By: Sue Bektas
www.quick-weight-loss-4u.net

Perhaps the biggest misconceptions of them all when it comes to weight-loss; "I can't help that I am overweight because I have big bones". Yes, I have heard it before. It is only an excuse not a reason. We do come in different body shapes, some are small framed and others are a larger frame and we can vary with our weight range. But big bones or small makes no difference when it comes to weight-loss. There is a normal range for every body type. In my experience people use this excuse to let them off the hook to change their life style. If they only took small little steps to improve their life style and improve their intake of nutrition, they will soon see the benefits for themselves. By thinking that they are big boned will stop them from achieving good health and wellbeing.

"If I stop eating and take supplements, I will lose weight". The body needs a certain amount of calories to function. Not getting enough results in a sluggish metabolism. A healthy diet is essential to your wellbeing. Supplements can be used in conjunction with a healthy diet. However, diet alone will not help you shed those difficult kilos. An active lifestyle is also necessary, not only for weight-loss but also weight-maintained. It is all about finding a balance. Supplements are only used to enhance your nutrition intake.

Contact: Jocelyn Uhl Duffy
UhlJH@upmc.edu
University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences

Gene variations contribute to aggression and anger in women

Ever wonder why some women seem to be more ill-tempered than others? University of Pittsburgh researchers have found that behaviors such as anger, hostility and aggression may be genetic, rooted in variations in a serotonin receptor gene. Indrani Halder, Ph.D., of the Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Program at the University of Pittsburgh, will present the findings today at the American Psychosomatic Society's Annual Meeting, held in Budapest, Hungary.

Previous studies have associated the hormone serotonin with anger and aggression in both humans and animals and have shown that increased serotonin activity is related to a decrease in angry and aggressive behaviors. In the study being presented today, researchers sought to determine if this relationship was genetically determined. The study is the first to look at the relationship between variations in the serotonin receptor 2C gene and anger and hostility.

Contact: Suzanne Wu
swu@press.uchicago.edu
773-834-0386
University of Chicago Press Journals

On a diet? You'll spend more on impulse purchases

People who exercise self control in some way, such as dieting or trying not to look at or think about something, will tend to make more impulse purchases if given the opportunity, explains a study from the March issue of the Journal of Consumer Research.

Kathleen D. Vohs and Ronald J. Faber (University of Minnesota) point out that opportunities for impulse purchasing have increased with the proliferation of ATMs, shopping on the Internet, and shop-at-home television programs. Instead of gauging desire for things, they are the first to measure actual spending patterns after the exertion of self-control, expanding the literature to include the impulse to buy.

For example, the researchers explore the effects of mental self control in an experiment that asked a group of participants to write down all their thoughts for six minutes. Another group was told that they should also write down all their thoughts – with one exception. The participants were told that if they thought of "a white bear" they were NOT to write it down, but instead to place a check mark at the side of their paper.