What's fare? Time for the Sunday smorgasbord.

When it comes to weight control, everyone is looking for the magic bullet — the effortless secret to a svelte figure. But for participants in VTrim, the University of Vermont’s six-month research-based behavioral weight management program, there’s more commitment than magic in the two basic principles they follow to achieve lasting weight loss: Eat less; move more. “I bristle when people call it a diet because it’s not a diet,” said Polly Allen of Huntington, a participant in VTrim. “To me it’s important that it’s long enough to settle into a different lifestyle.” more...

If I switch to a vegetarian diet, will I lose weight? Answer: Research has shown that, on average, people who follow a vegetarian diet eat fewer calories and less fat than nonvegetarians. Vegetarians also tend to have lower body weight relative to their height than nonvegetarians. However, switching to a vegetarian diet doesn't guarantee weight loss. The basics of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight are the same for everyone: Eat a healthy, well balanced diet and limit your portions. Vegetarians — like nonvegetarians — can make poor food choices that contribute to weight gain, such as large portions of high-fat, high-calorie foods or foods with little or no nutritional value. more...

Maybe you think that means eating like the French, but that's so last year. Now it's all about Japan. As our collective girth keeps growing, some experts suggest we take a cue from other cultures to control our weight. It's true that Japan has one of the world's lowest obesity rates. Only 3 percent of Japanese women are obese, compared to 13 percent in France and 33 percent in the U.S., according to the International Association for the Study of Obesity. more...

Eateries to trim fat from menus. Walnut Creek may be the first city in the state where restaurants will voluntarily agree to cut out trans fats and offer healthy menu options. Dozens of downtown restaurants, cafes and cafeterias are expected to join a pilot Healthy Restaurant Association to fight obesity, heart disease and diabetes by tweaking food selection and cooking methods and helping diners choose nutritious meals. more...