In a weight-loss contest, the morbidly obese have an advantage over those who are less portly because they can shed fat more quickly. This is why contests, such as “The Biggest Loser,” use weight-loss percentage to track progress rather than simply counting the lost pounds.

Progesterone is a type of hormone that is produced in the body. In women, the purpose of progesterone is to regulate the menstrual cycle. Men also produce a small amount of the hormone, which is specifically useful for the production of other hormones.

Smoking not only increases your risk of developing lung cancer and heart disease; it also causes you to store fat around your middle. Despite its ability to squelch hunger pains, a study published in a 2012 issue of "PLoS One" found that smokers had more belly fat than their non-smoking counterparts.

Prozac is the brand name product of fluoxetine, an antidepressant that belongs to the class called the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. You will need a doctor's prescription for this medication, used for treating depression, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Whether you want to gain weight to fill out your jeans or to make a certain cut for a sports team, you may have considered taking a weight gain supplement. Weight gain pills can help you pack on pounds quickly, but there may be health risks involved. Before taking a weight gain pill, talk to your doctor.

If you’ve been through a long illness or a period of emotional stress, your clothes may be baggy, and your family and friends might comment on how gaunt you look. A body mass index below 18.5 is considered underweight -- a condition that can affect your overall health.

Your baby just won't eat. He's not interested in his stage 3 baby food. You try some solids, but he has little or no interest. You know that weight gain slows down at around the nine-month mark, but you wonder how much is too slow. You wonder if he is just finicky, and the problem will correct itself in time.

Whether it's because of an illness or stress, not having the desire to eat can be troublesome if it leads to unwanted weight loss. Unfortunately, there are no foods that are going to make you want to eat more. If you're struggling to eat enough, there are a number of strategies that may help you pack in more calories.

Stepping onto the scale causes anxiety for many people. You may be even more upset if your weight jumps several pounds in less than a day, and you have no idea what caused it. Water weight fluctuations throughout the day are common, but you may wonder when it's fat weight gain or just water weight.

While most kids are struggling to keep from gaining weight, a small percentage are struggling to put weight on. However, when it comes to helping your child gain weight, it's important to follow the same general healthy eating guidelines recommended for all children.

While doctors recommend aerobic activity like walking and swimming to aid your weight-loss efforts and improve the function of your heart, strength training helps you gain muscle mass, or muscle weight, that normally decreases as you grow older.

If you're lifting heavy and working out hard, you may be looking for ways to up your calorie intake to help build more mass. Weight-gain products such as Weight Gainer 1850 may help provide the calories you need. This high-calorie supplement may not be appropriate for everyone, however.