Sneaky fat factors that can contribute to weight gain

It's not just the holiday cookies that can add to your waistline. Check out these surprising culprits that Parenting magazine (dec/jan 2008) says may be making you overeat:

• Loud background music: Research show that the louder the music and faster its tempo, the quicker -- and more -- you wind up eating.
• A dimly lit dining room: Not being able to see the food on your plate makes you less aware of what you've eaten, and more likely to overeat.
• Yellow walls: It's the most popular color (after white) for the kitchen, but yellow and other warm shades, including orange and red, create a felling of urgency that makes you eat faster and more. (That explains the color scheme of most fast-food restaurants!)

Easy fix: Turn the tunes off, or drop in a mellow CD, swap in a brighter light bulb for any dim rooms, and use a cooler blue, green, or white place setting instead of the yellow.