Editor's note: This article appeared in the January 28, 2009, edition of Quirk's e-newsletter.

Year after year, it leads the list of the most popular New Year's resolutions: lose weight. And African-Americans are the ones most likely to actually stick to weight-loss goals. Blacks were more likely than others to say that they are concerned enough about their health to consider modifying their lifestyles, according to a study conducted by Chicago research company Synovate. Nearly two-thirds of African-Americans of all ages - somewhat less among youth and gradually increasing with age - reported that they wanted to make health changes. Intentions translated into action: Over half (54 percent) of African-Americans reported having changed their eating habits within the past year. By comparison, 41 percent of Hispanics and 39 percent of other groups made modifications during the same period.

High-ranking fitness resolutions reflect the 60 percent of the world's population struggling with their weight, according to a global survey from New York researcher The Nielsen Company. Tactics for paring pounds vary: cutting down on fats (69 percent), cutting down on chocolates and sugar (64 percent), eating more natural/fresh foods (53 percent), eating the same foods but having smaller portions (46 percent) and eating less processed food (29 percent). Fewer than 10 percent turn to other diet plans or other slimming programs (e.g., Atkins, Weight Watchers, etc.). Far and away, the tough-to-execute, but proven slimming combination of diet and exercise was the weight-loss recipe of choice in every region. North Americans were more prone to attack diet issues first, at 84 percent. Emerging-market consumers were more than twice as likely to use diet pills/bars/shakes.