It’s no secret that as a population, Americans been getting heavier, but researchers now say that our weight problem may be worse than we thought.
Obesity
A Simpler Way to Slow the Obesity Crisis
Telling people to choose healthy foods isn’t working. A better solution may be to let people eat whatever they want—just not to increase their calories over time
How Mom’s Weight Before Pregnancy Can Affect a Baby’s Brain
Even before conception, a mother’s obesity may affect cognitive development in her baby-to-be.
Decision-Making Under Stress: The Brain Remembers Rewards, Forgets Punishments
It’s counterintuitive, but under stress we tend to focus more on the rewards than on the risks of any decision.
Why Active Video Games Don’t Make Kids Exercise More
The problem with exercise games is that to benefit, you actually have to play them
Diet Drug Qnexa Nears FDA Approval: Who Will Benefit?
For the first time in 13 years, a new prescription weight-loss pill appears poised to hit the U.S. market.
The Perils of ‘Metabolic Chauvinism’
A reporter’s notes from a recent scientific conference
The Healthland Podcast: The Obesity and Weight Loss Special
Welcome to our first show of 2012. This week, we’re talking about the latest research on shedding holiday pounds.
Life Expectancy: Another Way New Yorkers Are Better
New Yorkers aren’t exactly known for their zen, health-promoting lifestyles, but new data show that life expectancy for city residents now surpasses the rest of the U.S. How did that happen?
Family MattersObesity
Our Fattening Habits May Be Set in Childhood
Think twice before snacking on chips while preaching at your toddler to eat his broccoli: new research finds that habits ingrained in childhood may persist in adulthood, even withstanding later social influences, to affect body weight.
Fit Versus Fat: Which Matters More for Longevity?
Most of us are all too familiar with how much we weigh — but how many of us know how fit we are? And which matters more?
Why a Smart Tax on Soda Would Work
Sin taxes work. How do I know? Easy: Last night, when I went into a green market in my neighborhood in New York City, I noticed that an ordinary pack of Marlboros now sells for a stunning $14. “Have you noticed people buying …
An Obese Boy Is Placed in Foster Care. Can It Help?
An 8-year-old boy in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, was taken from his family and placed in foster care last month because his mother failed to control the third-grader’s ballooning weight. The county’s family services department …