Its not a good idea to be either underweight or overweight. Being overweight can lead to health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes. Being underweight could also affect your health.

If you think you just need to lose a little weight, the main things to remember are:

• only eat as much as you need.
• make healthy choices, its a good idea to choose a low-fat and low-sugar varieties, eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and wholegrain.
• get active.

Its also important to eat a variety of types of food so you get all the nutrients your body needs.

Physical activity is a good way of using up extra calories and helps control our weight. Just try to get active every day and build up the amount you do. For example – you could try to fit in as much walking as you can into your daily routine. Try to walk at a good pace.

Whenever we eat more than our body needs, we put on weight. This is because we store any energy we don’t use up, usually as fat. Even small amounts of extra energy each day can lead to weight gain.

But crash diets arent good for your health and they dont work in the longer term. The way to reach a healthy weight and stay there is to change your lifestyle gradually. Aim to lose about 0.5g/1k (about 1-2lbs) a week until you reach a healthy weight for your height.

Updated 16/4/11 DH