If you eat too much, your body will pack on the fat no matter how much protein.

Weight-stable patients living in an inpatient clinic for 10-12 weeks who overate by 954 kcal per day on low-protein diets, gained less weight than those who ate the same amount on normal- or high-protein diets. But they all gained a similar amount of fat. The protein level of the diet did not affect the amount of fat each patient stored.

PositiveTip: Avoid eating excess calories: they will increase the fat you store no matter how much protein you eat.

High fat and sugar intake may change hormone secretion toward weight gain.

Diets with higher levels of fat and sugar appear to change hormone levels in favor of weight gain. Consuming high fat and sugar foods increases insulin and ghrelin, two hormones that are related to weight gain while decreasing leptin, which aids in weight loss.

PositiveTip: Consuming a vegetarian or Mediterranean type diet can aid efforts to lose weight.

Sleep problems likely contribute to excess weight gain.

A number of studies have shown that sleep-deprived children and adults are more likely to gain excess weight. Finnish researchers followed 7322 men and women age 60 and over for seven years. After adjusting for confounding factors, they found that 1/3 of women who experienced frequent sleep problems gained at least 11 pounds.

PositiveTip: To make consistently wise choices, we need regular and consistent rest and sleep.

Study shows that diet and exercise prevent excess weight gain in pregnancy.

A simple, individualized nutrition plan (2000 kcal/day) combined with a walking program of more than 10,000 steps per day during the second and third trimesters in overweight or obese women kept weight gain within norms. More than half of the women had attained their pre-pregnancy weight within two months of delivery. This kind of plan would help normal weight as well as overweight women avoid excess weight gain during pregnancy and weight retention after delivery as well.

PositiveTip: Regular exercise and a nutritious diet will help keep weight gains within norms and prevent post-delivery weight retention.

Every one unit of BMI greater than 25 reduces odds for healthy survival to 70 by 12%!

Being overweight or obese raises the risk of chronic disease and premature death. Investigators have now examined the relationship of healthy survival to old age and weight in early adulthood and midlife. Data from 17,000 women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study reveals that for every one unit of BMI greater than 25, the odds for healthy survival to 70  decreased by 12%! Healthy survival was defined as free from major chronic diseases, including myocardial infarction, cancer, and stroke.

Can you still fit the pants you wore in college? If so, you may be at lower risk for prostate cancer!

A new ten year study of almost 84,000 men in Hawaii and California found that men who put on extra weight after age 21 have significantly greater odds of prostate cancer. This is especially true for white males. Those who gained 10 pounds were twice as likely to develop advanced or aggressive prostate cancer than their slim peers. However, in black men the risk didn't increase until the weight gain topped 25 pounds, but only for less aggressive tumors. These racial differences may be due to the different ways people store their excess fat.

PositiveTip: This study did not look at the benefit of weight loss on risk for prostate cancer, there are many good reasons to keep off the unnecessary pounds.

Late-night snacks may pack on the pounds!

Until now, there has been scant evidence that eating when you should be sleeping might cause you to gain weight. Scientists at Northwestern University studied nocturnal mice for six weeks, split them into two groups, and fed both the identical number of calories in a high-fat diet. The mice that ate during the day (when they are normally sleeping) gained an average of 10 grams compared to 5 grams among those who ate at night (their usual time). This is one of the first studies to provide evidence that eating at the "wrong" time might lead to weight gain--at least in mice!

PositiveTip: Avoid those late-evening snacks while watching television or working late--they might add more pounds than you expected!

Rapid weight gain in early infancy raises risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in early adulthood.

Intuitively we know choices made today, may come back to roost sometime in the future, either to help or hurt us. The Bible said it long ago: "Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant" (Galations 6:7).