Fruit is a healthy part of any diet but resembling an apple or pear implies certain health risks. The basic shape we become is our genetic gift or curse, depending on how you look at it. What we do to add or subtract to it is our responsibility.

So take a look at yourself. Do you tend to gain weight in your belly and back? If so, you're an apple. Do the calories go straight to your backside and thighs? A pear is your label. Doctors now know that the type of shape you were born with can predict your possibility of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, stroke, and even osteoporosis. But just because your parents gave birth to a pear or an apple doesn't mean that you also have to inherit the disease possibilities.

If you're not overweight as a teenager, you may enjoy the perks that come with your particular body shape. Apples usually have long, slender legs. They look elegant in short skirts and bathing suits. Pears have narrow waists and shapely butts. They look great in jeans. But add extra pounds to either shape, and the dangers come into play.

Apple-shaped people (both women and men) have a much higher risk of heart attack than pear-shaped people. They're also at greater risk for diabetes. Unfortunately, even normal weight apples have a tendency to have higher cholesterol and sugar levels.