When it comes to peeling off extra pounds, most people focus on diet or exercise. That's obviously a smart place to start, but there's another important factor that often gets ignored: Stress. Stress has been associated with weight gain, particularly of abdominal fat, the kind that's linked to heart disease and stroke. Plus, some research suggests that stress may even affect the body's ability to metabolize fat. Not to mention, it can cause headaches, disturbed sleep, anxiety and difficulty concentrating, all of which can interfere with your healthy-eating and exercise habits.

To learn more about stress and how it affects your health, check out Stress Less, Weigh Less? And to find out how successful losers manage stress, read Stress-Busting Strategies.