(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- "Low-carb," "low-fat" and "geared to your body type" are catch phrases University of South Florida researcher Barbara Hansen, Ph.D., says don't need to be part of your weight-loss regimen.

Hansen's latest studies in rhesus monkeys reveal lifetime calorie restraint to prevent obesity is the most effective way to lower your risk of age-related health problems like high blood pressure and high triglyceride levels. Hansen says, "Our studies have unequivocally demonstrated that if you prevent excess fat deposits in the body through excess calorie restraint, you'll improve health and postpone death."

Hansen and colleagues are working to understand the underlying mechanisms of obesity that may lead to new drugs that more specifically target centers in the body that regulate weight. Scientists are continuing to learn about how different factors interact to predispose someone to obesity. Previous studies support the notion that each person has an age-related "set" point for weight somehow regulated by physiology and genetics. This helps explain why most people gain back the weight after losing a lot. Hansen says, "Basically, while your weight may fluctuate throughout life, your body's natural tendency is to return to its individually programmed body composition."

Hansen's advice for weight monitoring? Using the "bathroom scale model of weight loss." She explains: "If you see your weight creeping up, then cut back on your portions. A 10-percent daily reduction in the total calories you consume may produce a small, but at least sustainable, weight loss."

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com,

SOURCE: The American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Feb. 16-20, 2006