Community Programs

Get involved to stay slim. Community programs that teach healthy eating habits can help prevent weight gain.

Ongoing support groups that teach the importance of a healthy lifestyle can help middle-aged women become more physically active and keep them from gaining weight, according to a study in the British Medical Journal.
The study compared a month-long program that involved hour-long weekly sessions to a one-time lecture. One year later, the first group had lost an average of half a pound, while the latter group gained two pounds on average. The people in the ongoing program also reported more exercise and better cholesterol scores.
To improve your health habits, ask your doctor about local healthy lifestyle programs, or sign up for classes through adult education programs.