While eating copious amounts of fatty food is one way to gain weight, one study proves there is something else that increases fat cells: Sitting on your butt. By examining how fat is produced at a cellular level, the researchers discovered that placing physical pressure on fat cells actually caused them to expand.

The euphemism "You're not fat, you're just big boned" may have more to it than harmless banter. Researchers at Tel Aviv University have uncovered a clear genetic link between fat and bone mass, which often serves as an indicator of overall health.

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered that foods high in fat, when consumed in a scheduled manner, actually lead to weight loss. Moreover, the diet examined led to a unique metabolism that caused the body to convert fat into energy - rather than store it.

Sitting around really does give you a big backside, scientists at Tel Aviv University have revealed. The researchers found that the pressure put on areas of the body used for sitting or lying down produces up to 50 per cent more fat in those parts.