Weight-loss stories are all well and good, but let's be realistic for a moment, this is America, where more than 50% of people are overweight.Until that changes, let's resort to some emergency stop-gap measures.

• Is there an art to sucking in your stomach

• Is it me, or is it the clothes?

• Is there such a thing as a great fat outfit?

• Delta Burke has big hair because she thinks it makes her look thinner. Is there any truth to that? And will it work with shoes?

• Movie stars always pose on the red carpet at a three-quarter angle, with one leg in front of the other. Will that work for me?

• Don't we all look better reclining?

• A girdle? Has it come to that?

• Would it be cheating to simply surround oneself with larger people?

• All we hear is "posture, posture." Can it be that easy?