Many people say they want to lose weight. Many people with health problems such as heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes need to lose weight for better health. But is weight loss as simple as wanting it?

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, say it isn't. While designing an obesity prevention program, they called over 1,200 people and interviewed them about their weight, height, whether they desired to lose weight and their weight goals.

They found that although over 75% of men and over 85% of women were trying to lose or maintain their weight, only one third reported actually cutting back on calories and exercising at least 150 minutes a week.

Effective weight loss usually requires a combination of decreased calorie consumption and regular exercise. Even if you want to lose weight, it won't happen unless you take action - so map out a strategy for weight loss and implement it today.

Related information: Weight management approaches

Sources:  Kottke TE, Clark MM, Aase LA, Brandel CL, Brekke MJ, Brekke LN, DeBoer SW, Hayes SN, Hoffman RS, Menzel PA, Thomas RJ. Self-reported Weight, Weight Goals, and Weight Control Strategies of a Midwestern Population. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Volume 77, February 2002, pp. 114-121.