What is the recommended rate for weight loss?

Most medically based sources (not diet companies) indicate an acceptable rate of below a kg/wk. The highest rate found was 1% of initial body weight/week.

The big secret is to not kill yourself on the route to health - your body is set up to handle the you that you are now - a lighter you will have less needs and demands and will have to shed a lot of nasties contained in the fat en route to a lower weight.

A lesser secret is to make changes that you can live with over time, learning the correct way of eating comes with time until you do it as a natural thing. Most sources indicate that the "throw yourself over a cliff" type of dieting gets your weight down quick, but you bounce back up just as quick - sometimes with the collateral damage of gall stones etc

If you are significantly overweight you should initiate your weight loss program with the advise of a medical professional (not a professional diet program staff member). Overwieght problems may be the result of underlying mediacl problems. Treating the symptom (over weight) without addressing the underlying problem may be dangerous or pointless.