Unless you’ve been living in a bunker for the past decade, you’ve probably heard the news that obesity is now an epidemic. Sixty percent of Americans are overweight. But understanding health risks often isn’t enough to motivate people to lose weight. So here are four more eye-opening

Sleep: Everyone needs it, but do you get enough? If you find yourself tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep, or exhausted during the day, you may not be getting enough restful sleep. 0   

In the struggle to lose weight, sometimes you need some “insider secrets” that go beyond the simple advice of cutting calories and exercising more. Add these tips to your weight-loss arsenal. 0   

Tunes may be the best way to tune up — and tone up — your body. 0   

When you’re trying to lose weight, sometimes it’s not what you cut out of your diet but what you add to it. While there’s no magic food, ingredient or pill that will melt off pounds, research is showing some nutrients can add oomph to your weight loss efforts. 0   

Are you sabotaging your weight loss efforts? 0   

Having trouble losing weight? Pounds mysteriously piling on? Stress could be the culprit. Some stress is beneficial and can get you moving and motivated. But when stress is prolonged, leaving you feeling dragged out, your body’s chemistry begins to change. 0   

Living green means we recycle, create less waste and use fewer resources. These are all important ways to protect the environment. But what are you doing to green up your health? A healthy environment and a healthy lifestyle go hand in hand. Let’s make every day “Green Health Day!” 0

A 2008 American Dietetic Association survey of nearly 800 adults showed that 43 percent do all they can to eat healthy and regularly exercise; 38 percent say they know they should do that but don’t do all they can; and 19 percent don’t feel a healthy diet and exercise are important. 0

To lose weight, it’s important to pull together the right tools first. One essential basic is a food diary. Don’t write it off as an optional, “if I get around to it” part of your day. Keeping a food diary can have as much impact on weight loss as cutting out a giant bowl of ice cream