Lawmakers are considering two new taxes to help pay for a health care overhaul: a tax on fatty foods and taxing insurers on so-called Cadillac plans. Both proposals were scrutinized in news articles. Forbes reports that while “chances are slim,” a fat tax could “help offset the cost of ObamaCare.

A health care reform proposal that would allow employers and insurers to give large discounts to employees who lose weight or lower their cholesterol is facing push back from several groups worried about premium disparities, Kaiser health News reports. “The discounts are being pushed by Steve Burd, the chief executive officer of Safeway Inc.

Ventana Biotech Inc (”Ventana”)(PINK SHEETS:VNTA), a biotechnology company that is developing a appetite-suppressing chewing gum, released detailed information about its innovative Anti-Obesity Chewing Gum. The goal of Ventana’s Anti-Obesity Chewing Gum is to combat the growing global obesity epidemic while capturing a share of the multi-billion dollar market for anti-obesity drugs.

Many experimental studies have found that physical exercise can improve cholesterol levels and subsequently decrease the risks of cardiovascular disease; however, few of these studies have included enough participant diversity to provide ethnic breakdowns.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week held an inaugural conference on obesity prevention and control. The CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity convened in Washington, D.C. to chart ways to improve access to healthy places, discuss opportunities for obesity prevention, and plan physical education standards in schools through federal policy. Obesity is a risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart problems, osteoarthritis, and sleep apnea.

Furthermore, the health cost of obesity in the U.S. could be as high as $147 billion annually, according to a study from Research Triangle Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sirona Biochem Corp. (TSX-V: SBM), an emerging biotech company focused on diabetes and obesity, announced today that it has now taken delivery of its first batch of unique SGLT compounds from its French partner TFChem (Rouen, France) for screening and evaluation. “The successful production of these new molecules marks a significant company milestone,” said CEO, Dr. Howard Verrico.

If you eat a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts and then start bouncing off the walls, it’s safe to say your brain activity has been altered.

It could also go the other way. If you eat a bunch of doughnuts and then purge because of shame, you’d be pretty bummed out.

That’s why experts believe new findings on the effects of high-fat, high-sugar foods on brain receptors may give insight into eating disorders.

From diet Blog Share:

When I weighed 305 pounds, my diet did not contain a lot of healthy foods. I didn’t get to be obese by eating too many fruits and vegetables! Rather, I got to be fat by eating way too many sweets, fatty foods, and restaurant meals.

Twelve years ago, as I began my journey towards a healthy weight, I realized I didn’t just need to lose weight, but I also needed to gain back respect for my body. One way to gain respect for my body was to feed it with good, healthy foods.

I had read all the diet books I could get my hands on, but finally settled on using a combination of fat percentage, portion sizes, and exercise to lose weight. I knew I could lose weight by just cutting calories, but I wanted more than just temporary weight loss. I wanted to have a lifelong change that would result in losing weight, yes, but also in gaining a healthy body and mind.

It took me 14 months to lose 150 pounds, and during that time, I made a lot of changes in my life. I ate the proper portion sizes, exercised regularly, and turned away from foods that didn’t move me towards my ultimate goal.

Here are five things I did to help me make the change:

1. Bought food that resembled its original form

Orange drink may be orange, but the orange color doesn’t have anything to do with a real orange! After all, an orange contains not only Vitamin C, but fiber, phytochemicals, beta-carotene and other minerals. So when possible, I bought fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

2. Cooked food without added oil

We do need some fat in our diet, but adding in unnecessary oil can add a lot of calories each day. When I sautéed vegetables for a dish, I would sauté them in water or broth. No one could ever tell the difference!

3. Ate a wide variety of food

I greatly expanded my family’s palette of foods. I tried new vegetables, unusual fruits, and whole grains. Each time I made a meal using a new ingredient, I knew I was helping my family walk down a healthy path. In the past, I was encouraging them to eat the junk food right along with me.

4. Snacked smart

Instead of using snacks as another opportunity to eat junk, I picked snacks that were good for me, like fruit, fresh veggies, cheese pieces, baked chips, popcorn, or a very small handful of nuts.

5. Still had the occasional treat

I knew if I cut all “fun” food out of our family’s diet, I’d have a revolt on my hands. So we still ate the occasional treat.

If you are trying to lose some weight, don’t forget that the ultimate goal isn’t just the number on your scale, but your overall health. Now, 12 years later, I feel younger, and have more energy than I did during the 10 years I suffered with obesity. I’d encourage you to make some healthy changes today. You’ll be glad you did.

In 1993, when President Clinton attempted to overhaul the health care system, America’s total health spending amounted to $912 billion and left 40 million uninsured, Bloomberg reports. President Obama faces a worsening situation: national health spending has more than doubled to $2.5 trillion, and the number of uninsured people has increased to around 50 million.

Rates of severe childhood obesity have tripled in the last 25 years, putting many children at risk for diabetes and heart disease, according to a report in Academic Pediatrics by an obesity expert at Brenner Children’s Hospital, part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. “Children are not only becoming obese, but becoming severely obese, which impacts their overall health,” said Joseph Skelton, M.D.