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If you've resolved to trim your waistline and get into fit, fighting shape this year, you won't have to look far to find kindred souls. That number on your scale could have implications beyond looking and feeling svelte, however: A paper published in the 2006 issue of The Engineering Economist claimed that we're drawing an extra billion gallons of gas a year now that Americans have grown fatter.
But whether obesity is linked to global warming or it's just a load of hooey, staying hale and hearty is its own reward: You'll instinctively cut back on processed junk, for example. Plus, , you''re less likely to fall ill (or even develop cancer), and you'll be happier from all those endorphins your brain is firing. Here are some of our past year's tips for slimming down:
Attack the battle of the bulge and climate change at the same time, simply by getting out of your car and walking or biking half an hour a day. Discover how much Americans stand to gain, and more important, lose.Man does not lose weight by exercise alone, according to scientists at the University of Missouri. The problem, it seems, is that we're sitting too much, which causes critical fat-burning enzymes to shut down. Take a stand against obesity by standing up to read this tip.
The vast majority of us have no idea what we're eating half the time, according to Brian Wansink, director of the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University and author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think (2006, Bantam). Learn how to trick yourself into eating less.
Think you're in the clear just because the scale says you're at a healthy weight? Roll out your tape measure, first. A 2007 study found that people with a higher waist-to-hip ratio may be at increased risk for heart disease, regardless of their body mass index. Find out how to calculate this number, and what it says about your state of health.
The amount of food you actually get on your plate, in the package, or at the counter, is often much bigger than the designated nutritional serving-so unless you're a rabid reader of the Nutrition Facts label, you may actually end up eating two or three servings' worth of chow. We've dug up some tips on keeping your portions in proportion.
Difficulty level: Easy
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