With America in the midst of an obesity crisis, it’s more important than ever to make sure our health is a top priority. That’s not always an easy task, however — especially if you have a very busy schedule, are a single parent, or are battling substance abuse, depression, or anxiety. The stresses of everyday life can be difficult to overcome, but that’s exactly why it’s imperative to make sure you focus on yourself a little bit every day.

Fighting obesity and unhealthy habits doesn’t just mean going to the gym and working out — it’s about making time each day for your mental and physical health in ways that make you feel good. Yoga and meditation are often linked and are effective ways to boost mental health because they allow for concentration and mindfulness — focusing on the present rather than worrying about anything else.

Here are a few tips on how to fight obesity and stay healthy through wellness-based activities.

Practice yoga

Yoga is great not only for your body, but for your mind and soul as well. Many people have found the benefits of yoga to be numerous, since it is often used in conjunction with meditation and mindfulness.

Learning how to focus on the present moment can help you cope with stress and anxiety much more easily when it occurs.

Get your dog involved

Making your dog a workout partner will help you stay motivated, since pups have a lot of energy and love to get outside for some activity.

Whether it’s running, hiking, dog-yoga, or agility training, there are several ways you can get your dog involved in your workout routine for some extra fun.

It’s a great way to incorporate something you love into your daily exercises, which is the best way to stick to it.

Get plenty of rest

Not getting enough sleep can have huge impacts on your metabolism, and it can leave you feeling groggy and disconnected all day long, which affects your ability to work or perform at school. Make sure you get plenty of good rest by starting a healthy sleep routine.

You might make it a point to go to bed at the same time every night, or maybe you want to remove clutter and distractions from your bedroom to make sleeping easier. Regardless, create a plan that works for you and make rest a priority.

Stay balanced

Eating a balanced diet is obviously part of fighting obesity and staying healthy, but this should be more of a lifestyle change than a “diet.” Don’t look at it as something you have to stick to in order to lose weight; rather, view it as a way of life that will help you stay healthy for years to come.

This means making changes to the way you shop, looking for more fresh fruits and veggies, getting rid of added sugars (soft drinks, candy, cakes, etc.), and cutting refined carbs & sugars from your everyday meals (white bread, potatoes, pasta, etc.) in favor of whole-grains.

Address your mental health

The state of your mental health can absolutely have a huge impact on the way you eat, the way you feel, and the way your body reacts to things. If you’ve been feeling stressed, depressed, or overly anxious, it’s time to sit down and think about the best ways to reduce those feelings. Whether that means changing your lifestyle a bit or engaging in therapy is up to you, but whatever you choose should be ideal for your own needs.

Obesity has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and heart attacks, and can leave you with physical issues that last a lifetime. Taking steps now to get fit — and stay that way — will help ensure you have plenty of time to spend with your loved ones.

Here’s how to determine if you are obese…

The CDC provides the following information about defining obesity:

“Weight that is higher than what is considered as a healthy weight for a given height is described as overweight or obese. Body Mass Index, or BMI, is used as a screening tool for overweight or obesity.”

Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a person’s weight (measured in kilograms) divided by the square of the person’s height in meters. A high BMI can be an indicator of high body fatness.

To calculate your BMI, use this adult BMI calculator. Then, refer to the following table to find your result:

Body Mass Index (BMI)	Result
Less than 18.5	Underweight
18.5 to < 25	Normal
25.0 to < 30	Overweight
30.0 or higher	Obese