Here they are. The diet and fitness books of 2007.

"You: On A Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management" by Mehmet C. Oz, Michael F. Roizen (Simon & Schuster, $25), www.realage.com

Claim: Anyone can lose weight if they know how.

Concept: If entertained, engaged and given the "right" information about how the body works, you will learn how to achieve better eating and activity behavior.

Comments: While it doesn't say anything new, this great book is packaged wonderfully. Could use more information on behavior change.

"The Biggest Loser Cookbook: More Than 125 Healthy, Delicious Recipes Adapted from NBC's Hit Show" by Los Angeles chef Devin Alexander, Karen Kaplan, "The Biggest Loser" experts and cast (Rodale, $21.95), www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser

Claim: Armed with this arsenal of nutritional information and training tips, readers will be inspired to achieve the dramatic weight-loss transformations that have amazed TV fans around the country.

Concept: Health experts, combined with Rodale and NBC, offer recipes to help you lose weight.

Comments: The recipes look good and include nutritional information, but it's unclear how you can achieve all this weight loss without a full-time staff of health and fitness experts.

"The Diet Detective's Count Down: 7,500 of Your Favorite Food Counts with Their Exercise Equivalents for Walking, Running, Biking, Swimming, Yoga, and Dance" by yours truly (Fireside, $13), www.DietDetective.com

Claim: Knowing the cost of foods — in terms of exercise — will help you lose weight.

Concept: What if all of your favorite foods came with labels spelling out exactly what you'd have to do to burn those calories? You would think before you eat.

Comments: Great, helpful charts that also have calories, carbs and fat.

"The Serotonin Power Diet: Use Your Brain's Natural Chemistry to Cut Cravings, Curb Emotional Overeating, and Lose Weight" by Dr. Nina Frusztajer Marquis and Judith J. Wurtman (Rodale, $24.95), www.adaracenter.com

Claim: Lose up to 2 pounds a week while reducing stress and improving your mood.

Concept: Because the plan is designed to turn on serotonin and turn off the need to eat, you will never feel deprived.

Comments: Particularly helpful if you're on antidepressants and have gained weight as a result. The authors are the weight-loss experts.

"The F-Factor Diet: Discover the Secret to Permanent Weight Loss" by Tanya Zuckerbrot (Putnam, $24.95), www.ffactordiet.com

Claim: Increasing fiber in your diet will help you lose weight without sacrifice.

Concept: Fiber-rich foods hold water in the stomach and are digested slowly. Some of their calories are eliminated unabsorbed.

Comments: Sound, healthy advice with lots of tasty, "doable" recipes.

"The Best Life Diet" by Bob Greene (Simon & Schuster, $26), www.bobgreene.com

Claim: Get the same advice exercise psychologist Greene gives Oprah, and lose weight forever.

Concept: Re-examine the decisions you make on a daily basis and gradually alter your habits to achieve lasting results. The book also includes meal plans.

Comments: Greene gives advice that is practical, and his book does focus on the important aspects of behavior and food.

"Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think" by Brian Wansink (Bantam, $25), www.mindlesseating.org

Claim: Understanding how and why you eat helps you shed pounds.

Concept: Your mind makes more than 200 food-related decisions every day, often without your being aware of them. By learning which situations and clues push you to overeat, you will lose weight.

Comments: A wonderful, informative book that will show you how food can affect your personal eating environment.

"5 Essentials for a Winning Life: The Nutrition, Fitness, and Life Plan for Discovering the Champion Within" by Chris Carmichael, Jim Rutberg (Rodale, $24.95), www.trainright.com

Claim: You can achieve greatness in life, just like Lance Armstrong.

Concept: Balance "five essential aspects of life": fitness, nutrition, relationships, career and health.

Comments: Chris was Armstrong's coach. If you're athletic, this is great stuff; otherwise, it might be overwhelming.

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