Weight Loss Research: Sugar and carbs, not physical inactivity, behind surge in obesity ♦ Keeping food visible throughout the house is linked to obesity ♦ Hate to diet? It's how we're wired

Fat tissue controls brain's response to food scarcity, helping regulate optimal amount of body fat for brain function An enzyme secreted by the body's fat tissue controls energy levels in the brain, according to new research. The findings, in mice, underscore a role for the body's fat tissue in controlling the brain's response to food scarcity, and suggest there is an optimal amount of body fat for maximizing health and longevity. The findings may help explain the many studies that show a survival benefit to having a body mass index toward the low end of what is considered overweight.

Sugar and carbs, not physical inactivity, behind surge in obesity  Excess sugar and carbs, not physical inactivity, are behind the surge in obesity, say experts. It is time to bust myth that anyone -- including athletes -- can outrun a bad diet,

Hate to diet? It's how we're wired If you're finding it difficult to stick to a weight-loss diet, scientists say you can likely blame AGRP neurons -- hunger-sensitive cells in your brain. New experiments show these neurons are responsible for the unpleasant feelings of hunger that make snacking irresistible. The negative emotions associated with hunger can make it hard to maintain a diet and lose weight,

Keeping food visible throughout the house is linked to obesity

Researchers have identified two seemingly unrelated but strong predictors of obesity: having low self-esteem related to one’s weight, and keeping food visibly available around the house, outside the kitchen. The study focused primarily on determining whether the home environment – architectural features and food storage and availability – was associated with obesity, but also measured a number of psychological factors. While arc