America is awash in calories. And as the calorie floodwaters rise, the numbers of us who are overweight and obese rise along with them.

One of the main streams swelling the calorie flood is the prevalence of large-portioned meals and drinks - super-sized fast-food meals, all-you-can-eat buffets, seemingly bottomless sodas and slushes. And the way to cut off the stream's influence is to join the "portion patrol" - that is, to rigorously regulate the size of the meals we eat. (Read more about To Lose Weight, Join the "Portion Patrol")

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The number of centenarians in America has been steadily rising over the past century - from about 3,000 in 1950, to 37,306 in 1990, to 73,674 in 2004, the most recent year in which those 100 or older have been counted. And the U.S. Census Bureau expects there to be some 1.1 million in the year 2050 - provided bogeymen such as ever-increasing obesity and diabetes don't wreck the predictions.

But the secret of living to be 100 or better isn't just in the genes. In fact, a variety of researchers believe genetic factors account for only 25 percent to 35 percent of a person's longevity. The other 65 percent to 75 percent is determined by one's lifestyle. (Read more about Tips on Living to Be 100)

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Overeating can cause the brain to lose control and cause damage potentially leading to diabetes, heart disease, and other ills - according to new U.S. research.

Eating too much appears to make a usually dormant immune system pathway in the brain, sending out immune cells to attack and destroy non-existent invaders. The finding could help explain why obesity causes so many different diseases, and also may offer a way to prevent obesity itself. (Read more about Calorie Overload Creates Brain Imbalances)

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Instead of getting on a fad diet, only to crash and burn a few weeks later, it's best to eat wholesome, natural foods in five or so small meals a day, according to anti-aging expert Dr. Maoshing Ni.

Dr. Mao, as the doctor of Chinese medicine and author of the best-selling book Secrets of Longevity is known, says a good weight-loss diet includes lean proteins, such as chicken breast; legumes, such as split peas and lentils; and whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Fad diets, he says, almost inevitably deny a person some important nutrients, leading to cravings all too often cause the dieter to regain his weight - and perhaps even more. He advocates eating the following as part of a sensible weight-loss program: (Read more about Five Foods to Slim By)

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Just as important as food, water and exercise for the health of your body is sleep. In fact, without sleep, animals in the laboratory die in a matter of weeks.

In humans, lack of sleep works havoc on biological systems. It not only causes the relatively minor symptoms of drowsiness, irritability and concentration difficulty, but it appears to also cause hormonal changes that result in increased appetite, weight gain, obesity and greater risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. It also contributes to motor vehicle and on-the-job accidents. (Read more about Sleep Is Food for Your Body)

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Human fat can be healthy or sick - healthy in lean people and sick in obese. And a new research effort shows sick fat cells can produce proteins that contribute to type 2 diabetes.

The study, performed by researchers at Temple University, discovered that fat cells in obese people bear a great deal of stress in a cellular component called the endoplasmic reticulum, which is the cells' protein factory. The stress, says lead researcher Dr. Guenther Boden, apparently produces proteins connected with insulin resistance, a major contributor to obesity-related diabetes. In particular, 19 proteins were more abundant in obese people's fat cells than lean people's, including three that were related to a specific endoplasmic reticulum stress-related response. (Read more about How Obesity Abets Type 2 Diabetes)

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A recent report by health provider BUPA has found that people's worries are damaging their health by causing sleepless nights, loss of sex drive, and erratic eating habits. The 2007 Worry Report demonstrates that almost one in five people constantly worry about numerous things, and more than half feel they worry more now than five years ago. Half of the people surveyed this year, which is 6% more than in 2006, claimed they were more worried about their health and their family's health than about other concerning issues such as climate change or terrorist attacks. The survey finds that almost three quarters of people worry, but around 19% admit to worrying all the time or about a number of things. (Read more about Worried Sick? There Might Be Some Truth There)

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Research conducted by The General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition finds that women who eat yogurt frequently are less likely to be overweight and more likely to meet the recommended daily intake of important nutrients, like calcium and vitamin D. The fourteen day study followed the diets of approximately 3,000 women ages 19 and older. Thirteen percent of these women ate three or more servings of yogurt over a two week period. In this group, the women on average had a 15% lower body mass index compared with women who consumed no yogurt. (Read more about Yogurt Consumption Linked to Healthier Body Weights for Women)

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A recent study from Penn State has found that American children are drinking insufficient amounts of milk and the dairy they are choosing to consume are very high in fat. The study examined a children's daily dairy intake and compared it with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPyramid dairy recommendations. The findings revealed that only 2 to 3 year olds met the MyPyramid dairy recommendations. It was also observed that most children choose to eat more of the highest fat varieties of cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and dairy based toppings. (Read more about American Children Are Not Consuming Enough Milk)

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It’s a topic that keeps on churning out studies…which is the best diet to help you lose weight, and lower your blood pressure and cholesterol.

Atkins? Zone? Ornish? The good old food pyramid?

The results of the latest government funded study is surprising to many.

Many people thought this issue was a dead one--low carb being no better than a low fat diet, with the key being reduced calories across the board.

But this latest study says, hold on--low carb may be the best for many reasons. (Read more about DIETS COMPARED)

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