How Many Pounds Per Week Should You Gain or Lose?
Other People Are Reading
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Limit Gains and Losses
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The "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book" recommends aiming for no more than one-half to two pounds of weight loss per week. Likewise, necessary weight gains should be slow and steady, and focused on proper nutrition and exercise. The website KidsHealth recommends teens who wish to gain weight focus instead on "growing strong, not gaining weight." However, in situations where an individual is underweight, the website of the Center for Young Women's Health at Children's Hospital, Boston, recommends a goal of one to two pounds a week.
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Supplements Claim to Accelerate Gain and Loss
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Supplements advertised in print and on television frequently claim to produce rapid gains or losses in weight. The United States' Federal Trade Commission website lists claims like "Lose 30 pounds in 30 days!" and "Lose weight without diet or exercise!" as the type of claims often seen. The commission recommends evaluating these claims "with a healthy dose of skepticism."
Bottom Line
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Gaining or losing weight safely takes time and effort. Weight loss coach Alan Aragon advises people to limit weight loss to two to three pounds a week if they're overweight, three to five if obese.
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