The United States faces a significant obesity problem, with over 70% of adults classified as overweight or obese. This presents a major health challenge, as obesity increases the risk of numerous serious conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

As a result, many Americans actively pursue weight loss to improve their health. People adopt various strategies to lose weight, including dietary changes, exercise, medication, and surgery.

Several popular diets in the U.S. offer different approaches to weight loss:

• Ketogenic Diet: This high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet encourages the body to burn fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. Followers typically eat meats, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and seeds while avoiding grains, sugars, and starchy vegetables.
• Mediterranean Diet: This plant-based diet emphasizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats like olive oil. It also includes moderate amounts of fish, poultry, and dairy.
• Paleo Diet: Inspired by the presumed eating habits of early humans, this diet focuses on meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, and nuts while excluding grains, sugars, and processed foods.
• Whole30 Diet: This 30-day program eliminates sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, and dairy to reset the body and identify potential food sensitivities.
• Weight Watchers (WW): This program assigns point values to foods and encourages participants to stay within a daily point range. It also provides guidance and support for making sustainable lifestyle changes.
• Atkins Diet: This low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet reduces carbohydrate intake and emphasizes proteins, healthy fats, and vegetables.
• DASH Diet: Designed to lower blood pressure, the DASH diet promotes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting sodium, saturated fats, and sugars.

Exercise plays a vital role in weight loss. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.

In some cases, healthcare providers may prescribe weight loss medications, such as Orlistat or Phentermine, to help individuals who struggle to lose weight through diet and exercise alone.

For those with severe obesity, bariatric surgery, including gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery, may be an option.

Before starting any weight loss program, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional. They can help identify the most suitable approach based on individual health needs and goals.