The latest obesity numbers for the nation are in, and they aren't pretty.

Obesity rates continued to climb in 31 states last year, and no state showed a decline, according to the Trust for America's Health, a research group that focuses on disease prevention.

Mississippi became the first state to crack the 30 percent barrier for adults considered to be obese. Colorado continued its reign as the leanest state in the nation with an obesity rate projected at 17.6 percent.

New York has adult obesity rates of 21.7 percent, ranking it the 36th heaviest in the nation.

To read the full report and check out each state's ranking, go to Healthyamericans.org.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Stomach stapling and other obesity treatments not only give obese people lasting weight loss, but also mean longer lives for the larger among us, according to a new study.

According to the Washington Post, research, involving 20,000 obese people in the United States and Sweden, found those who underwent surgery had about a 30 to 40 percent lower risk of dying over the next seven to 10 years compared with those who went without the operations.

The question as to whether intentional weight loss improves life span has been answered," wrote George Bray of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge in a commentary accompanying the studies in Thursday's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. "The answer appears to be a resounding yes."

Now, if I can just get my insurance to pay for it ...

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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A few weeks ago, I wrote about a study that showed that obesity could be contagious (Skinny On Fat, July 26). Now, the L.A. Times has a story that shows the opposite is true, especially for Hollywood.

Rachel Abramowitz writes that actresses are succumbing to the pressure to be thinner and thinner, and may be influencing young girls to follow suit.

The sad part is that men get many more roles than these women, no matter how thin they are. But since they are judged so much on their looks, they feel they have to be thin.

Check out the story and see what you think.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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In the last few weeks, I've grown pretty desperate in my quest to lose weight.

After a personal crisis in May, I becaome totally out of control, eating with abandon. But reality set in when some of my clothes no longer fit. And now fall is coming. Shoot, today it feels like it is already here. I have got to get back into my fall clothes. Ya'll know I am not trying to buy new stuff in fatter sizes.

So what's my solution? Fasting.

It was all my brother's idea. He said he wanted to abstain from meals for spiritual reasons. And I agreed, but to be honest, I had to get some fat off my behind. Problem was, I couldn't go cold turkey with no food for two weeks. His mixture of honey, lemons, limes and distilled water didn't help. I was starving!

So I improvised. I decided to keep my coffee and the mixture, but just eat one meal a day. So far, it's gone pretty well. I've lost seven pounds in the last week. And I haven't been too cranky....I don't think.

Hopefully, I can get back into those black pants before too long...

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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If you've decided to have surgery to lose weight, you have a couple of options: lap-band or gastric bypass.

In my weight loss surgery dreams, lap-band procedures always win out over gastric bypass. The band is less invasive and offers a smaller window of recovery time.

But don't take my word for it alone. The LA. Daily News recently ran a story on the procedure. Check it out and see what you think.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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You've bought your tickets and got your suitcases packed, but have you thought about how to handle your diet while you're on vacation?

I've discussed holiday diet tips before (see Hungering for holiday help ), but Diet Detective Charles Stuart Platkin has recently compiled a Vacation Diet Check Sheet.

Check it out and print it out before you hit the beach.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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I've long been a fan of low-carb dieting, but what if you went even further and took things back to The Stone Age?

A writer for the Belfast Telegraph did just that when he decided to battle his middle-age spread. He chose to follow the diet of our forebearers -- based on lean meats, seafood, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables.

That's it, no sugars, grains, starchy veggies or dairy products. With an even stricter approach than low-carbing, dieters cannot even indulge in cheese or peanuts. Read his story and for more about the diet, check out ThePaleoDiet.com and PaleoDiet.com - The Paleolithic Diet Page.

Some take it even further with a total meat diet. I don't think I could go there, that's too much for even me.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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If you're like nearly everyone else, you need support for your weight-loss efforts. But can you get it from something that's not alive?

MIT's Media Lab is doing research to find out, working with a robotic weight-loss assistant. Read all about it on CNN's Crave Blog. And watch a video of the robot.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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We've all wanted to close our eyes and let the pounds melt away. Recently, the Dieter's Diary spent time with a hynotist to see if that dream could come true.

Bonnie Kim Taylor had a session with Marc Carlin, a consulting hypnotist. Check out her experience and see if you think it will work for you.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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What's your motivation for losing weight? Does it involve the opposite sex?

If so, "The Adultery Diet" might be for you. The New York Daily News took a look at the book and spoke with author Eva Cassady.

The story follows a Manhattan mother who has piled on the pounds. She can't find the motivation to lose weight until she comes in contact with her college ex-boyfriend.

Check out the full article and see what you think.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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Here's some good news: If you're one of the millions who tried Xenadrine EFX in an effort to speed your weight loss, the Federal Trade Commission says you're due a refund.

The FTC alleged that Xenadrine EFX was advertised with false and unsubstantiated weight-loss claims, and its settlement with the marketers of Xenadrine EFX included money for consumer refunds.

The refund is good through Sept. 15 and the amount will depend on the number of consumers who request refunds.

Consumers who bought Xenadrine EFX between February 1, 2002, and May 22, 2006, and were not satisfied with their purchase can request a refund either by downloading a claim form at www.XenadrineEFXsettlement.com or by calling 1-800-560-6435 to receive a claim form by mail.

I understand the panicked reach for quick weight loss, but this case is even more proof that there is no magic pill.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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The next time a skinny person gives you a hard time, it maybe biologically based, not just bias, according to a new study.

Research reported in Evolution and Human Behavior found that some people suffer abuse because being too fat is mistaken by the brain for a sign of disease, according to a story in The Independent.

The team say the immune system can be triggered into action at the sight of obesity because it doesn't like the look of what it sees, and associates it with infection.

"Antipathy toward obese people is a powerful and pervasive prejudice in many contemporary populations. Our results reveal, for the first time, that this prejudice may be rooted in multiple, independent mechanisms. They provide the first evidence that obesity serves as a cue for pathogen infection,'' say the University of British Columbia researchers.

The report has sparked new debate on fat discrimination. Check out the fiery discussion on AOL's That's Fit blog.

I am definitely feeling conflicted about the study. On the one hand, there may be some truth to it. But on the other, I don't want to see bias against the larger among us to be excused.

So what do you think? Do you buy the study's findings?

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com

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