Since the passage of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, labels titled "Nutrition Facts" have been required to appear on a majority of packaged food sold in the United States. One of the most important parts of being a healthy shopper is reading and understanding the information provided on these labels.

The following is a section-by-section look at the information included on the nutrition label, along with tips on how to apply these facts to your dietary plan.

SERVING SIZE

Overweight adults who experience excessive fatigue may not be tiring out simply because of the extra weight they are carrying around. Several studies have linked obesity with abnormal sleep patterns and disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea.

Though researchers have yet to determine causality (does the extra weight cause the poor sleep patterns, or vice versa?), there is an abundance of evidence pointing to the fact that overweight adults are disproportionately exposed to the health risks associated with getting abnormal amounts of sleep.

Ask most people why they eat, and odds are you'll be answered with a quizzical look and something along the lines of an abrupt "Because I get hungry - why else?"

Though the relationship between food and hunger seems to be among the most fundamental exchanges, the truth is that many individuals are inspired to eat - and often impelled to overeat - for complex reasons that have little to do with the status of their stomachs.

To the uninformed, they can be two of the most depressing and intimidating words in the English language: diet (ugh!) and exercise (double-ugh!).

With obesity at epidemic proportions around the globe, an unprecedented number of individuals may now find themselves at greater risk of developing a wide range of additional health problems. Asthma, type-2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers are just a few of the myriad diseases and conditions that health care professionals and research scientists have associated with elevated body mass index.

Obesity is commonly viewed as having three primary influences: genetics, diet, and exercise. But if future studies support recent research, a fourth factor may eventually be added to that list: economics.

Alvin Pratt thought he was supporting his wife, Donna, in her effort to lose 75 pounds by "gently" calling it to her attention every time she exceeded her daily food goals or otherwise fell short of the objectives she had established for herself. He was sure he was helping by pointing out areas of improvement.

To the surprise of few who have found themselves in similar situations, Donna's opinion of her husband's "assistance" was far from glowing - in fact, she called it harassment.

You did it! After years of self-doubt, you educated yourself, adopted a healthy new lifestyle, set clear and measurable objectives, and finally lost the excess weight you'd been lugging around for way too long.

Your family and friends watched - first with trepidation, then cautious optimism, and finally in celebration - as you transformed yourself into the person you've always wanted to be. When you reached your target weight, they let you know how proud and impressed they were by what you'd accomplished.

It doesn't take an economist to realize that getting out of the grocery store is becoming an increasingly expensive proposition. But as food prices rise to unprecedented heights, an expert's analysis may come in handy to help consumers get the healthiest bang out of their food-buying buck.

The negative health effects of being overweight or obese have been well-documented, but that doesn't mean all efforts to lose weight are inherently beneficial to one's health. In fact, individuals who resort to drastic measures to rid themselves of excess or unwanted weight risk significant consequences as a result.