Far too many Americans are trusting in unproven over-the-counter dietary supplements to help them lose weight, according to a new survey.

The study, released last week at the annual meeting of the Obesity Society, found that 60% of Americans believe incorrectly that over-the-counter dietary supplements for weight loss are required to have been tested and proven to be safe and effective. More than half mistakenly believed that these products are reviewed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

"These products raise false hopes and take a substantial amount of resources from the individuals who buy these products," M.R.C. Greenwood, an obesity researcher at UC Davis and a member of the Reality Council consortium told the Los Angeles Times. "People buy these products rather than go into programs that do work."

A list of weight-loss products identified by the FTC for making misleading claims can be found on its website at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/ojo/cases_health.htmweight.

Check it out and see if your supplements are on the list. And remember, nothing helps weight loss like good, old-fashioned diet and exercise.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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On "The Biggest Loser," contestants shed blood, sweat and tears, but most importantly, they shed pounds - quickly.

Contestants spend four to six hours a day doing cardio and lose an average of 25 percent of their body weight in 22 weeks. But do they keep it off? And is quicker better?

The Los Angeles Times tackles those questions and many others about the show in an article about the show and its approach.

Check out the story and see what you think.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Trans fat hits the fan today as the City Council considers banning the substance in New York City eateries.

But KFC got a leg up on the matter, announcing today that is has started using low linolenic soybean oil, replacing partially hydrogenated soybean oil.

Now, I know that the trans fat is bad for us, but I would submit that all the fried stuff is even worse. Perhaps we should shift to roasted chicken instead. Boston Market, anyone?

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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First, there was the food pyramid. Now, comes an exercise version.

The Bush administration has announced that it is planning to create guidelines for physical activity. They should be ready by late 2008.

If you can't wait that long, you can always hit the Web for some help. The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (Fitness.gov) has a lot of information as does the American Heart Association. The YMCA also offers Ready, Fit classes for those just beginning to exercise.

So get out there and move that booty!

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Now comes a new incentive to lose weight: Lower weight means less money at the pump, according to a new study.

The bottom line is that our hunger for food and our hunger for oil are not independent. There is a relationship between the two," said University of Illinois researcher Sheldon Jacobson, a study co-author.

"If a person reduces the weight in their car, either by removing excess baggage, carrying around less weight in their trunk, or yes, even losing weight, they will indeed see a drop in their fuel consumption."

Check out the full story, reported by The Associated Press.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Don't count on restaurant chefs to help your efforts to trim down, says a new study. They're not watching the calories for you.

A survey of 300 restaurant chefs around the country reveals that taste, looks and customer expectations are what matter when they determine portion size. Only one in six said the calorie content was very important and half said it didn't matter at all, according to an Associated Press report.

Chefs agreed that big servings encourage people to eat too much, but said it's up to the diner to decide how much to consume -- and how much to take in a doggie bag.

I, for one, have much difficulty with portion sizes in restaurants. If I don't eat all my food, I keep hearing my Mom's voice in my head telling me not to waste food. Thank God for doggie bags.

How much should you be eating? Get a portion primer and let me know how you cope with portion pressure.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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A drug cocktail may be the key to fighting obesity, researchers said this weekend in Boston.

A scientists' meeting revealed findings of small-scale studies that suggest existing drugs used to treat depression and seizures may hold promise for reducing weight when taken together, according to a Boston Globe report.

It has a lot of appeal to physicians because the way we treat so many chronic conditions is with more than one drug," said Dr. Donna Ryan, chairwoman of the obesity researchers' conference. "It's a direction we're moving in with obesity, but we're not there yet."

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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The New York Post had a hip take on how urbanites can avoid mindless eating yesterday. They asked Brian Wansink, author of "Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think," for his tips on culinary danger zones.

He shared how to handle cocktail parties, buffets, takeout, movie counters and of course, your desk at work. See if his advice works for you.

And you want more on the Cornell food researcher, check out my post earlier this month on mindless eating and the ways he is unlocking the psychology of our overindulgence.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Dieting will become "weight loss to go" as more folks use their cell phones, PDAs and computers and other tecnology to to help them shed pounds, according to the obesity specialists.

"If these tools are convenient, people may be more likely to use them, and we know that monitoring these behaviors leads to greater weight loss," says Deborah Tate, an assistant professor of nutrition at the UNC-Chapel Hill, in an article by USA Today.

Read the complete article and get tips for weight loss from Thomas Wadden, president of the Obesity Society, which is gathering this weekend in Boston.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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A new study has added some heft to the "fit and fat is fine" argument by reporting that diabetes, not obesity, increases the risk of illness and early death.

The study, published in the journal Critical Care, analyzed data from more than 15,000 participants of a government-funded study that has been running since 1987. The researchers looked at the risk of organ failure and death among overweight and obese people with diabetes, and compared it with that of all people with diabetes.

They found that diabetes, whatever a person's weight, increases the risk for future organ failure, illness and early death, according to a report in the Denver Post.

What do you think? Can you be fat and fit?

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Eureka! Italian researchers say they have found a brain protein that could make the body burn more fat, paving the way for new anti-obesity drugs.

The study by a team of scientists at Italy's National Research Council (CNR) appears in the latest edition of America's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, one of the world's top scientific journals.

Alessandro Bartolomucci, who led the CNR research team, told Italian publication ANSA that the scientists had been surprised by the results of their experiment.

"The effect was unexpected because the peptide was able to prevent the first stage of obesity caused by a fat-rich diet. "The mice that were given TLQP-21 remained the same weight whereas another set of mice that received exactly the same food began to get fat," Bartolomucci said .

He explained that the peptide altered the mice's metabolism, lifting their energy levels, body heat and adrenalin so that they remained unaffected by their two-week high-calorie diet. Bartolomucci believes the peptide has potential as an obesity-fighting agent in humans.

I for one, really hope he's right.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Last week, Coke unveiled Enviga, a new tea it claimed will help you burn up to 100 calories a day. But it only took one day for some experts to dismiss the claims as ridiculous.

The maker of Coke, on Thursday said it has developed the new drink with Swiss food giant Nestle that speeds up drinker's metabolic rate thus helping them reduce weight. If a dieter drinks three cans of the "negative calorie" drink, per day, company scientists say, he or she could burn from 60 to 100 calories a day.

But experts say this is no diet in a can. Anyone who counts on Enviga for weight loss is "likely to be setting themselves up for disappointment," said David Sarwer, director of clinical services at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in an article by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Enviga makes its debut in New York and Philly in early November. I haven't decided whether to try it, but if you do, please let me know what you think.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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In the next 10 years, the obese among us may be able to have bariatric surgery with a tube inserted through the mouth, instead of scalpels in the abdomen, doctors say.

Natural orifice transendoscopic surgery, or NOTE, requires no incisions because instruments -- like long tubes with robotic arms and staple guns -- can be inserted through the mouth and snaked down the esophagus, according to a report from Reuters.

Another possibility, said Dr. Philip Schauer, head of bariatric surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, is inserting a sleeve, or a tube, into the intestines that would interfere with calorie absorption.

Doctors says the new methods should lower cost because the procedure can be done without anaesthesia. Perhaps that will spur more employers to cover the costs of surgery, as I blogged about.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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For all you couch potatoes, this week, amNewYork's Personal Trainer feature focused on exercises you can do in a chair.

"Performing exercises while sitting down allows you to focus on the muscles being trained, so you'll challenge your shoulders and back more intensely," says Gerald Moore, a personal trainer at the Sports Center at Chelsea Piers.

He suggested three moves you can use: calf raises, the chest fly and arm curls. Check out the full article to get instruction on how to complete them.

And if you need more tips, check out our archive of the Personal Trainer feature.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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It hasn't been the best of weeks for me. Two people dear to me have been very ill and work has been insane, especially since a plane crash killed my poor ex-Phille Cory Lidle.

Meals have been pretty catch-as-catch-can with cereal for dinner one night and guacamole and chips for lunch another day, with a lot of salad sprinkled throughout. And I hate to admit it, but I haven't worked out since last Sunday.

So when I stepped on the scale this morning, I fully expected it to explode. But it didn't. Instead, I had somehow equaled my lowest weight since high school!

I am so excited. I had reached this point once before, about three years ago, but two bouts of serious illness and a lack of focus on my diet led me to gain about 32 pounds back. But that's not happening again. My weight is only going down from here.

On that note, I gotta go. The gym is calling my name!

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Employees seeking weight-loss surgery now have a new ally: Johnson & Johnson.

According to Reuters, Kevin Lobo, president of the Cincinnati, Ohio-based Ethicon Endo-Surgery unit that makes equipment used in bariatric surgery, said a lack of knowledge and education about the procedure is his biggest obstacle in getting corporate America to follow Medicare's lead in covering gastric bypasses and banding.

"We recognize that bariatric surgery is not some magic pill or quick fix," said Lobo, who addressed doctors at a three-day meeting on obesity at the Cleveland Clinic. "We have to show insurers we have the evidence and now we have to take our show on the road."

But U.S. employers are having trouble swallowing the minimum $25,000 price tag. The cost can double if complications emerge after surgery.

I've blogged about my interest in weight-loss surgery and I know I'm not alone. If J&J can help us find a way to pay for it, I'll gladly get on the gurney.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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A Cornell professor may have the key to unlock the psychology of our overindulgence and help us lose weight, according a New York Times article.

Brian Wansink, who runs the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab, says most folks don't think they are prompted by outside influences when deciding what to eat and when, but we all are.

He uses experiments such as a bottomless soup bowl to gauge how much folks will eat, when given the chance.

The author of "Mindless Eating" says we can stop by increasing our awareness. For example, sit next to the person you think will be the slowest eater when you go to a restaurant, and be the last one to start eating.

Check out the full article and see what else you can do to goose your weight loss.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Amidst all the hue and cry about Britian becoming Europe's fattest nation, one effect stood out: the wear and tear on pallbearers.

The Evening Standard reported that the soaring obesity rate is giving pallbearers a backache.

Increasingly, funeral directors are having to use trolleys and lifting equipment instead of professional pallbearers and family mourners.

With coffins going up in size, some funeral directors say they are now forced to ask mourners to sign a disclaimer before carrying a casket.

Definitely brings obesity home as a heavy burden, huh?

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Okay, now I have heard everything. A new study claims that being heavier affects your brain power.

French researchers said they found that heftier people score lower on cognitive tests, even when factors such as education level are taken into account. However, the effect appears to be pretty small, according to an article on Forbes.com.

The findings are reported in the Oct. 10 issue of Neurology.

Doctors say excess weight could clog the arteries of the brain, just like it does the heart.

I don't know. I just hope it's not anti-fat bias clouding the judgement of the researchers.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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WEbMD and the National Institutes of Health have the best weight loss sites, according to Consumer Reports.

Only subscribers can see the full article, but the good folks at Diet-Blog.com were kind enough to post the full list with links to those sites. Check it out.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Over the weekend, I faced a big weight-loss challenge: I went away.

On Thursday, I traveled to Washington for the Online News Association conference, an annual gathering where we web journalists share ideas and lessons learned.

The conference was fun, but also filled with food pitfalls. I did pretty well, except for an occasional taste of bread or fatty appetizer.

And I worked out twice, Friday morning on a treadmill in my awesome hotel (The Hotel Rouge, land of Black, White and Red decor) and Sunday oudoors with a lovely run through the streets of Dupont Circle.

All in all, it wasn't too bad. I was down a half-pound when I got on the scale today.

Some tips if you're going away:

1. Eat salad for at least one meal a day.

2. Skip ordering an appetizer or dessert and have a bite of someone else's. This worked well with my brother's delicious chocolate chip cake when I met him for dinner.

3. Watch the drinking, especially the fruity ones. They tend to have more calories.

4. Take your breakfast bars with you. I would have been in serious trouble without mine. All the conference had were bagels and other bready stuff in the mornings.

Any other ideas out there?

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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If you've decided to lose weight, chances are a specific event sparked your sudden interest, according to a study done at the University of Colorado and reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Triggers are usually either medical (Doctor tells you to drop some pounds), emotional (someone comments on your soft and squishy middle) or a life event (divorce, death in the family).

However, nutrition and public advocate Charles Platkin writes in the Wilmington Star News that it's how we handle the triggers that determine our success in losing weight. He breaks down for each area how it works, will it last and how to make it last, which seems the most important advice.

For example, when friends and family start pestering you to lose weight, Platkin suggests you discuss it with them to keep the food police at bay and your weight loss on track.

Check out the full article.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Runners, like nearly everyone else, are usually looking to drop a few pounds. And believe it or not, even they have difficultly losing weight.

To help them in their efforts, Runner's World recently identified their 20 best weight-loss foods, along with a menu planner.

For breakfast, they suggest foods like homemade raisin bran, a balanced diet shake and my low-carb fave, scrambled substitute egg whites with greens. Lunch features a Boca Burger and tossed salad with croutons instead of salad dressing. Dinner loads up on the carbs with pasta and potatoes.

What I found most interesting were the munchies, which include frozen berries, grapes and bananas and dried dates and mangos.

Check out the full list. And let me know what foods you've found to help you along the weight-loss path.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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New research is offering a little vindication for Atkins diet followers and other high-protein dieters.

A new study has found that a diet rich in protein may help people drop weight because it triggers the production of a hormone that quells hunger.

The study suggests eating more soy, fish or lean meat may help people shed weight, according to a Bloomberg News article in the Denver Post.

The scientists are seeking funding for a broader study that would examine the effect of a diet heavier in protein on patients' health and on their weight over several years, said Rachel Batterham, the lead researcher.

"We now need to do a big study in obese patients and see whether these short-term effects translate into longer-term benefits," said Batterham of University College London. "People are just beginning to realize how much obesity is going to cost us."

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Forget about Weight Watchers, The Zone Diet or even Kirstie Alley and Jenny Craig, most dieters these days are opting for the DIY method and making up their own diets.

Eighty percent of the people who responded to a recent survey by Mintel International, a marketing research firm that specializes in food, said they are making up their own diet plans by trying to eat less fat and cut calories, according to report by the San Franciso Chronicle.

Only 6 percent said they are on commercial diets such as Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and NutriSystem. Nearly 70 percent said they aren't interested in the diets of celebrities.

Dieters also like to take a diet and change it to make it there own, according to a separate study by Stanford University's Prevention Research Center. In that research, dieters were assigned either Atkins, Ornish, Zone and a doctor's plan that prescribed eating less and exercising more. By the second month, 90 to 95 percent of the dieters had modified the plans.

Check out the full story.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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