspace="0" vspace="3"/></td><td width="100%"><h2 class="subIndexPrimaryPromoHeadingc"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/whatis_index.shtml">Are you a healthy weight?</a></h2></td></tr></table><div class="subIndexCPrimaryPromoLinkNew"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_primaryarrow_c.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" hspace="0" vspace="2"/><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/whatis_healthy.shtml" class="subIndexABSecondaryPromoLink">What's a healthy weight?</a></div><div class="subIndexCPrimaryPromoLinkNew"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_primaryarrow_c.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" hspace="0" vspace="2"/><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/whatis_lose.shtml" class="subIndexABSecondaryPromoLink">Do you need to lose weight?</a></div><div class="subIndexCPrimaryPromoLinkNew"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_primaryarrow_c.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" hspace="0" vspace="2"/><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/whatis_gain.shtml" class="subIndexABSecondaryPromoLink">Do you need to gain weight?</a></div><div class="subIndexCPrimaryPromoLinkNew"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_primaryarrow_c.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" hspace="0" vspace="2"/><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/whatis_bmi.shtml" class="subIndexABSecondaryPromoLink">Does BMI matter?</a></div></div> </td> <td class="subIndexCDPrimary" valign="top"><div class="subIndexPrimaryPromoc"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" border="0"><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/youllfind_box.gif" alt="" border="0" width="8" height="8" align="left" hspace="0" vspace="3"/></td><td width="100%"><h2 class="subIndexPrimaryPromoHeadingc"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/medical_index.shtml">Understanding your weight</a></h2></td></tr></table><div class="subIndexCPrimaryPromoLinkNew"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_primaryarrow_c.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" hspace="0" vspace="2"/><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/medical_myths.shtml" class="subIndexABSecondaryPromoLink">Myths about metabolism</a></div><div class="subIndexCPrimaryPromoLinkNew"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_primaryarrow_c.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" hspace="0" vspace="2"/><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/medical_why.shtml" class="subIndexABSecondaryPromoLink">Why we gain weight</a></div><div class="subIndexCPrimaryPromoLinkNew"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_primaryarrow_c.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" hspace="0" vspace="2"/><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/medical_kids.shtml" class="subIndexABSecondaryPromoLink">Children's weight</a></div></div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="subIndexCDPrimary" valign="top"><div class="subIndexPrimaryPromoc"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" border="0"><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/youllfind_box.gif" alt="" border="0" width="8" height="8" align="left" hspace="0" vspace="3"/></td><td width="100%"><h2 class="subIndexPrimaryPromoHeadingc"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/active_index.shtml">Losing weight</a></h2></td></tr></table><div class="subIndexCPrimaryPromoLinkNew"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_primaryarrow_c.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" hspace="0" vspace="2"/><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/active_how.shtml" class="subIndexABSecondaryPromoLink">How to lose weight</a></div><div class="subIndexCPrimaryPromoLinkNew"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_primaryarrow_c.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" hspace="0" vspace="2"/><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/active_loss.shtml" class="subIndexABSecondaryPromoLink">A healthy weight-loss diet</a></div></div> </td> <td class="subIndexCDPrimary" valign="top"><div class="subIndexPrimaryPromoc"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" border="0"><tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/youllfind_box.gif" alt="" border="0" width="8" height="8" align="left" hspace="0" vspace="3"/></td><td width="100%"><h2 class="subIndexPrimaryPromoHeadingc"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/reaching_index.shtml">Maintaining your weight</a></h2></td></tr></table><div class="subIndexCPrimaryPromoLinkNew"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_primaryarrow_c.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" hspace="0" vspace="2"/><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/reaching_diary.shtml" class="subIndexABSecondaryPromoLink">Keeping a food and activity diary</a></div><div class="subIndexCPrimaryPromoLinkNew"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_primaryarrow_c.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" hspace="0" vspace="2"/><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/reaching_maintain.shtml" class="subIndexABSecondaryPromoLink">Staying a healthy weight</a></div></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td rowspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" alt="" width="10" height="10"/></td> <td rowspan="2" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="170" valign="top" class="roundcontb"><div class="roundcontb"><div><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/corner_tl_b.gif" alt="" height="10" width="10" border="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"/></div><div class="subIndexCsecondaryPromo"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/bmimetric_index.shtml"><img alt="Measuring waist circumference" border="0" height="90" hspace="0" src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/images/140/waist_measurement.jpg" vspace="0" width="140" style="float: left;"/></a><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/bmimetric_index.shtml">Weight calculators</a> Body mass index, waist measurement and more</div><div><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/corner_bl_b.gif" alt="" height="10" width="10" border="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"/></div></div><div class="subIndexPrimarySpace"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" alt="" height="10" width="1" border="0"/></div><div class="roundcontb"><div><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/corner_tl_b.gif" alt="" height="10" width="10" border="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"/></div><div class="subIndexCsecondaryPromo"><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_plan/index.shtml"><img alt="Person stretching" border="0" height="90" hspace="0" src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/images/140/fitness_stretch.jpg" vspace="0" width="140" style="float: left;"/></a><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_plan/index.shtml">Your plan</a> Tailored diet and fitness programmes</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div class="subIndexAdditionalEdc"><p></p></div></td></tr><tr><td class="subIndexCDPrimary" valign="bottom"><div class="roundcontf"><div class="roundbottomf"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/corner_bl_f.gif" alt="" width="10" height="10" class="corner" style="display: none"/></div></div></td><td class="roundcontb" valign="bottom"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/corner_bl_b.gif" alt="" width="10" height="10" class="corner" style="display: none"/></td></tr> </table><div class="subIndexPrimarySpace"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" alt="" height="10" width="1" border="0"/></div><div class="roundcontc"><div><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/corner_tl_c.gif" alt="" width="10" height="10" class="corner" style="display: none"/></div><div class="subindexABCDTertiary"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td rowspan="2"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="15" height="1" alt=""/></td><td rowspan="2" valign="top" class="subindexABCDTertiaryPromoImg11"></td><td rowspan="2"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="11" height="1" alt=""/></td><td class="subindexABCDTertiaryPromoDashedLeft" valign="top" width="50%"><div class="subindexABCDTertiaryPromoDashedLeft"><div class="subindexABCDTertiaryPromoMidLeft"><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoHeading"><h2 class="subIndexTertiaryPromoHeading">Also in Health</h2></div><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLinks"><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_tertiaryarrow.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" align="left" hspace="0" vspace="1"/><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/nutrition/" class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink">Nutrition</a></div></div></div></div></td><td class="subindexABCDTertiaryPromoDashedRight" valign="top" width="50%"><div class="subindexABCDTertiaryPromoDashedRight"><div class="subindexABCDTertiaryPromoMidRight"><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoHeading"><h2 class="subIndexTertiaryPromoHeading">Elsewhere on bbc.co.uk</h2></div><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLinks"><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_tertiaryarrow.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" align="left" hspace="0" vspace="1"/><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090422013230/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8009435.stm" class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink">News: Chemists to start diet pill sales </a></div><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_tertiaryarrow.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" align="left" hspace="0" vspace="1"/><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090422013230/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7946290.stm" class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink"> News: Obesity danger 'rivals smoking' </a></div><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_tertiaryarrow.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" align="left" hspace="0" vspace="1"/><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/headroom/wellbeing/guides/mmby_overeating.shtml" class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink">Headroom: overeating</a></div><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_tertiaryarrow.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" align="left" hspace="0" vspace="1"/><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/headroom/wellbeing/guides/mmby_undereating.shtml" class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink">Headroom: undereating</a></div><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_tertiaryarrow.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" align="left" hspace="0" vspace="1"/><a href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/humanbody/truthaboutfood/flashapp/nonflash.shtml" class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink">The Truth about Food video player</a></div></div></div><div class="subindexABCDTertiaryPromoMidRight"><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoHeading"><h2 class="subIndexTertiaryPromoHeading">Elsewhere on the web</h2></div><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLinks"><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_tertiaryarrow.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" align="left" hspace="0" vspace="1"/><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090422013230/http://www.nhs.uk/Change4Life/Pages/default.aspx " class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink">Change4Life</a></div><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_tertiaryarrow.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" align="left" hspace="0" vspace="1"/><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090422013230/http://www.food.gov.uk/healthiereating/" class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink">Food Standards Agency</a></div><div class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/furniture/subindex_tertiaryarrow.gif" alt="" border="0" width="6" height="12" align="left" hspace="0" vspace="1"/><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090422013230/http://www.bdaweightwise.com/" class="subIndexTertiaryPromoLink">Weight Wise</a></div></div></div></div></td><td rowspan="2"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="11" height="1" alt=""/></td><td rowspan="2" valign="top" class="subindexABCDTertiaryPromoImg21"></td><td rowspan="2"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="15" height="1" alt=""/></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="subindexABCDTertiaryPromoDashedBottom"> <div class="subindexABCDTertiaryPromoDisclaimer">The BBC is not responsible for content on external websites</div> </td></tr></table></div><div><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" alt="" width="10" height="10" class="corner" style="display: none"/></div></div> </td> </tr> </table>  <br/></td></tr></table><br clear="all"/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" lang="en" id="bbcpageTableFooter"><tr><td class="bbcpageFooterMargin" width="125"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="125" height="1" alt=""/></td><td class="bbcpageFooterGutter" width="10"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="10" height="1" alt=""/></td><td class="bbcpageFooter" width="635" align="center"><img src="/web/20090422013230im_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/f/t.gif" width="635" height="1" alt=""/><br/><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><a class="bbcpageFooter" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/">About the BBC</a> | <a class="bbcpageFooter" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/help/">Help</a> | <a class="bbcpageFooter" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/terms/">Terms of Use</a> | <a class="bbcpageFooter" href="/web/20090422013230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy/">Privacy & Cookies Policy</a><br/> </font></td></tr></table><br clear="all"/><script src="/web/20090422013230js_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/includes/linktrack.js?2" type="text/javascript"></script> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> </body> </html>