Being overweight is an increasingly common problem. A sedentary lifestyle with a vast choice of bad foods has resulted in a fatter population. In the UK, 20% of women are clinically obese.

At what weight is a woman obese?
A woman is considered to be obese if her weight is more than 25% higher than the maximum ideal weight for her height.

An overweight person is more likely to suffer from health complaints than a person who is normal weight. There is a relationship between weight and heart disease, diabetes and cancers.

For students, irregular hours, erratic meal patterns and easy access to fast foods and pub offerings can make it difficult to maintain the ideal weight. If your weight problem is caused by a poor diet (high fat, high sugar, low nutrition, low fibre), you will not remedy the situation by eating less - you'll just end up consuming smaller quantities of sub-standard fare and being hungry and less healthy as a result.

It is always best to combine wholesome low calorie eating (low fat, low sugar, high nutrients) with regular exercise. All the well-known diets that have survived fads and maintained their credibility stuck to this formula.

The weight loss industry - with its never-ending supply of books, magazines and videos - is ruthless. It's quite important to be sceptical about the information out there and not believe anything that sounds too good.

BEWARE: Any diet or eating plan which offers incredible results (many pounds lost in very short periods of time) is most likely a gimmick. Worse, it may be dangerous.

How do I know if I need to lose weight?
It's best to consult your doctor for some advice. Also see your doctor if your weight appears to be fluctuating wildly (up and down) for no good reason - to ensure there are no underlying physical problems.