Weight Loss Research: Battling obesity epidemic: New look at 'fat tax' ♦Activating beige fat in humans could combat obesity ♦ Overeating and depressed? There's a connection, and maybe a solution

Weight loss through diet changes can improve sleep at any body weight, Weight loss due to dietary changes can improve sleepiness at any weight, according to a new. The findings offer new insights into how weight fluctuations impact numerous aspects of sleep independent of body weight

Activating beige fat in humans could combat obesity The body's ability to harness heat production by converting white fat cells, which store calories, into beige fat cells, which burn energy, could help fight obesity.

Overeating and depressed? There's a connection, and maybe a solution Chronic overeating and stress are tied to an increased risk of depression and anxiety, and in a new study, researchers explain why that happens and suggest a possible solution. The researchers report that the anesthetic ketamine reverses depression-like symptoms in rats fed a high-fat diet in a similar way it combats depression and synaptic damage of chronic stress in people.

Battling obesity epidemic: New look at 'fat tax' Small price differences at the point of purchase can be highly effective in shifting consumer demand from high calorie to healthier low calorie alternatives.

Weight Loss Research: Effects of spinach extract on satiety: Feel full, curb craving ♦ Overeating caused by a hormone deficiency in brain? ♦ New York Times can predict your future weight

The New York Times can predict your future weight What you're reading now secretly tells you whether your country will be skinnier or fatter in three years. After analyzing 50 years of all the food words mentioned in major newspapers like the New York Times and London Times, a new study shows that the food words trending today in 2015 will predict a country's obesity level in three years -- in 2018.

Is Facebook use always associated with poorer body image and risky dieting? College women who are more emotionally invested in Facebook and have lots of Facebook friends are less concerned with body size and shape and less likely to engage in risky dieting behaviors. But that's only if they aren't using Facebook to compare their bodies to their friends' bodies.

Overeating caused by a hormone deficiency in brain? When hormone glucagon like peptide-1 was reduced in the central nervous system of laboratory mice, they overate and consumed more high fat food, scientists have found. Although this is not the only reason why people overeat, the study provides new evidence that targeting neurons in the mesolimbic dopamine system -- a reward circuit in the brain -- rather than targeting the whole body might be a better way to control overeating and obesity with fewer side effects.

Effects of spinach extract on satiety: Feel full, curb cravings A new study examines how consuming the concentrated extract of thylakoids found in spinach can reduce hunger and cravings. Thylakoids encourage the release of satiety hormones, which is very beneficial in slowing down fat digestion.