The annual health report, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), feeling that there was a growing problem around America's midsection, redefined the terms "overweight" and "obese" to reflect growing health concerns. The new, more stringent definitions were based on a person's Body Mass Index (BMI), a mathematical ratio of body height to body weight . The report suggested that any person having a BMI over 25 would now be considered overweigh, while anyone with a BMI over 30 would be classified as obese.

The newly defined terms suddenly had everyone talking, and with reason. Millions of people who fell into a "normal" weight range only the day before were now classified as "overweight", while many "overweight" Americans woke up to find themselves promoted up the fat ladder to a new, "obese" title.

But while opponents of the new definitions argued that they were overly severe, NIH was simply reacting to the growing realization that America is a fat country and getting fatter. In the last decade alone, the percentage of overweight Americans over 20 has increased by 54.9%, and there doesn't appear to be any leveling off. As of June, there were 97 million overweight Americans, and while countless studies have proved that there is a myriad of health problems associated with harboring excess fat, the trend does not seem to be leveling off.

However, now more than ever, there is a plethora of weight-loss and muscle-gaining resources to take advantage of. The biology of how fat is burned and muscle is built has been almost completely documented, while foods heavy in fat and oil have been indelibly branded as such. Health consciousness is on the rise, with many people able to recite their cholesterol and blood pressure statistics like a home phone number.

And while deciding which aerobic regimen, diet, or fitness guru to follow might seem a daunting task, if you are serious about losing fat and maintaining muscle, every sensible trainer will tell you that it is achieved through a simple balance of diet and exercise. Although you should always consult with a physician before starting any serious exercise regimen, becoming that lean, Hollywood body double is easier than you might think.