Weight is an easy thing to not pay attention to in Project Zomboid. The weight of your character is listed in the information panel alongside your character's traits. Being overweight or underweight is harmful to your character. Being overweight will reduce your character’s endurance and fitness and make them more likely to trip or fail to climb fences.

1) Picking weight traits

When it comes to weight in Project Zomboid, there are four traits that will impact your character's starting weight. There are two traits for underweight characters and two traits for overweight characters. These traits are split into being very overweight or underweight and then slightly overweight or underweight.

A good trait to use alongside overweight or obese is nutritionist. The nutritionist trait allows players to see how many calories and different values foods have by hovering their mouse over them. Another trait that is good for starting with an overweight character is being an avid eater, which will reduce how much your character needs to eat.

2) Pay attention to what your character is eating

When trying to lose weight in Project Zomboid, it’s important to eat foods like fruits and vegetables and to only eat when prompted to. Early in the game, it’s easier to access fresh food. Most houses will have food in the refrigerator or freezer. Often, there will be fruits, vegetables, and sometimes fresh meat. 

Cooking your own meals in Project Zomboid is the best option for eating. Since warm, fresh meals often make your character happy as well as less hungry,

3) Exercise more

Having your character exercise more, outside of running from zombies, is a great way to improve their fitness and strength and help them lose weight. Any exercise is good for helping your character lose weight, though the different exercises have different effects. It’s important to avoid exercising too much, though, since your body will experience soreness afterward.

4) Eat less sugary foods

Sugary foods like candy and cakes shouldn’t be eaten too often in Project Zomboid. These foods are high in sugar and don’t offer much nutrition for your character. Eating candy will offer some happiness, though, so keeping some to eat if your character is low in happiness is a good idea. They shouldn’t be eaten instead of other meals.

5) only eat when your character has extreme moodles

Losing weight in Project Zomboid takes time. It’s a good idea to only eat when hunger moodles appear. Moodles appear on the right side of your screen, and are small circles with images or symbols inside. The hunger moodles have a fork and knife and will change depending on how hungry your character is.

Be careful, though; if your character is too hungry, they’ll start to lose health and have reduced healing and strength.

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