Losing weight isn't just a matter of cutting and burning calories. There are certain inherent qualities of foods, which, if you understand them, can help you craft an eating strategy that will magnify the effectiveness of your fat loss efforts.

Your food's "thermic effect." You burn more calories depending on what type of food you're eating. It takes more calories, for example, to digest, absorb and assimilate protein than other food types. So the more proteins you eat, which have a higher co-called thermic effect of food (TEF), the more calories you'll burn. (Read more about Five Overlooked Food Factors in Weight Loss)

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With the public health crisis known as obesity reaching emergency proportions in the United States, the public spotlight is turning on the makers of the highly processed, high-calorie junk foods that help to fuel the growing calamity.

In a recent study, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 32 percent of children were overweight but not obese, 16 percent were obese, and 11 percent were extremely obese. (Read more about 10 Dark Secrets of the Food Industry)

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As people get older, their metabolism begins to change. And this means their intake of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals must change, too, or their health might suffer.

"All the nutritional things that we need to be concerned about as younger adults are even more important as we get older," says Alice Lichtenstein, professor of nutrition at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. (Read more about Eat Differently as You Age)

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Dr. John Cahill explains that a number of tropical diseases, if left unrecognized or untreated, can have devastating outcomes. Unfortunately, he sees this on a daily basis. There are people who return from their travels with serious viral or parasitic infections. In good hands, it can be very easily treated, but without seeking the correct care or going to a physician who doesn't understand the implications of these diseases, they can be misdiagnosed or missed. (Read more about The Challenges of Overseas Medical Evacuations)

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The idea behind artificial sweeteners is simple: add the flavor of sugar without the calories of sugar. Sounds great, right? Well, a recent study now finds that eating artificial sweeteners could make people put on more weight when compared to normal sugar. Researchers conducted experiments on lab rats who were placed into two groups. One group was given yogurt sweetened with glucose, or the equivalent to table sugar. The other group was given yogurt sweetened with zero-calorie saccharin. The rats that had the saccharin-sweetened yogurt consumed more calories, put on more weight, gained more body fat, and did not cut back on their calorie consumption in the long term. (Read more about Artificial Sweeteners Could Contribute to Weight Gain)

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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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New research reveals a critical period when a child is at risk of becoming obese.

A study from Columbia University Medical Center found that during the ages of 1-3 years, children are at risk of gaining significant weight. The researchers reviewed growth charts of over 1,700 children in New York City between the ages of one through five. They found that the rate of being overweight increased significantly with each year of age, with the biggest gains between ages of one and three years. (Read more about Critical Age for Childhood Weight Gain)

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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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