Weight loss is still the number one New Year's resolution, but
what's the best way to get to your goals? Fad diets are not a
long term solution, and some of them can be downright dangerous
says Dr. Melinda Sothern, Professor and Director of the
Behavioral and Community Health Sciences Program at LSU Health
Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health. One of the
latest trends in the media is blaming weight gain on food
intolerances, especially wheat. Dr. Sothern says doctors are
actually finding more people intolerant of certain foods, but
that may be because more people are now getting tested. Do any
of the new gimmicks work, or is the medical community still
touting limiting calories and exercising more as the #1 way to
slim down? Dr. Sothern says start your diet with a checkup by
your doctor, and do a blood test if you do suspect you might
have food intolerances. "I always recommend if someone wants to
begin a weight loss program that they get an appointment with
their physician. And in fact the phy