In today's society, there's much confusion over what constitutes a healthy weight. Here are some ways to find out where you stand on the weight issue.

It's important to note that it's not just how much extra body fat a person has, but where it is stored on the body that determines how risky the extra pounds are.

Your BMI gives a fairly accurate assessment of how much of your body is composed of fat.

Keeping extra weight off requires effort and commitment, just as losing weight does.

Given the chronic diseases and conditions associated with obesity and the fact that obesity is difficult to treat, prevention is extremely important.

We've all heard warnings, yet many of us keep gaining weight. More than half of American adults are overweight or obese, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Between the late 30s and late 40s, it's not uncommon for both men and women to gain 10 pounds.

The majority of dieters regain the weight they lose within five years. But they could avoid doing so by gradually changing their eating and exercise habits. Your approach to weight loss should be to make changes you can keep up for the rest of your life.

Although people generally gain weight when they stop smoking, you can reduce your chances of adding extra pounds by taking steps to prevent it.