Two out of every 3 adults in the United States is either overweight or obese, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Carrying excess weight increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, liver disease and certain types of cancer.

In addition to wreaking havoc on your appearance, excess fat around your midsection increases your risk of obesity-related medical conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. Solely slimming down your midsection isn't possible; you can't pick and choose the areas where you lose fat.

Top round boneless beef is a lean cut of meat that requires a long cooking time over low heat. Although braising is the preferred method to prepare a round roast, with planning, it is possible to smoke a tender and flavorful roast.

Many low-carbohydrate diets tout the benefits of being in a state of ketosis, which they claim results in weight loss. The idea is that by not eating enough carbohydrates to use as energy, your body will instead break down fat for energy. As a result, you will lose fat and weight.

Mononucleosis is an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, or EBV, one of the most common human viruses. While symptoms of EBV are indistinguishable from other mild illnesses in children, up to 50 percent of cases lead to mono, the drawn-out, glandular infection.

Get your body swimsuit-ready with a high-protein, low-fat diet and plenty of exercise to burn calories and, with luck, melt pockets of body fat. This 1,200- to 1,600-calorie plan combines egg whites, skinless chicken and salmon with mounds of steamed and fresh vegetables.

To help you reach your weight loss goals more easily, start your day with a healthy breakfast. According to the National Weight Control Registry, which regroups data from people that managed to lose a minimum of 30 lbs. and kept it off for at least a year, 78 percent of successful dieters eat breakfast every day.

Losing 20 pounds can make a serious difference in your health -- if you're overweight, it may be enough to lower your risk of chronic weight-related diseases, like heart disease. It'll also affect how you look. And while it's natural to want rapid results, don't expect to lose 20 pounds in just a couple weeks.

A weight-loss rate of 1.5 pounds per week is realistic and falls within the expert-recommended range of 1 to 2 pounds per week. To lose 1.5 pounds a week, a caloric deficit is required.

Weight-loss reality shows impress you with their contestants' big losses, so much so that you might be inspired to try to drop some pounds yourself. You may have a goal that doesn't allow you to wait for the slow, gradual weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Body Ecology Diet, or BED, was created by Donna Gates as she sought to cure her own chronic battle with candida. She maintains that following the BED will strengthen your organs and immunity by starving the yeast and restoring normal flora.

Fitness videos are a smart way to get your exercise in the privacy of your home. Exercise will help you burn a lot of calories. The more calories you burn, the more weight you lose. There are a wide variety of exercise videos to suit different personalities.