6 commonly asked questions about weight loss

It seems like everyone has a secret to weight loss. But it’s hard to know if the diet or exercise plan that worked for one person will work for another — or if it’s even safe.

Daniela D. Hurtado Andrade, M.D., Ph. D., an endocrinologist, and Tara M. Schmidt, M. Ed., RDN, LD, a dietitian, spend their days helping people at Mayo Clinic reach a healthy weight. Here, these weight-loss experts answer some questions they hear most often.

While potato chips and ice cream aren’t the best diet choices, no single food should be considered completely off-limits when starting a weight-loss plan.