When it comes to weight, it's typically assumed that five to 10 extra pounds is nothing to fret about. Not so. Being just seven pounds overweight can increase your chances of heart failure.

According to a team of prominent researchers in Boston, "even those who were only modestly overweight had a higher risk of suffering heart failure. Apparently, the more overweight the person is, the higher the risk." Additionally, "regardless of how much exercise a person does, those with a higher body mass index also have a higher risk of heart failure."

Wow -- how disconcerting for those of us who spend hours on the treadmill and can't seem to budge the numbers on the scale. Still, good reasons to watch those numbers, no?

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I always worry a little bit after I've spent an hour or more chatting with a friend on my cellphone. I, like many others, have heard the rumor that excessive mobile use can eventually cause brain cancer. I love the convenience of my phone but obviously it's not worth it if I'm going to end up with a tumor.

According to this article that debunks 7 common health myths, I may not have to be so concerned. Apparently, the results of a study conducted by the University of Leeds, the University of Nottingham, the University of Manchester and the Institute of Cancer Research in London, showed that cellphone use isn't associated with and increased risk of developing gliomas, a common and deadly form of the disease.

Other myths that you can learn a bit more about in the piece include the truth about the 'freshman 15', whether soy prevents heart disease, if taking the pill causes you to put on pounds and whether you can use melatonin to cure jet lag.

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It's no secret that millions of people out there struggle with food. Some eat way too much, some try to eat as little as possible, some eat just the right amount but it's mostly junk. According to this article, there are seven types of eaters and when and what you eat may be determined by anything from genetics to how you were raised.

Are you so busy that food is always a second thought and you just take what you can get when you can get it? Or do you find that you consume depending on your mood -- happy, sad, stressed -- whether you're hungry or not? Some people were raised to feel rude if they refused the offer of a second serving or dessert, so they'll accept whether they're hungry or not. Similarly, many got chastized growing up if they didn't clean their plate and so feel guilty if they don't eat everything set down in front of them. Ever heard the story about "how people are starving in Africa so you'd better finish your potatos"?

Realistically I think that most people are a mix of a number of each of these categories. I know, for example, that I don't restrict what I try to eat and usually stop when I'm full, but sometimes if something tastes great I'll have a second helping anyway. Sometimes I eat just because I'm bored, and sometimes I'll stuff my face with cookies without even realizing it. The trick is to figure out whether or not you're actually hungry before you take that next bite and if not, decide whether or not it's worth putting it in your mouth.

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