New research is shedding light on a question that has long confounded dieters and obesity researchers alike: Why do so many people regain weight after they’ve worked so hard to lose it?
The answer, according to a new study, is appetite. People who successfully lose weight get really hungry -- more than anyone had ever expected that they might. The body prompts us to eat about 100 calories more than usual for every 2 pounds or so of weight lost, researchers found.

​What’s not to like about walking? It’s free. It’s easy to do, and it’s easy on the joints. And there’s no question that walking is good for you. A University of Tennessee study found that women who walked had less body fat than those who didn’t walk. It also lowers the risk of blood clots, since the calf acts as a venous pump, contracting and pumping blood from the feet and legs back to the heart, reducing the load on the heart. In addition to being an easy aerobic exercise, walking is good for you in many other ways.
 

When it comes to losing weight or maintaining your current weight, your metabolism can influence your results. If you're concerned about this, it's helpful to understand exactly what metabolism is. It's also beneficial to know what can affect it and, if yours might be slower, how to help speed it up.