Winning the weight war: the latest research offers promise for those fighting the battle of the bulge. Don't miss our tips below for natural products that feature the hottest weight-loss remedies.(THE LEADING EDGE: INNOVATIVE & FRESH SOLUTIONS TO HELP YOU LIVE BETTER)

The key to losing weight is pretty simple: we need to eat less and exercise more. But if weight loss were that simple, why are two out of three Americans obese? We do need to eat a more healthful diet and be more physically active, but for many people, there is more to the story. In addition to inactivity and eating too much, there are several other factors that can influence weight gain.

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For example, groundbreaking research from the University of Washington has demonstrated in animal studies that internal bacterial imbalance can contribute to weight gain, which is why taking a probiotic supplement may help some people lose weight. Other factors that influence weight gain include genetics, metabolism, age, illness, and stress.

Stress Eating

Today, we are faced with many stressors--economy, career, family, health, the list goes on. Even trying to lose weight is stressful because we know that if we don't, we are putting ourselves at risk of developing many serious illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

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For more information about healthy ways to cope with stress, refer to the Better Nutrition Healthy Living Guide titled Relax by Sherry Torkos, BSc, Phm, available at your local natural health store.