"Ten years ago, she was a newly divorced ex-princess, struggling with a lifelong weight problem and snarky British tabloids that labeled her as the 'Dutchess of Pork,' " writes Pam Schmid in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Here’s an interesting satirical summary on the evolution of food control. "We invented birth control; why not girth control?" writes William Saletan in Slate magazine.

"In fact, we're already working on it. Food abstinence, like sexual abstinence, was the original option. Then came the rhythm method: no snacking between meals. Randy teens fortify their resolve at True Love Waits; hungry adults do it at Weight Watchers. To relieve the hots, there's safe sex; to relieve the munchies, there's SlimFast. With foams and jellies, we can kill sperm in the reproductive tract; with lipase inhibitors, we can neutralize fat in the digestive tract. The pill blocks pregnancy by fooling your body into thinking it's pregnant; appetite suppressants curtail eating by making your body think it's full."

What’s the best way to lose weight at work? It’s simple: brown-bag your lunch. Home-made fare is almost always going to be healthier than the staff cafeteria or food fair.

A recent survey by careerbuilders.com found that 46 per cent of employees have gained weight since starting their current job, and more than 20 per cent have put on more than 10 pounds. The greatest obstacle in weight control can be buying lunch instead of bringing it. Those who brown-bag their lunch are better able to control portion sizes and consume fewer calories, say researchers.