A bit of nit-picking re ""Diet and exercise can help us all" statement, admittedly anecdotal rather than any sort of vigorous study -

A few years ago, for reasons I won't go into [unless asked], I lost over thirty of 270 pounds. For reasons other than weight-loss I was then hospitalised (hospitalized? Ah, well.)

In the hospital, I had no BM for about a week, urine looked as clear as bottled "spring" water, and in two weeks I gained over ten pounds back.

Despite being in a hospital, on the same diet as other "normal weight" patients, and still overweight, I gained weight.

So I largely discount most diets, and while I tend to agree exercise may result in weight loss I do not do much of it. Richard Simmons is not my role nodel, by conscious decision.

As a side: much is made of the huge percebtage frowth in obesity in the 90's: but this is comparing obesity pre- and post-BMI, which was implemented as a standard guess when. Even its advocates admit that each person should be judged individually (so why a "standard" measurement other than, maybe, height-vs-weight), that Michael Jordan at the height of his career was "obese" while Marilyn Monroe at the height of hers was underweight (not that I think she qualified as obese, far from it.)

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"I am NOT overweight, I am UNDERheight! My weight is perfect for a man of seven feet nine inches!" - Victor Buono

A bit of nit-picking re ""Diet and exercise can help us all" statement, admittedly anecdotal rather than any sort of vigorous study -

A few years ago, for reasons I won't go into [unless asked], I lost over thirty of 270 pounds. For reasons other than weight-loss I was then hospitalised (hospitalized? Ah, well.)

In the hospital, I had no BM for about a week, urine looked as clear as bottled "spring" water, and in two weeks I gained over ten pounds back.

Despite being in a hospital, on the same diet as other "normal weight" patients, and still overweight, I gained weight.

So I largely discount most diets, and while I tend to agree exercise may result in weight loss I do not do much of it. Richard Simmons is not my role nodel, by conscious decision.

As a side: much is made of the huge percebtage growth in obesity in the 90's: but this is comparing obesity pre- and post-BMI, which was implemented as a standard guess when. Even its advocates admit that each person should be judged individually (so why a "standard" measurement other than, maybe, height-vs-weight), that Michael Jordan at the height of his career was "obese" while Marilyn Monroe at the height of hers was underweight (not that I think she qualified as obese, far from it.)

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"I am NOT overweight, I am UNDERheight! My weight is perfect for a man of seven feet nine inches!" - Victor Buono

Exercise is a major component of weight loss (and has worked for me). Aerobic exercise helps burn calories. Resistance training builds muscle which increases calorie burning.

Some diets probably do help, but many do not work. Clearly, one should decrease calorie intake to no more than calorie expenditure. For long term, slow weight loss, I recommend modest dietary change, increased fruits and vegatables, less refined carbohydrates and the healthier fats (in place of the unhealthy fats). The key is life style change.