Yo-Yo Dieter? You Can Still Lose Weight

Heartening news: No matter how many times you've lost and then re-gained weight, a new study suggests it's never too late to shed the pounds once more. Previous studies have found that so-called "yo-yo dieting" can have a negative impact, but the new study of overweight and obese women found that, when placed on a diet or diet and exercise program, those who had a history of "weight cycling" lost the same amount of weight as those who did not have such a history.

"You hear people say, 'Diets don't work for me,' but they do work if you use a structure and stick with it," the study author tells USA Today. "The message is: Don't give up." Another expert calls the study "good news," adding, "Weight control is tough work but even a small weight loss brings big improvements in the medical and psychosocial consequences of obesity." (More weight loss stories.)