It's easier to gain weight from eating foods rich in dietary fat than from dietary carbohydrate (e.g., breads, grains, fruits, vegetables). At nine calories per gram, fat provides more than twice the calories as the same amount of carbohydrate or protein. Your body also handles carbohydrates and fats differently as it converts them into energy. *

A study of more than 10,000 employees of 55 US companies found that obese workers miss work 40% more often than their leaner counterparts. The study defined obese as men with at least 25% body fat and women with at least 30%.

Scientists may have a clue as to why drinking red wine in moderation apparently protects against heart disease. The compounds that give the wine its color are antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, and betacarotene, which can help lower LDL "bad" cholesterol levels. These antioxidants are also found in grape juice.

The following are the most common sites for running injuries: Approximately 30% of running injuries involve the knee, 20% the ankles, 15% the shins, 14% the heel area, and 6% the Achilles tendon.

If you are trying to lose weight, limit your intake of alcohol. Alcohol contains almost twice as many calories per gram as carbohydrates and protein. It also stimulates the brain's appetite center and increases the flow of gastric juices, making you feel hungrier than you really are, which can lead to overeating.

Just how many meals a day constitutes an ideal diet is not clear. Many experts believe that eating three meals a day is the best diet plan. Recent studies, however, suggest it may be better to eat five or six small nutritious meals spread out over the course of a day.

If you get your calcium in small doses, you'll absorb twice as much. Therefore, it is advisable to take four small doses of calcium supplements throughout the day, rather than one big dose in the morning--even if it's time-released.

A growing body of evidence suggests that having a "pot belly" may be even more important than total body weight or fatness when it comes to increasing your risk for elevated cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary heart disease.

Use ibuprofen (e.g., Advil) as an anti-inflammatory for sprains and other sports injuries. It causes fewer side effects than aspirin and it's the longest-acting pain reliever. A standard dose works for up to six hours, compared with four hours for aspirin.

To make your walking workout more strenuous, include some hills in your route. If your walk up a 4% grade, you'll burn approximately 35% more calories than when walking on level terrain at the same pace.

Coffee latte, the increasingly popular gouret coffee drink, can have 250 calories and up to 13 grams of fat per 12-ounce serving if made with whole milk. Topping it with whipped cream or grated chocolate adds even more fat and calories.

Asthmatics don't have to give up physical activity. Approximately 15 minutes before exercising, they should use their inhalants if their doctors approve. In addition, to reduce their chances of experiencing exercise-induced asthma, they should work out in warm, humid air. Such air causes less air-passage obstruction than dry air.

American children weigh up to 6-1/2 pounds more than they did 15 years ago. Their calorie intake is the same and fat consumption is down, so the extra weight is most likely linked to decreased physical activity.

If you hold a stretch for any less than 10 seconds, you might as well not do it. Because that is how long it takes before ligaments and muscle fibers loosen.