Every time I have a big night with the girls coming up, I sorta kinda dread it. Not because I don't wanna see them, but because I just know that bad eating is going to be involved. Get-togethers and calories, they're practically synonymous! Surprisingly according to science, they actually are.

In a recent study, 70 pairs of women were set up to eat together. Under observation, it seemed that the women mimicked one another with their eating habits, and tended to take bites of food at roughly the same time. The reason? Those science-types believe it was to make a more favorable impression on one another. In other words, if your friend is eating a lot, then you probably are too.

BAH. Finally! We can blame random spurts of overeating on friends. I see where they're coming from with the "favorable impression" bit, but I think it depends on who's involved. Plus, getting together with your girls doesn't necessarily have to derail your whole diet. Follow me on this one ...

Would you take weight-loss advice from a doctor who could stand to lose a few (or maybe more than a few) pounds him- or herself? Interestingly, if your doctor is overweight, he or she might not actually give you the chance to make that call. A new nationwide survey of primary care physicians has found that doctors who have a normal body mass index (BMI) are more likely to discuss weight-loss with patients who are overweight or obese than doctors who are themselves overweight or obese. Overweight and obese doctors also said they felt less confident giving patients advice on diet and exercise. In other words, a physician's own body weight may affect the care he or she gives patients.

Are we surprised by this?

Is it just me or does Demi Moore's hospitalization not really come as that big of a surprise? Hasn't everyone else seen just how emaciated and SICK the actress has been looking for the past few months? The latest info on the former Mrs. Kutcher's scary incident: She had a seizure Monday night and is being treated for anorexia, among other substance abuse issues, according to RadarOnline.com. Awful! But obviously, there's a lot more going on here behind-the-scenes, and I'm not just talking about the divorce ... There's also the mental and emotional toll of the divorce and whatever else is going on in Demi's life. Just look at what her rep said: "Because of the stresses in her life right now, Demi has chosen to seek professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health."

Why is it so hard for us to buy that exhaustion and stress play such a huge role in a breakdown like this?

Another day, another dieting study, right? But today brings one that, I must say, is decidedly not the "same old, same old." Using a plate or glass or bowl that is either red or red-trimmed or even has a red sticker on it may prompt people to eat or drink less, a Swiss study has found. Researchers think it may have something to do with our association of the color red with the concept of "stopping" or "danger." Yes, just the merest hint of the color red on our dishware may help us take in less calories and lose weight. Isn't that crazy?

OK, so first of all, who thinks up studies like this? But also, how fascinating!

It's January, and the gyms are packed with the freshly-resolved. In the wake of holiday overindulgence, some of us are newly focused on our health and fitness goals for the year ahead.

Which is the politically correct way of saying what's really true: that I ate 40 million cookies, candy, crackers, and other assorted treats during the last few months and now I have some weight to lose.

Not weight, actually. Fat. I have some extra FAT on my body, and I would like to get rid of it. I keep hearing about how fat is a bad word now and it's horribly offensive and no one should say it ever, but give me a break. I ate too much and I worked out too little and I gained some pounds (of FAT) that I am now working to get rid of via exercise and another bad word: a DIET.

And damn it, I'm tired of hearing that I'm contributing to the anti-fat stigma by saying this. Or that I'm saying you're fat. Or that I have expressed any opinion whatsoever about anyone's body other than my own.

When celeb chef Anthony Bourdain came out bashing rival Paula Deen this past summer for being "the worst, most dangerous person to America," most of America came to the Southern-fried chef's defense. Even if you know it's hella bad for you, most of us LOVE to indulge in the kind of comfort food that Paula's known for peddling -- from mac 'n' cheese to red velvet cake. Even if only on a rare occasion. However, it's looking like Bourdain may have had a point about Deen's dangerous habits.

Buzz is swirling that Paula has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes ... and the latest is that she plans to sit down with TODAY's Al Roker on Tuesday in an exclusive interview to "address the rumors." Wuh-oh. We all know what talking to Al Roker means ... Seems like she's about to come clean to America, leaving us wondering ... could this signal the end of her career?!

There's no denying that diva Jennifer Hudson is looking absolutely slammin' these days. The 30-year-old has lost 80 pounds on Weight Watchers and, if you ask me, has never looked better or happier.

Lucky for us, the slim lady was out promoting her new book I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down at a cocktail party with Good Housekeeping last night, and spilled one of her biggest weight loss secrets:

"When I love something, and I know I [shouldn't] eat it all, I love to feed other people."

Shoot. Woman's got the right idea. In fact, I totally do the exact same thing!

Are you fat? If so, guess what? You might be neurotic, too! A boatload of new research is building a case around the conclusion that obesity may well be linked to specific personality traits, according to the Wall Street Journal. One recent study found that people who are more neurotic (prone to negative emotions) and not very conscientious (disorganized, undisciplined) are more likely to be overweight or obese.

In fact, the Journal names particular personality types that tend toward weight gain: The Night Owl, The Stress Junkie, The Mindless Multitasker, The Giver, The Perfectionist.