Health

As the government prepares to introduce updated school food standards, an investigation by The BMJ finds that more than a third of the firms exhibiting at the UK’s biggest school food show sell products high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS).

A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that adolescents reported that TikTok food content prompted a desire to eat or try foods, while acknowledging that parents could play a protective role by helping them disengage from the platform and fostering critical conversations about food, bodies, influencers and online health information. Participants frequently described TikTok food content as prompting hunger, cravings and interest in trying new foods, while parental involvement could interrupt exposure to food-related content.

Infrequent exercise is associated with a higher prevalence of common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety among higher education students in Norway, according to a study published in PLOS ONE by Michael Grasdalsmoen of Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and colleagues. The findings highlight the potential value of consistent physical activity rather than intense, prolonged exercise sessions.

The purpose of perspiration was a mystery in 1775, when English physician Charles Brian Blagden and a few inquisitive friends experimented on themselves by spending time in rooms heated to more than 230°F (110°C). While the temperatures were hot enough to cook raw meat placed in those rooms, Blagden noted how human bodies resisted the heat. Their core body temperatures remained nearly constant as sweat poured out and evaporated.

With more than 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s dementia—a number projected to reach nearly 13 million by 2050—new Emory University research suggests that higher vitamin D supplement intake may be associated with better cognitive function in adults at elevated risk of dementia.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that gut bacteria can convert dietary nitrate and iron into protective molecules that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The study, published in Cell, reveals a new way in which the gut microbiota helps protect vital bodily functions.

Talking about weight can be tough. Even someone who feels ready for a doctor’s help may find the conversation awkward. People living with excess weight can feel judged, stigmatized or embarrassed, “or maybe they are unaware that their condition is something that needs to be medically treated,” said Dr. Deepika Laddu, an associate professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

A novel AI system capable of recognizing yoga poses with high accuracy could pave the way for more effective digital coaching tools, rehabilitation platforms and movement-monitoring applications.

When it comes to daily aches and pains, it’s not uncommon for knees to be a main source. And while there can be many different long-term causes of such issues, osteoarthritis is often a reason why.

Women who receive health visitor support alongside smoking relapse-prevention advice are more likely to remain smoke-free after childbirth, according to University of East Anglia (UEA) research.

While consumers may save a few bucks on groceries at dollar stores, they end up paying a higher price with their health. New UC Riverside research shows a link between dollar store food quality and higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure, cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.