Contrary to college folklore, the dreaded “freshman 15” — the notion that students gain 15 lbs. during their first year at school — is a myth, according to a study from Ohio State University.
Gym vs. Genes: How Exercise Trumps Obesity Genes
Our genes may have a lot to do with the way we look and behave, but they certainly don’t dictate our destiny. That’s true when it comes to our weight too.
Just a Few Drinks a Week Boosts Breast Cancer Risk
A new study should give women pause before filling their wine glass. Researchers found that women who regularly drink a small amount of alcohol — less than a drink a day — may increase their lifetime risk of breast cancer.
Squeezing Blood From a Grain of Rice?
Billions of people rely on rice as a staple crop. Now here’s another reason to grow it: scientists have figured out a way to use the grain to produce a key component of human blood.
Tracing an Infectious Virus Through the NBA
If, or when, the NBA season does resume after the lockout, teams will have to address another important off-the-court issue: infectious illness.
How a Compound in Red Wine Does the Body Good
You may be less interested to learn why red wine is good for you than to simply know that it is. But if you’re curious, researchers have now completed the most comprehensive study to date on the health effects of an ingredient in …
Study: No Higher Risk for Women With Breast Cancer Genes in the Family
Here’s some encouraging news for women whose family members carry the BRCA gene mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer: if you don’t have the mutations yourself, your risk of developing the disease isn’t significantly increased.
CommittedSleep
Restless Sleeper? You May Be Feeling Lonely
In bad news for folks who already feel that everyone’s having more fun than they are, an intriguing new study out of the University of Chicago suggests that people who feel lonelier are more likely to have restless sleep.
Family MattersInfancy
When It Comes to Preventing Preterm Birth, the U.S. Gets a ‘C’
Preterm birth, which is the leading cause of newborn death in the U.S., has declined in most states and dropped more than 10% in a few, according to an annual “premature-birth report card” released by the March of Dimes on Tuesday.
Teen Weight Loss: They’re Doing It Wrong
In a recent study of high school students in Philadelphia, researchers found that 14% were obese. The good news is that three-quarters of these obese teens said they were trying to lose weight. The bad news is they appeared to be …
A Link Between Trauma and Irritable Bowel?
Major psychological trauma may increase the risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to Mayo Clinic researchers, who presented data from a new study on Monday.