Scan the breathless headlines at any magazine rack - Fight Flab in Minutes! Get Beach Ready! Add the skinny yet buxom model, and it should be no surprise that the average woman feels insecure if not downright unhappy with her real-world figure.

Hang on: Are we worried just about appearance, or about whether our size signals a health problem?

There's a big disconnect between body image and true physical condition, an Associated Press-iVillage poll suggests. A lot of women say they're dieting despite somehow avoiding healthy fruits and veggies. Many others think they're fat when they're not.

Don't like the shape of your nose? Looking for a bigger bust? Think your tummy could use a bit of a tuck? If you're considering going under the knife to spruce up your appearance, don't expect your health insurance company to pick up the tab.  

Cosmetic surgery is considered elective, and health insurance companies won't cover the cost of procedures that aren't deemed necessary. And if you're considering paying out-of-pocket for a cosmetic procedure, it could put a serious dent in your checking account.

Debbi and Michael Stern have a huge weight off their shoulders -- and everywhere else.

The Reisterstown couple, both 37, have together lost almost 240 pounds in the past year as a result of gastric bypass surgery and accompanying lifestyle changes.

Now, Michael has dropped from 285 pounds to 151, and Debbi from 260 to 155.

They are shadows of their former selves -- in a good way.

Actually, they're getting back to their original selves, resembling the young couple they were in their engagement photo 13 years ago, when Michael looked more like Dr. Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce) of the "Frasier" series than Doug Heffernan (Kevin James) of "The King of Queens."

MOUNTAIN bikes will be loaned to schools in north Essex in a bid to get pupils interested in sport.

NHS North East Essex has invested more than £44,000 to tackle obesity and physical inactivity and get youngsters out on their bikes.

The scheme, which includes trained instructors for after-school sessions, was piloted in five schools and will be rolled out across the area.

Dan Blyth, 14, and Charlie Adams, 13, both of Thurstable School Sports College and Sixth Form Centre in Tiptree, were so impressed with the course they now cycle to school every day.

Lots of weight loss products promise miracles. One in particular that I recall says a magic pill lets you lose weight while you sleep. Now, groundbreaking new studies are revealing that you don’t even need a mystical (and questionable) potion to lose weight while sleeping; what women in particular need is sleep itself for effortless weight loss. (Do you know of an easier way to lose weight than indulging in lots of restful sleep?)

In a study of 74 overweight patients, researchers found that walking a longer-distance at a moderately pace reduced the patients' risk factors more than shorter, more-intense bouts of exercise.

After five months, patients in the long-distance walking group had lost twice as much weight and body fat.