News

Female college soccer players can help protect themselves from injuring the key stabilizing ligament of the knee joint with a series of exercises that can be done in less than a half-hour, a new study shows.

The cholesterol-lowering product fenofibrate in combination with the popular supplement coenzyme Q10, or CoQ, appears to have beneficial effects for people with type 2 diabetes and mildly impaired heart function, researchers report.

An epilepsy drug being tested for use in treating addiction can help obese rats shed weight, U.S. government researchers said on Wednesday.

Children with a history of painful ear infections may be at increased risk of being overweight later in life, according to research presented this week at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Reducing levels of the amino acid homocysteine with folic acid and B vitamins failed to prevent serious complications in patients with heart disease, Norwegian researchers said on Tuesday.

At least 20% of adults are obese in every state except Colorado

In fact, new study hints they might be hazardous

Exposure to low-to-moderate levels of inorganic arsenic in drinking water and food may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a study released Tuesday, which found that individuals with diabetes had higher levels of arsenic in their urine compared to individuals without diabetes.

Cheerleading is behind a greater share of severe injuries in student-athletes than previously thought, according to a new report.

Berberine, an herbal medicine commonly used to treat diarrhea, can also significantly reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes, Chinese researchers report based on a study they conducted.

Smokers who carry more weight around their waistlines may be at greater risk of lung cancer, according to a new study.

Orange and apple join grapefruit on list of drinks that may pose problems

Make sure you're prepared

Menstruating women to blood donors, among others

Increased blood levels of free fatty acids, a key energy source for the body, may help identify pregnant women who are risk for preterm delivery, researchers report in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Older women with higher concentrations of vitamin D in their blood are less likely to sustain hip fractures, according to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Chewing gum after colon surgery appears to speed up the return of normal bowel function, British researchers said on Monday.

Too many Americans aren't getting enough of the sun-sourced nutrient, researchers say

Seizures could boost the danger in tubs, pools, experts say

Doing so may require lifestyle changes

Fast food access, alcohol and study load contribute to poor dietary choices, expert says

Research suggests that exercise can benefit the brain as well as the body

A ban on the harvest and sale of oysters from the Bay of Arcachon, one of France's prime shellfish-producing regions, was lifted after tests eased fears over safety, authorities said on Friday.

Study of the martial art tae kwondo suggests color can influence decisions

North Korean shooting double medalist Kim Jong-su has tested positive for a banned substance, been excluded from the Beijing Olympic Games and stripped of his medals, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday.

Michael Phelps won his sixth gold medal at the Beijing Games on Friday and then said he could prove to any doubters he was clean of drugs.

People who are both obese and have diabetes are highly likely to develop heart disease during their lifetime, a new study shows.

There will be far fewer positive drugs test at the Beijing Olympics than initially expected because testers are catching up with cheats, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday.

From the palm-fringed streets of a Colombian town to the Chinese hinterland, one common concern unites the parents of Olympic weightlifters: will the sport leave our children short and squat?

People who have been exposed to high levels of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may face an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study shows.

Giving a pregnant woman supplemental omega-3 fatty acids does not appear to influence her child's overall intelligence at the age of 7, but it may benefit certain aspects of the child's cognitive function, Norwegian researchers report.

Just one can of the popular stimulant energy drink Red Bull can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, even in young people, Australian medical researchers said on Friday.

In animal study, effect on those with metabolic syndrome was seen within days

A large waist circumference, which is known to raise the risk of cardiovascular disease, may also increase the risk of strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), a brief episode of mild stroke symptoms, according to a study from Germany published Thursday in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Altered sense of taste may result in preference for unhealthy foods, studies suggest

Successful ones can control their heart rate, study finds

Teens who ate 2 or more servings a day as kids had higher mineral content, study finds

The risk of fracture in elderly people is more than tripled during the year following a hospital admission, according to findings from the Health Aging and Body Composition Study.

People with diabetes may want to start spicing up their diets, if new lab research findings prove true in humans.

... But too few doctors recommend it to their patients, study finds

Treatment with tibolone, a drug with hormone-like effects, reduces the risk of fractures and the risk of breast and colon cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, but also seems to increase the risk of stroke, according to the results of the Long-Term Intervention on Fractures with Tibolone (LIFT) trial.

Beijing Olympics focuses attention on health problems outside the lungs, researchers say

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed four international sports federations to conduct blood screenings on athletes during the Beijing Olympics to determine whether any indicators were abnormal before their competitions, the IOC said on Wednesday.

Clumsiness at age 7, below-par motor skills at 11 linked to weight gain later, study says

Urban black men in the U.S. typically fit few fruits and vegetables into their diets and most are unaware of how many servings they should be getting, a new study suggests.

Jamaican athletes have undergone an "extremely unusual" number of doping tests since arriving in Beijing for the Olympic Games, potentially harming their performance, the team's chef de mission said on Wednesday.

Children with poor hand control and coordination are more likely to become obese adults, researchers said on Wednesday.

Common turf applications scored well below par for EPA standards, study finds

Obesity, previous HRT, chemo also raised chances for those on endocrine treatment, study says

2 in the morning helped adults lose 65% more weight, study finds

Young female athletes or those with high levels of physical activity seem to be more vulnerable to eating disorders than their less athletic peers, a study suggests.

Method enables real-time identification of contaminated tissue, study says

The therapeutic benefits achieved by loosing weight soon after type 2 diabetes is diagnosed are sustained, even if patients eventually regain the weight, according to the results of research conducted at Kaiser Permanente Northwest in Portland, Oregon.

And the improvements in blood sugar and blood pressure last, even if weight comes back

It may be possible to be both fat and healthy, researchers reported on Monday, for at least half of overweight adults, and close to a third of obese men and women, have normal blood pressure, cholesterol and other measures of heart health.

Whether sighted or blind, Olympic competitors displayed innate responses to winning, losing

Condition can damage kidneys, brain and heart, study says

Many people aren't getting enough of the sunlight-sourced nutrient, researchers say

Exercisers live longer and with fewer disabilities, study finds

Quitting smoking, eating properly and exercising protects your brain, study finds

Not all overweight in metabolic danger, but waist size a factor even in the normal-weight

New research suggests that low blood levels of vitamin D are associated with a 26 percent increased risk of death from any cause.

A person's odds of suffering a stroke might be significantly reduced by maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle, which includes not smoking, exercising daily, consuming a healthy diet, drinking alcohol in moderation and maintaining a healthy weight, according to a study released today.

The U.S. Agriculture Department on Friday said Omaha meat packing company Nebraska Beef Ltd is recalling 1.2 million pounds of beef because it may be contaminated with a particularly dangerous strain of E. coli.

Be sure to dress appropriately

Research with a brain chemical might lead to drug treatments for humans

Brochures help patients, doctors discuss tests to maintain healthy lifestyle

Study rules out the effect of one genetic variation

Higher adiponectin levels may indicate underlying disease, study finds

U.S. health officials warned the public Friday about the risk of a rare type of muscle injury seen when the cholesterol drug simvastatin is combined with the anti-arrhythmia medicine amiodarone.

Prostate cancer diagnosis tends to be delayed and surgical treatment more difficult in obese men than in lean men, according to two studies published Friday.

Delayed diagnosis, less successful surgery, pair of studies finds

Regular consumption had little effect on LDL levels, study finds

Obesity may be contagious because most people feel good about themselves if they are about as heavy as the people around them, according to new research from an international team of economists.

Los Angeles residents are notorious for worrying about their waistlines and if two Los Angeles County Supervisors have it their way, calorie counting while dining out in the city may get easier.

Chronic protein deficiency may cause delays in a child's brain development that improve little over time, a new study shows.

Better late than never, Beijing organizers are working on a plan to prevent heatstroke at the Olympics among spectators, athletes and staff.

Beauty shops are not just a good place for a haircut anymore. In a new study, researchers describe how they used beauty shops to get their message across about stroke warning signs and risk factors.

Authorities in southwestern France have banned the harvest and sale of oysters from one of the country's most famous shellfish producing regions following a series of public health scares.

The U.S. Agriculture Department said S&S Foods LLC is recalling about 153,630 lbs of frozen ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

An abundance of vitamin C in the diet may help lower a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, new research suggests.

Sports tainted by doping scandals are at risk of "moral bankruptcy" if positive tests continue to emerge, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Thursday.

The International Olympic Committee has conducted 650 drugs tests since the start of the Olympic period and not yet recorded a positive test, IOC Medical Director Patrick Schamasch said on Thursday.

The oldest and biggest Chinese medicine store in Beijing is stocked with traditional ingredients like deer's penis, dried seahorses, fungi, and ginseng.

Japan avoided disclosing information about pesticide-laced dumplings imported from China for a month at Beijing's request, Tokyo's foreign minister said on Thursday, defending a move criticized as ignoring food safety concerns.

Athletes who carry a specific gene mutation associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease do not appear to be at any greater risk of suffering a concussion than athletes who do not carry this mutation, research shows.

Globules around organ more dangerous than thick waist or high body mass, study suggests

And it does so without weakening muscles, study finds

The Russian team on Wednesday denied accusations of systematic doping among its athletes and questioned the timing of the announcements days before the Beijing Olympics that several of them had failed drugs tests.

Australian officials have advised outspoken runner Tamsyn Lewis to keep her opinions to herself and concentrate on her events after she launched a blistering attack on Olympic drug testing.

If the trends of the past three decades continue, it's possible that every American adult could be overweight 40 years from now, a government-funded study projects.

It builds a statistical model based on what is, in fact, a very unhurried world, study says

But not all doctors informing patients of this simple preventive approach, study says

Current dietary guidelines are on the right track when it comes to colorectal cancer prevention, new research from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) confirms.

Walking a few blocks or gardening protects against the abnormal heartbeat, study finds

Those rich in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce risk by 26%, study finds

In addition to conventional treatments aimed at improving survival, most cancer patients use "complementary methods" (CMs) to relieve symptoms and side effects and increase overall wellness, according to findings from a large study.

Since the introduction of shorter, wider "carving" skis in the 1990s, the overall injury rate for alpine skiers has dropped by 9 percent, according to a study of ski areas in Austria.

New research indicates that problems associated with being overweight occur at a much younger age than previously thought.

A top cardiologist has warned television viewers in the United Arab Emirates to try to stay calm during the Olympics because they were particularly vulnerable to suffering heart attacks while watching sports.

Children who immigrate to the U.S. seem to exercise less and participate in fewer sports than their U.S.-born peers, according to a government study.

The nutrient shrunk brain, ovarian and pancreatic tumors in mice

Overweight and obese patients with heart failure seem to have a lower risk of dying than their normal-weight counterparts, according to a review of published studies involving more than 28,000 heart failure patients who were followed for an average of nearly three years.

Rather than drugs, they urge early lifestyle, dietary changes

Study finds they participate in fewer sports but watch less TV

And that can mean missed care, fading health, earlier death, experts say

Overweight children tend to sleep less than their thinner peers, spending less time in the "dream" stage of sleep in particular, according to a study published Monday.

Kid's meals at popular fast-food restaurants deliver more than a quick lunch or dinner -- 90 percent of them have far more than a meal's worth of calories and many are loaded with fat and salt too, according to a report released on Monday.

The side effects of AIDS drugs -- including increases in belly fat, elevated blood pressure, and high triglyceride levels -- are significantly reduced by very small doses of growth hormone, according to the results of a new trial.

Older adults who regularly eat fish may have a lower risk of subtle brain damage that contributes to stroke and dementia -- as long as the fish isn't fried -- researchers reported Monday.

Even an hour's less rest linked to doubled chance of weight gain, study finds

Participation in a childcare program appears to increase the likelihood that a child will be obese when he or she shows up for the first day of kindergarten, researchers report in the journal Pediatrics.

Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson has apologized after accidentally recommending a potentially deadly plant in organic salads.

About 6,500 kids seen in ERs each year, study finds

Fractures, sprains and strains result from ignoring common-sense precautions, group says

Popular nutritional supplement no substitute for old-fashioned hard work, study says

Hot weather and pollution will pose a challenge to the Olympic athletes competing in Beijing this month, especially the substantial proportion of them who suffer from exercise-induced asthma.

In certain "hot zones" where multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is prevalent, patients treated with standard TB drugs have high rates of failure and relapse, new research indicates.

Olympics Games organisers could breathe easier on Friday after showers and a breeze cleared haze that had blanketed China's capital, raising fears of risks to athletes' health.

The House Energy and Commerce committee wants the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to turn over the results of an analysis about the potential links between cancer and cholesterol drug Vytorin, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Many 100-year-olds embrace modern technology to stay young, survey finds

The birth weight of their infant can be fairly accurately predicted in obese women at 34 to 36 weeks of pregnancy by using a calculation involving fetal ultrasound measurements.

Children with asthma face a number of barriers to participation in physical activity, from family beliefs to school disorganization to their own misperceptions about their symptoms, the authors of a new research review say.

Juice changes properties of bacteria to form barrier against illness

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has banned seven leading Russian women after charging them with manipulating drug samples, a senior official said on Thursday.

Beijing is confident it can provide sufficient supplies of rhesus negative blood -- rare in China but more common amongst Caucasians -- during next month's Olympics, a senior health official said on Thursday.

Researchers who genetically engineered "marathon mice" that could run for hours have found two drugs that can mimic the effects -- and they have already developed a test for the drugs in case athletes try to cheat with them.

Rodent study found taking it increased speed, endurance during training

A combination of aerobic exercise and muscle relaxation may help ease migraine pain, a small study suggests.

Scotland's 2006 ban on smoking in public places cut the heart attack rate by 17 percent within one year, with non-smokers benefiting most, researchers reported on Wednesday.

As women begin to enter menopause, their risk of developing a collection of heart disease risk factors appears to climb, a study has found.

Obesity increases the risk of invasive clear cell ovarian cancer, a subcategory of ovarian cancer that is difficult to treat, according to Australian researchers.

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted on Tuesday to put a one-year ban on new fast-food restaurants in one of the city's poorest areas, marking the latest effort by a municipality to fight rising obesity rates.

Garlic supplements may lower blood pressure just as effectively as some drugs used to treat hypertension can, according to a new research review.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Wednesday he was hopeful that centreback Kolo Toure would be fit for the start of the new Premier League season in three weeks time after recovering from malaria.

Nestled beneath verdant mountains two hours drive north of Beijing, surrounded by swaying trees and fields of maize, lies a farm that this year's Olympic host city hopes will be key to assuaging food safety worries.

Colorado health officials said they found a Salmonella-tainted jalapeno in the home of someone sickened in a recent outbreak of the food poisoning -- a vital clue in tracking down the source of the illness.

Older, densely populated areas get people moving, study finds

Study urges national, international standards to ensure safety, reliable results

Many patients with cardiovascular disease fail to achieve recommended levels of "bad" LDL-cholesterol and other lipids (blood fats), according to a report published this month.

Long-term omega-3 consumption appears to combat some traditional risk factors, study finds

Obese individuals with arthritic knees should not be denied knee replacement surgery, researchers conclude, based on a new study showing that obese patients benefit from the surgery almost as much as their normal-weight peers.

After having dinner at Clyde's in Washington's trendy Chinatown, a young boy sluggishly gets up to follow his family to the exit. His waitress jokes, "You're stuffed, huh?"

While some research has raised the question of whether pre-workout stretching hinders muscle performance, a new study suggests that a few minutes of stretching may not sap the average exerciser's muscle strength.

Walking a bit more each day can help people control their Type 2 diabetes but obese people trying to keep weight off may need to exercise harder than they had thought, according to a studies published on Monday.

Japan's traditionally fish-rich diet may go a long way toward explaining the nation's low rate of heart disease, researchers reported Monday.

Fruits, vegetables, exercise reduce chances of blood sugar disease, studies find

Results of a study show that overweight women who want to lose weight and keep it off should try to get at least 275 minutes of exercise a week, or about 55 minutes a day for 5 days a week, in addition to limiting calories.

Olympic all-around champion Paul Hamm has withdrawn from the Beijing Games due to injury, USA Gymnastics said on Monday.

By itself, maintaining a low-fat diet does not appear to reduce the likelihood that postmenopausal women will develop diabetes, according to a study published Monday. However, among women on a low-fat diet who lost weight over the 8-year study, fewer of them developed diabetes, the researchers report.

The more soft drinks and sugar-sweetened fruit drinks a woman consumes, the greater is her likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, new findings from the Black Women's Health Study demonstrate.

Results of a new study suggest that taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may decrease the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation on Friday making California the first U.S. state to prohibit restaurants from preparing food with trans fats, which clog arteries and raise the risk of heart disease.

U.S. health officials urged consumers on Friday to avoid only raw jalapeno peppers from Mexico, narrowing an earlier warning against eating any fresh jalapenos amid an outbreak of salmonella illness.

People in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease who are more physically fit had less shrinkage in areas of the brain that are important for memory, researchers said on Sunday.

Many competitive athletes believe that taking caffeine gives them an edge, despite doubts that it works -- and the "placebo effect" might help explain why, according to new research.

Drink before you get thirsty

Even moderate exercise, done regularly, improves quality of life

Antioxidants in date sugar, dark brown sugars help control blood pressure, heart disease

To desensitize young children to their allergy to eggs, physicians from Greece say "let them eat cake."

A higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with lower survival rates in women with breast cancer, according to a report in the July 10th issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Women who are obese before they become pregnant may be at increased risk of having a baby with defects of the brain and spinal cord, especially if they tend to put on weight around the waist, according to new research from the March of Dimes.

Program of stretching, strengthening and agility drills cut knee ligament damage, U.S. report says

Lemonade a safer choice for men over 40 seeking to avoid them, study says

Meditation may slow the worsening of AIDS in just a few weeks, perhaps by affecting the immune system, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.

A specially designed warm-up program can help female athletes prevent a common knee injury, U.S. researchers reported on Friday.

HIV infections could quadruple over 10 years if HIV-positive people who are taking antiretroviral drugs become complacent and stop using condoms, researchers in Australia warned.

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at increased risk for being overweight, regardless of whether or not they are currently receiving medications for the condition.

U.S. swimmer Jessica Hardy on Friday protested her innocence over a positive doping test threatening to derail her Olympics and said she was living a nightmare.

Saturday can be toughest for those trying to drop pounds, study finds

Treats sweetened with xylitol cut levels of bacteria in children's plaque, study finds

Children born to women who took fish oil capsules in late pregnancy are less likely to have asthma at the age of 16, according to a new European Union-funded study.

New molecular clock component ties all three together, researchers say

The European Union's top food safety agency said on Thursday cloned animal products may not be safe and further study was needed.

Eating a half serving a day of soy-based foods could be enough to significantly lower a man's sperm count, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.

Finding could offer new treatments for other autoimmune disorders, study says

Is it time for a healthier eating plan?

Could affect fertility, especially in overweight and obese men, researchers report

With food-stamp enrollment at record levels, anti-hunger experts urged Congress on Wednesday to increase benefits, at least temporarily, in the largest U.S. program that helps poor people buy food.

Girls and young women who devote much time to the Internet, get too little sleep or regularly drink alcohol are more likely than their peers to put on excess weight, a new study suggests.

Goal is to prevent progression to the full-blown disease and its huge costs

Europeans travelling to the Beijing Olympics have nothing to fear from Chinese food, despite an upsurge in food safety warnings in the Asian powerhouse, the European Union's health chief said on Wednesday.

Consumers should not have any fears about the quality of food sold across the European Union despite a record number of food safety warnings posted last year, the EU's health chief said on Wednesday.

A moratorium on the opening of new fast food restaurants in one of the poorest areas of Los Angeles moved one step closer to reality on Tuesday in a measure aimed at countering obesity.

A variation of a gene called apolipoprotein E (APOE) affects how the stress-related hormone cortisol influences the thinking or "cognitive" ability in older adults, according to a report in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Inhalation of a sugar called mannitol improves lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis, a serious genetic disorder characterized by abnormally thick mucus secretions in the lungs and other organs, according to a report by Australian researchers in the journal Chest.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found a jalapeno pepper contaminated with a strain of salmonella that has sickened more than 1,200 people, officials said on Monday.

Infants cared for by someone other than mom or dad are more apt to be exposed to "unfavorable" feeding practices and to gain more weight during their first year of life, a new study shows, which could contribute to childhood weight problems.

People recovering from alcoholism seem to drink more coffee and have a higher rate of smoking than the average American, a new study shows.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found a jalapeno pepper contaminated with a strain of salmonella that has sickened more than 1,200 people, officials said on Monday.

People who are overweight as adolescents are at greater risk of dying from a number of causes in early adulthood and middle age, research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology demonstrates.

Latest multi-country study shows troubled cholesterol drug no better than placebo at easing cardiovascular events in targeted patients

The cholesterol fighter Vytorin sold by Merck & Co Inc and Schering-Plough Corp failed to meet the main goal of improving cardiovascular outcomes in a closely-watched heart study.

A new rule requiring New York chain restaurants to post calorie information on their menus took effect on Friday, marking a first for a U.S. city.

Adequate nutrition within the first couple of days after severe traumatic brain injury improves patient survival, according to researchers from New York's Weill Cornell Medical College.

Seventy-five percent of children with cow's milk allergy will be able to tolerate it if it is heated extensively, according to a report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Ask questions before you make a purchase

Tips to serve your family healthy meals for less

It may seem just cosmetic, but condition can lead to more serious problems, doctor warns

But they're more likely to be iron-deficient, study finds

But smoking may increase the likelihood of relapse, expert says

Once weaned from breast-milk or formula, some babies as young as 12 months of age should be given reduced-fat (2 percent) milk instead of whole milk, according to newly revised guidelines issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) this month.

- If contradicting research has you wondering if coffee is healthy or harmful, the answer is simple: it depends.

Babies who are exposed to mom's diabetes and obesity while in the womb are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adolescence, according to new research.

Cycling faces the risk of disappearing if the sport does not get rid of doping, the general director of the World Anti-Doping Agency said on Friday.

Doctor-approved activity can help you feel better

China denied on Friday that pharmacies had banned the sale of everyday products such as cold medication and rash cream to prevent accidental doping during the Olympics, and sought to assure that drugs would meet standards.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday it has lifted its warning on tomatoes amid an ongoing outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul in which more than 1,200 people have reported getting sick.

By increasing the amount of fiber in the diet during early pregnancy, the risk of preeclampsia in later pregnancy falls, according to a report in the American Journal of Hypertension.

More than a quarter of all Americans are now obese, the latest U.S. government figures show.

One-quarter of Americans report being obese, CDC report says

Preeclampsia raises blood pressure, but the nutrient lowers the odds, study finds

A regimen of supplements and lifestyle coaching is just as effective as statin medication for reducing levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol, and more effective in helping people lose weight, new research shows.

Within five years, $16 billion a year could be saved, report claims

Pediatricians look to help those at risk of obesity or with high cholesterol

Study finds Mediterranean and low-carb diets work just as well as low-fat ones

In a 2-year study comparing different diets, low-carbohydrate and Mediterranean diets proved to be as safe and at least as effective as a low-fat diet in achieving weight loss.

But medications and lifestyle changes can head off threats like heart attack and stroke

Obese women who carry most of their extra weight around the stomach are 70 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, an international team of researchers reported on Tuesday.

Overweight women who join a fitness center to lose weight are apt to fail unless they have a workout partner, personal trainer or "life coach" and cut their caloric intake at the same time, according to two researchers from the University of Missouri in Columbia.

A claim by International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid that Spain is "slow to get the message" in the fight against doping, drew a sharp response from the country's sports minister on Wednesday.

The 11th stage of the Tour de France started on Wednesday from Lannemezan without Barloworld's Moises Duenas Nevado, the second Spaniard to test positive for the blood-boosting drug erythropoietin (EPO).

British firefighters have threatened to go on strike after bosses fired a veteran Scottish colleague for being overweight.

Former elite athletics coach Trevor Graham has been banned for life for violating anti-doping rules, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said on Tuesday.

Obese women who carry most of their extra weight around the stomach are 70 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, an international team of researchers reported on Tuesday.

One form of statins, the cholesterol fighter that is the world's top selling drug, does not appear to help children overcome a common, genetically linked learning disability, researchers said on Tuesday.

By age 15, amount of daily exercise drops by about two-thirds, study finds

Daily consumption while expecting ups odds of asthmatic offspring, study suggests

The amount of time children spend being physical activity steadily declines after they reach 9 years of age, so that by age 15 fewer than one out of three meets the recommended guidelines of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day.

Most food products aimed specifically at children have poor nutritional content even though more than half of the products are marketed to the contrary, according to a Canadian study released on Monday.

Children with peanut allergies may run the risk of not receiving life-saving treatment for a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis because they don't have their epinephrine autoinjector with them at school, Canadian researchers report.

Researchers found that people who lived in neighborhoods with more opportunities for exercise, less crime, better grocery stores and a closer sense of community had a lower risk having high blood pressure -- independent of factors such as income and education level.

Performing gastric bypass surgery to reduce the weight of morbidly obese patients using a laparoscopic method, rather than the conventional more invasive "open" abdominal method, reduces postoperative complications, the need for a second operation, and shortens hospital stays, new research shows. Nevertheless, laparoscopic gastric bypass is more expensive.

Pregnant women who eat nuts or nut products like peanut butter daily raise the risk their children will develop asthma by 50 percent, Dutch researchers said on Tuesday.

Study predicts up to 2.2 million additional cases in U.S. by 2050

Study found those who were more fit had larger brains

Cutting just 300 calories a day slows metabolism, tissue failure, study says

But surgery helps them return to prior playing level 83% of time, report shows

Maintaining a higher level of physical fitness may preserve the brain volume in patients who are in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, new study findings suggest.

Months after the biggest meat recall in U.S. history, the Agriculture Department said on Friday it will begin making public the names of retail stores that receive tainted products, but critics said the change does not go far enough to protect public health.

Amgen Inc on Monday said that a trial of its experimental drug denosumab showed that it can prevent osteoporosis in men being treated with prostate cancer drugs that can cause bone loss.

Expert says sticking to routine will keep those extra pounds off while school's out

Emergency department 'teachable moments' remembered well by parents, youngsters, study finds

Studies suggest an increased fracture risk in people who take the medications

Study finds farm-raised fish has high levels of unhealthy omega-6 fatty acids

While health experts recommend that people eat more fatty fish, the varieties most Americans buy vary widely in their amount of healthy omega-3 fats, a new study suggests.

Patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer who had abundant vitamin D in their blood prior to diagnosis were less likely to die during a follow-up period than those who were deficient in the vitamin, researchers report.

American swimmer Eric Shanteau has been diagnosised with testicular cancer but still plans to race at the Beijing Olympics, U.S. Swimming said on Friday.

North Korea has agreed to give international aid agencies access to two isolated northeastern provinces, home to a "large number of malnourished children" but cut off since late 2006, UNICEF said on Friday.

Women wanting to ward off type 2 diabetes should load their plates with green leafy vegetables and whole fruits, but perhaps stay away from fruit juice, new research suggests.

Women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more likely to have abnormal body fat distribution, especially those with a normal weight, compared with men with RA or women without the disease.

Chinese race walker and former Olympian Song Hongjuan has been handed a four-year ban after failing a dope test in February, according to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Cool, dry air blown underneath the shoulder pads of a football player during rest periods helps lowers core body temperature and heart rate, reducing the chances of heat-related illness and maybe even boosting game performance, research shows.

Drug cheats will have nowhere to hide in Britain, the head of the country's anti-doping programme said on Thursday.

More than 1,000 people have been sickened in an outbreak of Salmonella food poisoning and federal officials said on Wednesday they now suspected several causes, including jalapeno peppers.

Increased usage of community water fluoridation has been credited with markedly reducing the prevalence and severity of tooth decay in the US in the past 60 years, but new research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that in many states the availability of optimally fluoridated water is lacking.

A man was gored and six others taken to hospital on the fourth day of the annual San Fermin bull-running festival in the northern Spanish town of Pamplona, organisers said on Thursday.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using a replacement ligament from a cadaver has a high failure rate in young, active adults, according to a study reported Thursday at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine conference in Orlando, Florida.

Hypoallergenic infant formulas may help lower the long-term risk of allergies in children who are genetically vulnerable to them, a new study suggests.

The newest low-tech fertility treatment may be a diet, researchers said on Wednesday after learning that obese men have more abnormal sperm and make less semen.

Based on new research, smokers may want to check the beta-carotene content of any multivitamin supplements they are taking, especially if these supplements are promoted as being beneficial for eye health.

A new study offers more evidence that the rapid heartbeat seen in many hard-training athletes is typically a benign side effect of physical conditioning.

Meta-analysis shows specific cardiovascular effects of chocolate, soy protein, green tea

Females scored worse than males on neurocognitive tests; reason remains elusive

Reduced core body temperatures could limit deaths from heat stroke, study says

Nearly one in five food-induced anaphylactic reactions that occur in children with multiple food allergies will require two or more doses of epinephrine, rather than a single dose that is usually administered, new research suggests.

Parents' general approach to raising their children is often apparent in how they manage their kids' diets -- suggesting that efforts to control childhood obesity need to consider family dynamics, according to researchers.

Everyone knows what too much television can do to the mind and what too little exercise can do to the body, but a Canadian study has now shown that the boob tube can also lead to an increase in how much we eat.

Obesity levels in China are rising fast, with more than a quarter of the population overweight or obese. As people add more meat and dairy products to their diet, serious health problems can develop, a new study says.

New mothers with a history of an eating disorder appear to have a difficult time adjusting to motherhood, study findings suggest.

The content of the red yeast rice supplement that manufacturers claim reduces cholesterol, varies dramatically depending on the brand, with some products containing far less of the active ingredient than has been shown scientifically to be effective, and other containing one or more contaminants, new analysis by ConsumerLab demonstrates.

A new study with twins suggests that for men, the obsession with being too small and undeveloped, known as muscle dysmorphic disorder, may share the same genetic underpinnings as anorexia nervosa.

No more excuses for staying sedentary -- new research shows that a variety of tricks and tools, from motivational programs to scheduling workouts to suit a busy life, can get people off the couch.

Both conditions cause significant decrease in body's ability to repair sperm DNA, studies find

Teen girls likely to be heavier if they spend a lot of time on the Internet, study shows

Delaying the introduction of cow's milk may increase, rather than decrease, the risk that a child will develop allergies in the first 2 years of life, researchers from the Netherlands report.

People who keep a journal to track their eating habits may be more successful at shedding pounds, according to research published Tuesday.

Your mother was right when she told you to take the time to chew your food. Eating slowly, research suggests, can encourage people to eat less, and enjoy the meal more.

The addition of the type 2 diabetes drug metformin to a lifestyle modification program may help female adolescents lose weight loss if they also make dietary changes, according to a new study.

The current pattern of type 2 diabetes in young adults and trends in childhood obesity rates point to a dramatic impact on the future health of adults in the United States, concludes the writer of a report published Monday.

A nutritious diet in early childhood provides a developmental edge that may not be apparent until adulthood, according to a long-term study of Guatemalan villagers released on Monday.

Higher levels of fetuin-A were linked to later disease development, study found

Impact has yet to be felt, since type 2 course may take 10 years to show, study says

Logging intake makes you think about what you eat, study finds

Findings from a small study suggest that the ability of exercise to reverse components of the metabolic syndrome is directly related to the intensity of training.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on Monday released new guidelines on cholesterol screening for children -- and treatment of high cholesterol if needed.

Heart attacks in relatively young women are rare, but pregnancy increases that small risk by 3- to 4-fold, according to a new review.

Prevention efforts such as losing weight, kicking the smoking habit, lowering cholesterol and taking an aspirin a day could cut heart attacks in the United States by 36 percent and strokes by 20 percent in the next three decades, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials will seek a strong "black box" warning for epilepsy drugs cautioning about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior, an agency spokeswoman told Reuters on Monday.

By maintaining adequate vitamin D levels during pregnancy, mothers may be protecting their babies against early tooth decay in childhood, according a study reported Friday at the International Association for Dental Research meeting in Toronto, Canada.

Dosing expectant mothers and their new babies with a probiotic mix of "good bacteria" may help the infants fight off respiratory infections, new research suggests.

Research published today supports the heart-health benefits of consuming vegetable oils and foods rich in omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Lack of breast-feeding and early introduction of solid foods may be to blame, study says

Reduce heart attack risk and blood pressure, studies show

Major study suggests slimming down, quitting smoking would boost average life span by 1.3 years

Children as young as 2 should be tested for high cholesterol, group says

Resveratrol, found in red wine, grape skins, inhibits abnormal cells, study finds

U.S. elementary schools have better offerings than high schools, study says

Prevent injuries from roller sports

Make it easy on yourself

Parents who rant at kids' sporting events let ego get in the way, study says

Parents should be aware of small risk for those not on meds, expert says

Common sense and caution guarantee outdoor fun stays healthy, expert says

It's never too late to start eating better, losing weight and exercising, studies find

Mandatory heart screenings for all athletes could detect potentially fatal problems and save lives, Italian researchers said on Friday.

Children born "small for gestational age" - that is, significantly smaller than most babies born after the same number of weeks of pregnancy -- are prone to developing "visceral" adiposity (fatness) of the abdomen, even without being overweight, research hints.

Low concentrations may lead to enamel defects, early tooth decay, study finds

Eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA -- the essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid abundant in oily fish -- may help protect stroke patients from suffering a second stroke, a Japanese study shows.

Fatty meals may cloud the brains of people with type 2 diabetes, but antioxidant vitamins can help clear the fog, Canadian researchers demonstrated in a study they conducted.

Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels in the body may help guard against bone disease in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a study in which researchers found a link between inadequate vitamin D levels and lower bone mineral density in a group of IBD patients.

As more Americans get sick while health officials look for the cause of a salmonella outbreak sweeping the country, consumer groups said on Thursday the Food and Drug Administration must put emergency rules in place to track the movement of produce.

Supplements containing sodium bicarbonate -- better known as baking soda -- may help competitive swimmers cut through the water a little faster, a small study suggests.

Several cases of respiratory illness that occurred last year in northeastern Florida were brought on by exposure to a so-called red tide caused by the toxic marine organism, Karenia brevis, health officials conclude in a report released Thursday.

A few cups of green tea each day may help prevent heart disease, Greek researchers said on Wednesday.

But ECG use controversial because of cost, number of false positives, study says

Resveratrol mimics the benefits of restricted calorie diets, study finds

Coaches, athletic trainers focus on prevention, better treatment for young athletes

Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy does not boost the frequency of children born with potentially harmful mutations in a gene that metabolizes folate, research shows.

Morbidly obese adults who undergo a particular type of stomach bypass surgery called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) appear to be at increased risk of developing kidney stones earlier than previously thought. The increase in stone risk was evident just three months after the surgery.

Regular practice of tai chi chih, a Westernized version of the ancient Chinese martial art of tai chi, can help older people rest easier at night, according to a study in the journal Sleep.

Just a few more portions of broccoli each week may protect men from prostate cancer, British researchers reported on Wednesday.

Diets high in saturated fat may increase the risk of prostate cancer progression, researchers from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston report.

For years Dinah Veeris ignored the traditional Caribbean medicine of her native Curacao, but while recovering from an operation she found only her mother's teas eased her stomach pains.

Wrestler Luo Meng became the second Chinese Olympic hopeful to be banned for life after testing positive for a banned substance, state media reported on Wednesday.

Paradoxically, obesity may offer some protection against heart-related "events," like heart attack, in people who have a stent placed to prop open a clogged coronary artery, research shows.

Before heading to the gym, take simple steps to avoid the potentially deadly bacteria

Study suggests explanation for these practices' health benefits

People who take part in weight-loss programs set up by their employers manage to lose at least modest amounts of weight compared to co-workers who do not take part, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

In preterm newborns who are exclusively bottle-fed, treatment with the probiotic organism Lactobacillus reuteri, given daily for 30 days, improves gut function, a study shows.

Health experts generally recommend that children get at least one hour of moderate exercise each day, but that may not be enough to counter the problem of childhood obesity, a UK study suggests.

A red grape seed extract that packs the punch of red wine -- without the alcohol -- could help protect against memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease, research in mice suggests.

Exercise does not appear to reduce migraine attacks or their duration, although it may cut down on the intensity of the headache pain in those who suffer from migraines, according to published studies.

The "spiritual" effects of psilocybin from so-called sacred mushrooms last for more than a year and may offer a way to help patients with fatal diseases or addictions, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.

Diplomats in Geneva have agreed new limits for bacteria in baby formula and natural toxins in nuts, setting safety standards to apply for internationally shipped food, the World Health Organisation said on Tuesday.

A broad range of policy and environmental initiatives at the local, state and federal levels aimed at increasing physical activity and healthful eating is needed to reduce rates of obesity in the United States, according to an American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement in the Association's journal Circulation, published Monday.

One New York City chef spent a year mastering a trans-fat-free version of his sfogliatella pastries. Fast-food chain KFC has introduced a trans-fat-free chicken pot pie in New York before taking it to other U.S. cities.

In healthy men of normal weight, relatively small increases in weight raise the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a report by Korean researchers that will appear in the September issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Their bodies don't cool quickly, so caution should rise with temperatures

In overweight or obese children, fatty liver disease appears to be a specific risk factor for the metabolic syndrome, a precursor of heart disease and diabetes, according to a study appearing in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.

The United States will spend an additional $1.25 billion on international food aid donations this year and next as donor countries seek to blunt the effects of soaring food prices on the world's poor.

African-American women taking a low-dose oral contraceptive may see an increase in markers of increased risk for developing heart disease or diabetes, a study shows.

People who were heavier than average when they were born appear to be twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis as their normal birth-weight counterparts, researchers report.

Low levels of HDL cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol, are associated with poor short-term memory in middle-aged adults, new findings indicate.

The federal government has a new message for people 50 and older who use complementary and alternative therapies, and their physicians too: do ask, and do tell.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected on Monday an appeal by American cyclist Floyd Landis against a two-year doping ban.

Rats fed junk food had higher cholesterol, blood fats into adulthood, British study finds

As many as 6 million U.S. youngsters have the condition, researchers warn

Heart association seeks policy, social changes that boost healthier eating, exercise

Finding may help scientists develop drug to treat autoimmune disease, researcher says

Reports tells how many carbs and calories are in 26 best-selling alcoholic beverages

But experts aren't ready to embrace the findings as fact

Nutrition Facts panel makes it tough to make healthy choices, study shows

Trainers' group warns summer's temperatures can also bring severe injury

Surgeons group offers tips on how to be footloose and injury-free

Even among people with a normal weight, having a big belly may be deadly, a new study shows.

The test commonly used to screen men for prostate cancer may be more likely to miss tumors in obese men, a new study suggests.

Bulgaria withdrew its national weightlifting team from the Beijing Olympics on Friday after 11 members of the team failed dope tests, the national weightlifting federation said.

Older adults who are low in B vitamins or have elevated levels of a blood protein called homocysteine may be at increased risk of suffering a hip fracture, new study findings suggest.

A new program developed by the U.S. government is tackling the obesity epidemic by helping "tween" girls and their parents make small but important changes to build a healthier lifestyle.

More than 750 people have become ill in an outbreak of Salmonella linked to certain types of tomatoes, U.S food safety officials said on Thursday.

Since 2000, doctors at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama, have seen about a 5- to 6-fold increase in the number of serious shoulder and elbow injuries in young baseball and softball players.

Hypnosis therapy may help ease some of the bowel inflammation seen in ulcerative colitis, a small study suggests.

Patches that deliver nitroglycerin through the skin do nothing to help speed healing from a common type of injury to the Achilles tendon, UK researchers have found.

Study finds patients twice as likely to care for themselves, saves money in long run

Access to defibrillators and knowing how to use them could reduce deaths, experts say

Study finds safety standards needed, especially for use on public roads

National Wildlife Federation says turn off TVs, computers, venture into nature

Young female athletes who have loose joints may be at greater risk of tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee, a new study suggests.

Increasing numbers of the nation's largest employers are offering gift cards and other incentives to encourage workers to slim down and quit smoking, a survey found.

Video games are known to improve hand-eye coordination but can they help someone quit smoking or lose weight?

After a heart attack, adopting either a low-fat or Mediterranean-style diet similarly and significantly benefits overall and cardiovascular health, research suggests.

Merck & Co , Nike Inc and General Mills Inc are among 15 health-care and consumer products companies best positioned to profit from an effort to combat the growing obesity epidemic, Credit Suisse analysts said in a report on Thursday.

Since 2000, doctors at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama, have seen about a 5- to 6-fold increase in the number of serious shoulder and elbow injuries in young baseball and softball players.

Study says startle response sped up reactions

Antioxidant vitamins counter cognitive decline, but experts say eating healthy is better

Two labs came to different conclusions on identical urine samples, study finds

Overweight and obese men may be less likely than their thinner counterparts to develop a hernia in the groin, a long-term study suggests.

In men who smoke, drinking coffee and tea may reduce the risk of stroke caused by a blockage, findings of a new study hint.

Use of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins rose by 156 percent between 2000 and 2005, with spending jumping from $7.7 billion to $19.7 billion, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported on Wednesday.

Drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis won a final green light for its obesity drug Acomplia from Britain's cost-effectiveness watchdog NICE on Wednesday, clearing the way for doctors to prescribe it on the state health service.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday outbreaks of E. coli bacteria in Michigan and Ohio are linked, and health officials in both states suspect the outbreak was caused by ground beef.

Anti-doping controls at the Beijing Games will be the most extensive ever implemented, said International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice president Thomas Bach.

Aerobic cycle training and strength training do little to improve the ability of stroke patients to walk greater distances or at a faster clip, Australian and US researchers have found. Stroke survivors need specific training to improve their ability to walk, which is often compromised after stroke, they suggest.

A sample of raw ground beef was found to contain the same harmful strain of E.coli O157:H7 bacteria that caused outbreaks in Ohio and Michigan and sickened 19 in Ohio in recent weeks, the state's departments of health and agriculture said in a statement on Wednesday.

The "good" strain of Escherichia coli -- known as E. coli Nissle 1917, or EcN -- is effective in treating diarrhea in infants and toddlers, researchers have found.

And know what you're eating

Women who gain too much weight during pregnancy might raise their child's future risk of becoming overweight, a new study suggests.

Schools and other organizations that sponsor teen athletic programs should do more to ensure school-aged athletes stay healthy and injury-free, according to new guidelines.

For people with overactive bladder problems, cutting fluid intake by 25 percent can improves symptoms substantially, new research from the UK shows.

Here's where to find them

U.S. food safety inspectors will head to Florida and Mexico this weekend to examine tomato farms and distribution chains, hoping to pinpoint the source of a widening Salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 550 people, officials said on Friday.

Women who eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains may outlive those who follow a more typical American diet, researchers reported Monday.

Falling levels of a hormone called leptin that helps the brain resist tempting foods may explain why people who lose weight often have a hard time keeping it off, U.S. researchers said on Friday.

Study is among the first to show such an effect from a nutrient, experts say

Study found eating fruits, veggies, whole grains most protective against heart disease

How to stick to your schedule

But proper sports gear and preparation can prevent unnecessary accidents, experts say

Expert sorts myth from fact when it comes to toeing the line on healthy practices

Obesity surgery can cause type 2 diabetes to go into remission, but much depends on how much weight the patient loses within the first few months, a new study suggests.

Crop workers are dying of heat stroke at a rate far higher than the overall U.S. work force, with foreign-born workers at greatest risk -- although the deaths remain relatively uncommon, officials said on Thursday.

To lose weight and keep it off, eat a big breakfast packed with carbohydrates and protein, then follow a low-carb, low-calorie diet the rest of the day, a small study suggests.

Bone health may be at risk when young female athletes stop menstruating, study findings suggest.

Women who eat a Mediterranean diet while pregnant could help stave off asthma and allergies in their children, a new study suggests.

New computing technologies and the evolution of a "virtual man" to predict the effects of new drugs before they enter clinical trials could transform the fortunes of pharmaceutical research, a report said on Friday.

Merck & Co said on Friday it may have to wait until 2013 before the U.S. Food and Drug