A major new global health problem that has emerged is that of overweight and obesity. It is well accepted that this health problem is fast spreading. Already more than a billion people have been afflicted with the problem of overweight and obesity around the world. In the United States itself, more than 60 percent of its adult population has this condition. Urbanization and growing urbanization, both in the developed and developing world, are the obvious cause of this major health problem. The modern dietary practices and the lifestyle are clearly indicated as the culprit. The sedentary nature of living is the major feature in the modern lifestyle. As a result, there has emerged a booming weight loss market estimated to be worth over US$80 billion. There has been considerable interest, investment and effort at unraveling the causes and ways of tackling this phenomenon. There have been many claims of successes in identifying causes and offering solutions. Equally vociferous have been the counterclaims refuting these successes. While the debate has been raging, various theories, notions and practices for weight loss has been proliferating. Quite often there is simply no basis for some of these claims.

It is common to see people with problems of overweight or who are obese immediately think of a starvation diet with the assumption that this is the best way to burn away the excess fat. It may initially seem to give small results. But this could leads to malnutrition, physical weakness and other problems. The metabolic rate declines and hunger increases. Instead it is better to take lesser food but increase the frequency of meals.

It is generally believed that carb-free diet will make the flab disappear. But then all carbohydrates are not really all bad. Good carbohydrates slow down digestion and are really needed by the body as it makes one feel full for a longer time too. The craving for food declines. Slow digestion is important for weight loss. The insulin that is released becomes slow while the glucogen burns the fat away from the body. For instance, bread digests fast and is a bad carbohydrate. The weight loss market offers a number of weight loss diet formulas such as the The Atkins diet, 7 day diet, NutriSystem, Anne Collins Weight Loss Program, Diet Smart, Negative Calories Food& Recipes, Beverly Hills Diet and Fit Yummy Mummy. But you will have to find out what you need and whether any of these fulfill your need.

The important thing is to lose weight and to maintain this weight for years. You should find out the reasons why you are overweight. You should also know your food compatibility.