People with a BMI of 20 t0 25 are not advised by doctor by doctors to lose weight, although they can benefit from a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise. Those who are overweight but not obese (BMI 25-30) are encouraged to make sensible dietary choices and exercise regularly in order to prevent any futher weight gain.

Exercise is crucial to sustained weight loss, as dieting alone only works temporarily until the body recognizes its new intake and adjust accordingly-resisting further weight loss. Crash diets or fad diets are not recommended, and while meal replacements may result in weight loss, they do not address the problem of poor dietary habits in the long term. It can be difficult to maintain weight loss when the products are no longer used. Furthermore, they lack bulk and can therefore cause constipation.