ABSTRACT

A healthy weight may be highly individual. Weight at a desirable level can affect health in apositivemanner.However,ifapersonisunderweight,overweight,orexcessivelyobese, healthmaybeaffectedinadetrimentalway.AsrecommendedintheDietaryGuidelines, asasocietyandasindividuals,weneedto(1)preventand/orreduceoverweightandobesitythroughimprovedeatingandphysicalactivitybehaviors,and(2)controltotalcalorie intaketomanagebodyweight(forpeoplewhoareoverweightorobese,thiswillmean

consuming fewer calories from foods and beverages); (3) increase physical activity and reducetimespentinsedentarybehaviors;and(4)maintainappropriatecaloriebalance duringeachstageoflife-childhood,adolescence,adulthood,pregnancyandbreastfeeding, and older age.