Working toward an ideal weight range can be achieved by learning more about your Body Mass Index and eating to a plan.

If you have excess body fat - particularly around the waist - you may be more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if you have no other risk factors.

Milk, cheese and yoghurt may not be the first foods that come to mind when dieting, but emerging research suggests that eating adequate calcium from dairy foods may actually help weight and body fat loss.

In general, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is about three basic principles: reducing the kilojoules in your diet (if weight loss is desired), getting enough physical activity and making smart food choices every day.