Avoid fad diets

Fad diets may promise drastic and quick loss of weight, but may be dangerous and often fall short when it comes to long-term weight loss.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions for a selecting a healthy eating plan:

  * Never skip meals, including breakfast.
  * Eat a variety of nutritious foods, rather than sticking to just a few foods.
  * Restrict consumption of sugar, sodium, saturated fats and cholesterol.
  * Avoid beverages that are high in calories.
  * Limit portion sizes.
  * Get plenty of regular exercise. Increase daily physical activity in simple ways, such as by parking further from your destination.