Unless you're extremely overweight and on a medically prescribed plan, however, this rate of weight loss is nearly impossible to achieve in just 30 days. However, a month does give you time to lose some weight and to jump start healthy habits to continue to slim down after your goal date.

When Dianna J. retired, she embarked on a new project: losing weight with the help of MyPlate. Almost 200 pounds later, she tells her story, her way.

If you’re trying to lose weight, you’re probably already pursuing a healthy eating and exercise plan. You might not have considered some of the more esoteric reasons that your body might hang on to excess weight.

Here are seven things potentially holding you back from losing weight, plus ways to address them and give you a starting point for new growth.

Zumba brings the party to the fitness studio, but this party can also help you lose extra weight.

Dive into three common misconceptions and explore what the latest research says. Spoiler: There’s still no magic bullet when it comes to losing weight.

Several years ago, I decided to take a position as a kinesiologist in a bariatric medical program for the treatment of obesity.

Squats are primarily thought of as a lower-body exercise, but train a number of secondary muscles too.

You might be aware that as a metabolic disorder, some forms of diabetes come with excessive weight. But diabetes might also cause a sudden drop in weight too. In fact, many patients who are ultimately diagnosed with diabetes first go to their doctor with concerns about unexplained weight loss.

A 15-pound weight loss in two months is ambitious, but possible, if you have a focused dietary plan and if you engage in regular exercise. You'll need to lose about two pounds a week, consistently -- a rate at the high end of the safe, sustainable range, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although unplanned weight loss is a potential side effect of getting too little zinc in your diet, your body requires plenty of zinc every day to function properly. Furthermore, if you’re overweight or obese and are seeking weight loss, boosting your dietary zinc intake may improve your chance for weight-loss success.

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.