Weight Loss Glossary

A listing of words and terms related to weight loss and dieting. Click on the letter to go to that part of the alphabet and then select the diet or weight loss term that you are interested in.
Carbohydrate

A major source of energy in the diet. There are two kinds of carbohydrates -- simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are sugars and complex carbohydrates include both starches and fiber.
Cholesterol

A fat-like substance that is made by the body and is found naturally in animal foods such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. Foods high in cholesterol include organ meats, egg yolks, and dairy fats. Cholesterol is needed to carry out functions such as hormone and vitamin production. Cholesterol is carried through the blood in small units called lipoproteins. There are two types of units that carry cholesterol: low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins. When cholesterol levels are too high, some of the cholesterol is deposited on the walls of the blood vessels. Over time, the deposits can build up and cause the blood vessels to narrow and blood flow to decrease. The cholesterol in food, like saturated fat, tends to raise blood cholesterol, which increases the risk for heart disease. Total blood cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dl are considered high. Levels between 200 and 239 mg/dl are considered borderline high. Levels under 200 mg/dl are considered desirable.
Diabetes Mellitus

A disease that occurs when the body is not able to use blood glucose (sugar). Blood sugar levels are controlled by insulin, a hormone in the body that helps move glucose (sugar) from the blood to muscles and other tissues. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body does not respond to the insulin that is made. There are two main types of diabetes mellitus: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes
Diet

What a person eats and drinks. Any type of eating plan.There are many different types of diets from Vegetarian to Atkins.
Diet Foods

Foods that aid in the deliberate control body weight or nutrient intake. Diet foods can be used to lose weight or to gain weight. Some people with diseases like Diabetes will have special diets consisting of foods to help control their disease.

Diet foods can include any food or drink that has been altered in some way to control body weight. It also includes foods that have been selected for low calorie, low fat content, high fiber content. Body builders will choose goods that aid in gaining weight and muscle mass - high protein and calorie dense.

Many people will associate diet food with the terms: low calorie, low fat, sugar free, and zero calorie. You can find versions of many foods that are marketed as diet food. These diet food versions can have side effects that you might want to investigate before using. These are not the only diet foods that you can consume.

The best diet foods for weight loss are foods that are low in calories, high in fiber, and low in fat. Fruits and Vegetables are excellent diet foods. If you want to gain weight, you will look for foods that are protein dense as well as calorie dense to aid in the development of muscle.
Empty Calorie

An empty calorie is a calorie that comes from foods that provides a lot of energy from fats or sugars, but does not provide nutrients. Empty calories provides very little to none of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, proteins that you need to be healthy.
Energy Density

Energy density is the amount of energy per quantity of food. It is the calories divided by the weight of the food. Food that are lower in energy density are more filling for a given amount of calories consumed. The lower the density, the more that you can eat compared to high density foods. Food that have a high density will leave you hungry and cause you to overeat to feel full. If you want to lose weight, you should eat foods with a low energy density. If you want to gain weight, eat foods with a high energy density.
Energy Expenditure

The amount of energy, measured in calories, that a person uses. Calories are used by people to breathe, circulate blood, digest food, maintain posture, and be physically active.
Fat

A major source of energy in the diet. Fats have 9 calories per gram. Fat helps the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, and carotenoids. Some kinds of fats, especially saturated fats and trans fats, may raise blood cholesterol and increase the risk for heart disease. Other fats, such as unsaturated fats, do not raise blood cholesterol. Fats that are in foods are combinations of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fatty acids.
Fruitarianism

A diet of only fruit, nuts, seeds, and other plant matter that can be gathered without harming the plant.