Ever cringe when you step on the scale?

Now, think of the entire country stepping on that scale. Imagine the Weight of the Nation.

CDC’s Obesity efforts focus on policy and environmental strategies to make healthy eating and active living accessible and affordable for everyone.

Obesity is a common, serious, and costly health problem, and CDC is working to control and prevent it.

Obesity is common. Healthy People 2020, which outlined the nation’s health goals for 2020, had set a target obesity prevalence of 30.6% for adults and 14.6% for children. However, according to the most recent NHANES data in 2009-2010, about 36% of U.S. adults ages 20 and over were obese, and about 17% of children ages 2-19 years old were obese.

Additionally, some adult populations are more affected by obesity than others. Non-Hispanic blacks are most likely to be obese (44.1%), followed by Hispanics (37.9%) and non-Hispanic whites (32.6%).

The US obesity prevalence...

I look forward to the holidays. Spending time with my loved ones is even more enjoyable when everyone is around. Special seasons allow the wider family to get together. I love catching up with those I do not see throughout the rest of the year.

There is a lot to catch up on when my family gathers during the holidays. Spending hours hearing about how my family’s lives are unfolding is memorable.

I love playing board games and watching old Christmas movies with cousins. It reminds me of happy times together as kids. The memories last a lifetime and only become more engrained with each holiday get-together.

Watching my family members gather in one place reminds me of how extended my support base is. I feel privileged to have that many people rooting for me.

Every year we spend holidays together can teach the younger generation the value of family and friendship.

My family story runs deeper than simple years of existence. It speaks to how we contribute...

Conflict ensues when two opposing parties have different goals, interests, or views, which appear incompatible with one another. Conflict frequently occurs at the height of a stressful situation when everything seems to bubble over.

Typically, it is not just connected to the one event that sparked the outward display of the conflict in the first place. For many women, we bottle our emotions and keep them inside until we fill up with the little bits and pieces that trigger the quarrel.

Resolution can only occur when we can work together to figure out what triggered the conflict in the first place. To resolve the dilemma, we must both agree on the root of the problem.

There are tons of conflict resolution strategies, But unfortunately, no one method will work for every situation. The best thing to do is choose a few and try them out to see how they work in your particular circumstances.

Some of these strategies may seem silly at first, but that is okay. The...

I bet your end-of-year inbox is full of goal-setting ideas for the New Year. Many are feel-good, rah-rah types of messages which are fun to read but about as helpful as the endless "inspirational" infographics that flood your social media feeds. 

And many are so generic. They are probably from mainstream magazines—the sort that makes you frustrated with your life while you are reading articles showcasing the perfect décor of some generic millionaire and his perfect trophy wife.

Goals that are the most exciting to set usually have two golden qualities: They are achievable but stretch you beyond your comfort zone. And they must align with your most important principles.

They also present you with one priceless benefit: Each goal advances you a step further towards attaining your dream lifestyle and business.

So why do most women struggle at goal-setting and goal-keeping?

The answer lies in your personality…

When setting goals, there are three...

It is pretty comfortable to sit back and keep the status quo. After all, if you do not rock the boat, you cannot fall into the water. But with few risks, there are few rewards.

Abandon Your Fears

You already recognize that accepting risks is, well, risky. To develop courage, you need to master your fears. But, it is not as straightforward as it sounds. If you have spent the better part of your life with fear, it is ingrained in your subconscious, but it is not impossible to change. All you require now is the willingness to overcome your fears. When you want to abandon your fears, there is nothing that can stop you!

Here are a few tips to keep fear at bay:

1. Recognize Your Fears. Recognize your fears for what they are. You will soon discover how your fears are limiting you by your reactions to them.

• Let's say you are afraid of driving. If you are ever in the driver's seat, your response might be a quick "Oh no! Get me out of here!" If you continue this pattern of...

Stay Healthy Through Good Diet and Exercise

Some of the most important things you can do to avoid getting sick - and not just from cold and flu, but anything else out there that is contagious - is to keep your body as strong and healthy as possible. Two of the best ways to do that are to eat a healthy diet and exercise daily.

Here is what that may look like. 

Tips for Eating Healthy

Improving your diet to eat healthier can seem like a challenge. But, there is a lot you can do. The key is to start and make small improvements as you go along. A great place to start is by cutting out sugar and processed foods. Replace them with whole food options where you can. For example, have an apple instead of a candy bar when you need a snack. Fix some scrambled eggs instead of pouring a bowl of sugary cereal in the morning. Skip the fast-food burger and fix a salad to take to lunch. You get the idea.

From there, I would encourage you to add more fresh fruits and...

When kindness is shared, it is immediately multiplied. I look forward to opportunities to give.

Various holidays focus on the importance of togetherness and love. One of the highest forms of love is sharing what I have with others. It feels good to share kindness and love as well as material things.

I always invite others to spend time with my family for the Christmas holiday. When someone is alone, I introduce them to a spirit of community. And, gathering the family together is one of the special draws of the Christmas season. 

Giving of my time is a small way to share love and kindness with others. I do it to make others feel good. It gives me joy to be a factor in the happiness of someone who has less than I do.

Volunteering at a shelter is a regular activity for me around the holidays. It reminds me to be grateful for what I have in my life.

Shifting the focus from myself to others is a humbling experience that keeps me grounded. I realize...

If you have not heard of mini-habits, you are in for a treat. Imagine making only minor changes in your life and still managing to create impactful and meaningful change.

The mini-habit is just as it sounds like – it is the principle that doing many small things will ultimately lead to something amazing. Think, for instance, of what would happen if you only read a couple of news articles every day? Before you know it, you would have achieved the goal of becoming more knowledgeable and better able to carry out discussions about current events.

Mini-habits do not stop there, though. Not only can your mini-habit alter how you get things done, but they influence your mind and body as well. Read on to uncover the powerful benefits of a mini-habit.

1. Mini-habits build an atmosphere of success. By setting small goals, you are much more prone to meet them. So instead of telling yourself that you will return every phone call promptly, you concentrate on timely...

“I do not have the time.”

How frequently do you say these words when it comes to self-care? Oh, you know it is good for you. But really, what woman has hours to spare to take care of themselves?

Very frankly… you do. You have more time than you imagine. The following six self-care tips will each take you less than one minute to do.

Take a Deep Breath

Anytime you feel tense, stressed out, or even just a little ‘off,’ taking some deep breaths will alter the situation for the better. The key? Do not just breathe. Hold your breath in-between steps for the most significant impact. Begin with inhaling to the count of five, then hold it for the count of five, and exhale to the count of five.

Slow Down Your Lunch

When was the last time you relished your food? The next time you eat something, pause while chewing to appreciate the textures and flavors. By doing so, you aid in digestion and rediscover the joy of eating simultaneously!

Hydration is important to living healthy. National Hydration Day, recognized on June 23, was created to honor the late football coach Victor Hawkins. He had created a special hydrating mouthguard to keep his players healthy on the field.

Drinking enough water each day is good for overall health. 

Plain drinking water has zero calories, so it can also help with managing body weight and reducing caloric intake when substituted for drinks with calories, like sodas.

Drinking water can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change, cause your body to overheat, lead to constipation, and kidney stones.

Exercise can be for your health, but working out while dehydrated is not healthy. Water provides your body with the fuel you need to get through a workout or a busy afternoon outside.

When you are properly hydrated, you are able to exercise in a healthy way, making your mind and your body happy.

Water & Nutrition

The Institute of...