For many people, losing weight will become a high priority come New Year's Day. Even now, 71 million Americans are trying to shed some pounds, the highest number in 15 years.

And they're going to have some help in 2007, if these five trends predicted by the Calorie Control Council hold up:

•  Restaurants will serve more low-calorie and reduced-fat foods.

A recent report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration encourages restaurants to market lower-calorie foods and increase awareness about the calories in their foods.

In 2007, the restaurant industry and governments will heed the advice. New York City is leading the way by recently passing legislation that requires restaurants to ban trans fat from their foods and clearly label the calorie content of each menu item. Expect other cities to follow suit in the coming year.

•  People will create personalized eating plans.

Americans will begin ignoring fad diets and focus on sensible nutrition and controlling calories. To create low-calorie, customized meals, people will seek help online at such websites as Nubella News, Quality Health, the Calorie Control Council, among others, that have become wildly popular.

•  Exercise will become part of the "everyday." 

As Americans get busier everyday, fitting exercise into a demanding schedule can be difficult. However, many people will begin to make small changes to incorporate fitness into the daily lifestyle.

For example, more people will take the stairs rather than the elevator. They'll park far away in the parking lot so they can get in more walking.

This trend began with the success of America on the Move, a national campaign encouraging people to walk 10,000 steps a day.

•  Functional light foods - the ones made with certain health benefits in mind - will  gain popularity.

Foods and beverages containing "polyols," which are sugar-free sweeteners, will allow consumers to enjoy sweet treats with fewer calories while eliciting a low glycemic response, which is important for people with diabetes.

In fact, Progressive Grocer, which covers the food retailing industry, reports that sales of low-glycemic foods and beverages will hit $350 million by the end of this year and will reach nearly $2 billion by 2011. The growth is driven by people's growing knowledge about how carbohydrates affect their bodies. 

Low-glycemic products target people concerned about boosting their energy level and losing weight, as well as the country's 20 million diabetics.

Carbohydrates are essential nutrients the body needs for energy and as the preferred fuel for your brain and nervous system. All forms of carbohydrate increase your blood sugar level, depending on the amount of carbohydrate in the food you're eating, which is why diabetics pay so much attention to glycemic index.

Health experts believe that choosing carbohydrates low on the glycemic index will help reduce your chances of heart disease and diabetes and help sustain weight loss.

•  Healthy living will become a family matter, with nutrition and exercise the top priorities.

Thanks to education efforts, more parents will teach children about the importance of eating right and exercising while acting as positive role models for their children.

Overall, 2007 will be a year of positive change when it comes to weight loss and weight maintenance, said Robin Stegall, a registered dietitian and the council's nutrition communications manager.

"Consumers must be aware of the calories they are consuming and the calories they are expending," she said. "By choosing lower-calorie foods and beverages and incorporating exercise into the daily lifestyle, weight loss and improved health can be maintained for life.

"By focusing on calories in and calories out, not being misled by the latest weight loss fad and instead adopting healthy long-term habits, the New Year can be happy and healthy."

The Calorie Control Council is an international non-profit association representing the low-calorie and reduced-fat food and beverage industry.

Source: Calorie Control Council

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