Seeking a new weapon in the fight against obesity, the Food and Drug Administration wants to encourage manufacturers to post vital nutritional information, including calorie counts, on the front of food packages. The goal is to give people a jolt of reality before they reach for another handful of chips. But the urgency of the message could be muted by a l...

We all know that exercise is good for you. Staying physically active helps keep your heart healthy and your muscles strong, and in cancer patients it has even been shown to ward off relapse. Now a series of independently conducted studies on the effects of exercise in healthy older adults, published on Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine, confirms th...

Shaving 3 grams - or less than a teaspoon - off the daily salt intake of Americans could prevent up to 66,000 strokes, 99,000 heart attacks and 92,000 deaths in the United States, while saving $24 billion in health costs per year, researchers reported on Wednesday. The benefit to the U.S. population would be comparable to cutting smoking by 50 percent, sign...

America's rapid rise in obesity appears to have leveled off, with new government figures showing no significant increase in a decade. But there's little reason to cheer. More than two-thirds of adults and almost a third of children are overweight, and there are no signs of improvement. Experts say they're not sure whether the lull in the battle of the bu...

As millions of Americans flock to the gym armed with New Year's resolutions to get in shape, medical experts are offering an additional reason to exercise: Regular workouts may help fight off colds and flu, reduce the risk of certain cancers and chronic diseases and slow the process of aging. Physical activity has long been known to bestow such benefits as...

The next cycle of the NBC hit weight loss competition "The Biggest Loser" debuts Tuesday with the show's third couples edition. As trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper get ready to take on what is being hyped as the show's biggest season, CNN revisited past winners Bill Germanakos (season four), Ali Vincent (season five) and Helen Phillips (season seve...

You'll gain about 5 pounds A common figure tossed around this time of year is that Americans on average gain 5 pounds during the holidays. Fortunately this isn't close to the real figure. Independent studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Nutrition Review and Nutrition Journal found the gain between Thanksgiving and New Year's to be mode...

Like most dieters, you've probably said at least one of the following phrases: "I'll start tomorrow" or "I'm not as bad as I used to be." With these kinds of thoughts, you are simply avoiding the problem and justifying it by promising yourself that you'll face it another day. When "tomorrow" does comes around, be assured another set of excuses will magically...

Combining artificial sweeteners with the real thing boosts the stomach's secretion of a hormone that makes people feel full and helps control blood sugar, new research shows. It's unknown whether this means anything for people's health, but "in light of the large number of individuals using artificial sweeteners on a daily basis, it appears essential to car...

General Mills - the maker of Lucky Charms, Trix and Cocoa Puffs - plans to reduce the amount of sugar in its cereals marketed to children. The move, announced Wednesday, comes as many food companies alter their products and face growing scrutiny from consumers, regulators and health groups over the nutritional value of their foods. General Mills said it wi...

Are you ready to party? The next month will be filled with fun and food, plus a few diet hurdles. Revel without worry with these simple strategies. Your fear: "I'm doomed to gain weight." Panic backfires on your backside. "If you convince yourself you're going to pack on pounds, you'll give up and binge or stress-eat," says Heather K. Jones, R.D., coautho...

Studies suggest that the average American gains 5 lbs. (2.3 kg) or more over the holiday period between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. If you simply maintain your weight during the holidays, you are performing above average! Join StartYourDiet.com today and you've already taken a step forward towards your goals. Our tools, support and expert advice can re...

Everyone needs carbohydrates, the body's preferred energy source. If you get regular cardiovascular exercise or train for an endurance sport, you need more daily carbs to fuel your workouts and replenish your energy stores. Remember: all carbs are not created equal. Grains, fruit, vegetables (nutrient-rich choices) as well as candy and sweets (empty calori...

It's the news all chocolate lovers have been waiting for a type of chocolate that helps you lose weight is about to go on sale. The new variety called Lola chocs is 100 percent natural and tastes exactly like normal chocolate. But the big difference, according to its makers, is that the recipe includes ingredients which stop a person from feeling hungry. ...

More than 100,000 cases of cancer each year are caused by excess body fat, according to a report released Thursday in Washington. Researchers with the American Institute for Cancer Research looked at seven cancers with known links to obesity and calculated actual case counts that were likely to have been caused by obesity. Specifically, the report says tha...

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