Be Physically Active

Being physically active and eating fewer calories will help you lose weight and keep the weight off over time.

While people vary quite a bit in the amount of physical activity they need for weight control, many can maintain their weight by doing 150 to 300 minutes (2 ½ to 5 hours) a week of moderate-intensity activity such as brisk walking.

People who want to lose a large amount of weight (more than 5 percent of their body weight)—and people who want to keep off the weight that they’ve lost—may need to be physically active for more than 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week.

For more information on these recommendations, check out the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Or check out our fact sheet on physical activity on NHLBI’s Diseases and Conditions Index.