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Heart Facts
Lose the Weight
If you have too much body fat, especially if a lot of it is in your waist area, you're at higher risk for health problems. These include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, high triglycerides, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Women with excess body fat are at higher risk of heart disease, even if they don't have other risk factors.
Here's some advice to keep in mind:
Try to reach a healthy weight, and stay there. To lose weight, most women should eat 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day, but not less than 1,200. Losing one to two pounds or less per week is considered a healthy weight loss. (One pound of fat equals 3,500 calories.)
Many overweight and obese women have difficulty losing weight. Stay with your plan! Even modest weight loss (5 to 10 percent of body weight) can help lower your heart disease risk.
Treatment of obesity and extreme obesity focuses on substantial weight loss over a long time. Beware of fad diets, programs and products that promise rapid weight loss. Work with your healthcare professional, registered dietitian or nutritionist licensed or certified by the state. Together you can set up a sensible program of eating and physical activity that will help you reach a healthier weight and stay there.
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