More Americans Trying to Lose Weight, But Few Succeeding

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 13, 2019 -- Americans are more motivated to lose weight than ever before, with increasing numbers eating less, exercising, drinking water and trying out new diets.

And it's all for naught.

Weight-Loss Surgery Protects Heart Patients From Future Trouble

TUESDAY, Nov. 5, 2019 -- If you're an obese heart patient, weight-loss surgery might be good medicine for you.

New research suggests it significantly reduces the risk of heart failure and fatal heart attack in this vulnerable group.

Why Maintaining a Healthy Weight Is Important in Adulthood

THURSDAY, Oct. 17, 2019 -- Adults who pack on pounds between their mid-20s and middle age have an increased risk of premature death -- and the same is true of those who lose weight from middle to late adulthood, according to a new study.

The findings suggest that maintaining normal weight throughout adulthood reduces the risk of early death, the China-based researchers said.

Can You Still Be Healthy If You're Overweight?

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 -- If you're overweight but have dodged chronic health issues like high cholesterol and high blood pressure, you might not think that losing weight is a priority. But an analysis of five years of records on 3.5 million people -- underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese -- has found reason for concern.

The researchers discovered that even if people didn't have any metabolic diseases at the start of the record-keeping, those who were obese were more likely than those of normal weight to develop health issues as time went on. Those health issues include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, heart failure and peripheral vascular disease (a circulation disorder that affects blood vessels beyond the brain and heart).

Why Maintaining Weight Loss Demands More Than Willpower

TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 -- Scientists are learning more about why keeping off lost weight is so hard -- and a pair of studies suggest it's more than a question of sheer willpower.

A Dartmouth University study published in Cognitive Neuroscience used brain imaging tests to show that some people have an imbalance between the executive control and reward systems of the brain. This disconnect means you may not have enough natural control over the impulse to reach for food when you're stressed or even when you're happy. It also seems more likely to be the case in people who are chronic dieters.