Controlling your weight means eating fewer calories than you burn. It also involves being aware of portion sizes and learning to read food labels, which provide important information like calorie counts, salt content and sugar levels.

Being at a healthy weight is vital for good health. Having excess weight can increase your risk for heart disease, high blood pressure and other health problems.

Obesity

Obesity occurs when you take in more calories than you burn through daily activities and exercise. The body stores the extra calories as fat.

Other health problems related to obesity include high blood sugar (diabetes), heart disease, high cholesterol and triglycerides and sleep apnea, as well as bone and joint problems like osteoarthritis. Obesity can also increase the risk of depression and other mental health conditions.

Your health care team will ask about your family’s health history, lifestyle and eating habits, and may examine your vital signs and order blood tests. They may also ask about stress and other factors that can affect weight gain.

Psychologists

Psychologists are trained to work with the human mind. They treat mental health issues by providing counseling and psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy. They may be employed in hospitals, private practices, schools and other community settings. They may also do research in psychology and human behavior.

Psychologists are different from psychiatrists. Psychiatrists have medical degrees and can prescribe medications. Psychologists have doctorate-level degrees and focus on specific areas of psychology. They may use a number of techniques in their practice. For example, they might help patients monitor their eating behaviors by asking them to keep food logs and make notes about their environment, feelings and thoughts at the time of each meal.