Skipping meals can prevent weight loss

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- More is less when it comes to winning the battle of the bulge. Health experts say the biggest mistake people make when trying to lose weight is not eating enough.

Skipping meals can lead to bad habits, such as binge eating. Experts say shedding pounds takes more than just a temporary diet change.

"When you change how you're eating you look at it as something you can do long-term, so that's that lifestyle change, something you can do forever. So, you're not going to be 'on this,' or 'off of this,' you're just going to be healthy," said Registered Dietitian Laura Jeffers.

Pay attention to where calories come from -- not just how many. In other words, keeping your calorie count around 2,000 a day by eating pizza, cookies, and pretzels is not the same as having those calories come from lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.