How to Lose Weight in Wisconsin

Only 24 percent of Wisconsin adults eat fruit and vegetables five times a day.

Approximately 37 percent of Wisconsin's four million adult population are considered overweight and a further 25 percent are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDCP recommends making a long-term lifestyle change that includes healthy eating and regular exercise rather than embarking on a "fad diet promising fast results."



There are plenty of opportunities for weight loss support in Wisconsin with the help of experts dedicated to promoting healthy eating and exercise among residents.

Instructions

1. Contact the Wisconsin Dietetic Association. This organization of professional nutritionists can help you find a reputable Wisconsin clinical dietitian to advise you about food and weight loss. The WDA is part of the American Dietetic Association and helps shape government legislation on weight and obesity issues, all of which are listed on eatrightwisc.org.

2. Join a weight-loss group or club. Many people find it beneficial to attend weekly meetings and join forces with others wanting to lose weight. Weightwatchers have been offering this service for 45 years and hold many meetings in Wisconsin, the details of which can be found on weightwatchers.com. Their program is based on "four pillars of healthy weight loss -- Helpful Habits, Get Support, Eat Smarter and Move More."

   Wisconsin's Dean Foundation also offers group support and weight loss programs. There's no fee and meetings are held monthly. Dean's is an integrated healthcare delivery system, first established in Wisconsin in 1904. Contact them at deancare.com (see References 5).

3. Consult the Marshfield Clinic. This medical service has 52 Wisconsin locations and has a presence in two hospitals, with a total of 775 physicians. The "Specialties and Services" page on marshfieldclinic.org can help you find the right path to successful weight loss. These range from gastric-band support groups to Overeaters Anonymous and from nutrition advice to women's-wellness clinics .

4. Find out details of government weight-loss programs near you on the Department of Human Services' website, dhs.wisconsin.gov.

Tips & Warnings

• Calculate your body mass index (BMI) online at cdc.gov. A BMI of over 25.0 means you are overweight, and if it's over 30.0, you are classed as obese (see Resources).

• Even if you're not ready to actually lose weight yet, take steps to avoid putting any more weight on.

• Link up with a friend or family member and lose weight together.

• Make sure the expert dietitians and nutritionists you consult are certified.

• Prepare to make a lifestyle change over a long period of time in order to keep the weight off.

• Don't embark on any weight-loss or eating plan without consulting your healthcare provider first.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Overweight and Obesity: Wisconsin
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthy Weight: Introduction
• Wisconsin Dietetic Association
• Weight Watchers: How Weight Watchers Works
• Dean Clinic: Weight Loss Support Group
• Marshfield Clinic: Specialties and Services

Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthy Weight: Introduction
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthy Weight: Assessing your Weight