Q: I've gained some weight, and most of it's around my belly. Why is that, and what can I do about it?

A: It seems to be a female phenomenon: As she ages, the typical woman gains about one to two pounds per year, and it often lands around her middle. But recent research shows that you can fend off intra-abdominal fat, which is linked to heart disease, diabetes and other problems, by lifting weights just twice a week. Researchers at the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania found that overweight women who did strength-training sessions involving all major muscle groups twice a week decreased their body fat by 3.7 percent—even without dieting—and gained 14 percent less deep belly fat over two years than the women in the control group. To help reduce or prevent belly fat, use these suggestions from Tracey Mallett, a certified personal trainer and creator of the Super Body Boot Camp DVDs. (Don't forget to consult your doctor and stretch thoroughly before you start any workout.)