Tune into this week’s WLS News to get the latest on the long-term health risk for obese middle-aged women, learn about new study that shows how a bad diet can affect the genes that help burn fat, and discover the connection between obesity and joint problems. Plus, find out about a Japanese study that linked weight loss to self-awareness. And, see what Arizona is doing to promote healthy eating through its state food assistance program. Read the full story

Obesity rates in America may just start to drop if fast food fans take advantage of the “mini foods” trend newly adopted by many popular chains. Read the full story

Obesity and related health complications, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, could be reversed by blocking a specific protein secreted by fat cells, according to a team of researchers from the U.S. and Australia. Read the full story

A flavonoid found in grapefruit can reduce fat and curb obesity, according to a study out of the University of Western Ontario. In fact, researchers say citrus could prove to be a weapon in the fight against diabetes. Read the full story

In the July 24, 2009 edition of WLS News, find out whether germs in your mouth could make you fat, why the South has the highest obesity rates in America, and why doctors have changed their tune about using weight loss surgery to cure sleep apnea. Plus, learn whether getting married means saying “I do” to weight gain, and how the battle of the bulge is affecting the economy on the West Coast.

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Obesity rates in the U.S. increased in almost half of the 50 states and did not decrease in a single state over the past year, according to a new report. Find out which states are the fattest, and how the current economic crisis could impact obesity rates in the near term. Read the full story

Obesity is a disease most often caused by overeating. Yet despite years of scientific study, research has yet to reveal precisely why people overeat. Now, one group of doctors thinks they may have a clue. Read the full story

Tumeric may reduce obesity by slowing the growth of fat tissue, according to a new research study from the USDA. Read the full story