Stop thinking about dieting and exercising. Just do it. Because the more you think, the more you eat, the more you weigh. This goes for thinking about any topic, by the way, so turn that head of yours off and watch the pounds melt away.

Really? Some researchers think so, now that they've determined that the stress of heavy thinking causes overeating.

Fourteen college students were put to the test. One group relaxed in a sitting position, one group read and summarized a text and the other group completed a series of memory, attention and vigilance tests on a computer. After 45 minutes at their respective tasks, the students bellied up to a buffet. Here's what happened: The students consumed 203 more calories after summarizing a text and 253 more calories after the computer tests. Yet each session of intellectual work only requires three calories more than the rest period. Why so much spontaneous eating then?

Blood samples tell the tale. Seems intellectual work causes much bigger fluctuations in glucose and insulin levels than rest periods, causing the body to spur food intake in order to restore its glucose balance, which happens to be the only fuel used by the brain.

The bottom line (if you believe in this study) is this: thinking = overeating = obesity. Shhh. Don't tell your kids or they'll never open their math books again. Instead, feed them nutritious foods, keep them active and steer them clear of buffets after all-night study sessions.