Phosphorus is a mineral that is very important to the body. It is used for carbohydrate and fat utilization. It helps synthesize protein and, most importantly, helps form teeth and bones.

Hunger is one of the biggest challenges you face when trying to stick to a weight loss diet, especially in the beginning of the diet. To lose weight, you must consume fewer calories, and if you're not used to smaller amounts, the change can leave you hungry.

Most medications prescribed for depression can cause weight gain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Antidepressants that are more likely to cause weight gain than others include tricyclic antidepressants, paroxetine, mirtazapine, trazodone and monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs.

A healthy pregnancy increases the odds of a healthy baby. A fetus must gain an appropriate amount of weight or he is at risk of health complications during pregnancy and at birth.

The best 1,200-calorie diets aren't necessarily paleo, vegan, gluten-free or low-carb. A quality low-calorie diet may display these labels, but most importantly it offers an array of nutrients from a variety of whole, filling foods.

If your curves are due more to fat than muscle, it can be difficult to keep all your curves while losing belly fat. You can't spot reduce and lose pounds or fat in just one place like the belly; the fat will come off all over your body.

The fruitarian diet, which often includes nuts and seeds as well as fruits, can result in dramatic weight loss, depending on which fruits you eat and in what quantities.

The amount of weight you lose with an exercise program depends on several factors, including the intensity and duration of your workouts, starting weight and diet.

One turn in the mirror and you might notice that excess fat has set up shop in your mid-back. This can result in unsightly rolls, or what some women call "bra bulges." Spot-reducing this fat isn’t possible; to reduce fat anywhere in your body, you must lose it from all over.

Excess belly fat can prove problematic in many ways. It appears to pose greater threats to your health compared with fat elsewhere and can affect self-esteem.

Meal replacement shakes and products can help take the guesswork out of what and how much to eat, which can may make it easier for some people to lose weight. It helps minimize the need to count calories, points or carbohydrates and limits the choices you have to make when on a diet.

Lower belly fat has a number of causes, including aging, your gender and what you eat. Your lifestyle behaviors also explain why it's developed and is sticking around. Making changes to your diet and exercise routine, as well as your sleep schedule and how you handle stress, can help you reduce this dangerous fat.