Health & Wellness News
Tax soda, pizza to cut obesity, researchers say

March 8: A new study suggesting that raising the prices of soda and pizza could steer adults toward a more healthful diet may prove useful to health policymakers. NBC's Robert Bazell reports.  (Nightly News)U.S. researchers estimate that an 18 percent tax on pizza and soda can push down U.S. adults' calorie intake enough to lower their average weight by 5 pounds per year.



Obesity - United States - Body weight - Calorie - Health
Wine may be good for women’s waistlines

March 8: A new study finds women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol are less likely to gain a lot of excess weight throughout adulthood than non-drinkers. NBC's Erika Edwards reports.  (NBC News Channel)Light to moderate alcohol consumption, especially red wine, is not only good for a woman's heart, it's also good for her waistline, according to a study reported Monday.





Alcoholic beverage - Wine - Health - Specific Substances - Benefits
Ban on sugary drinks in school appears to work

March 8: Former President Bill Clinton says the drinks in school vending machines are getting healthier.  (NBC News)An initiative to get sugary drinks out of U.S. schools has begun to work, with diet beverages and smaller portions replacing some full-size, full-calorie varieties in school vending machines, organizers said on Monday.



Vending machine - United States - Business - Drink - Vending
Don’t blame fast food for making you fat

Perhaps it's time to reconsider the old weight-loss advice that told you to stop eating burgers, pasta and ice cream — and go back to eating what you love. But skip the chemical-laden variety and stick to the natural versions.What if steaks were healthier than strawberries, and ice cream a better weight-loss tool than carrots? It's time to rethink what you know about the food you eat.



Ice cream - Weight loss - Garden strawberry - Fast food - Health
Study finds why ‘sunshine’ vitamin D is crucial

Most vitamin D is made by the body as a natural by-product of the skin's exposure to sunlight.Vitamin D is vital in activating human defenses and low levels suffered by around half the world's population may mean their immune systems' killer T cells are poor at fighting infection, scientists said.



Immune system - Vitamin D - Health - Nutrition - Nutrients
7 ways to lose weight like a guy

He drops pounds overnight, but you gain weight just by glancing at a doughnut. Here are seven of his habits you should steal.





Weight loss - Health - Shopping - Support Groups - Programs
GAO calls for tighter FDA ingredient oversight
Congressional investigators say the Food and Drug Administration should pay more attention to the safety of some food ingredients, including one involved in a widespread recall this week.
Food and Drug Administration - Government Accountability Office - Food - United States - Business
Obesity and depression are a two-way street
People who are obese are at increased risk of becoming depressed, and people who are depressed are at increased risk of becoming obese, Dutch researchers have found.
Major depressive disorder - Obesity - Depression - Health - Mental Health
Could germs be making you fat?
Germs that make their home in the gut may help cause obesity and a range of health-threatening symptoms that go along with it, researchers reported on Thursday.
Obesity - Health - Conditions and Diseases - Nutrition and Metabolism Disorders - United States
Food-borne illnesses cost U.S. $152 billion

March 3: Personal Best: For many people, healthy living means eating more organic foods, but whether the billion-dollar organic food industry contributes to a healthier lifestyle remains the subject of much debate. NBC's Lisa Myers reports.  (Nightly News)Food-borne illnesses, such as E. coli and salmonella, cost the United States $152 billion annually in health care and other losses, according to a new report.



United States - Health care - Escherichia coli - Health - Food and Drug Administration
Gut bacteria and disease may be linked
Some of the hundreds of bacteria found in the digestive systems of humans may be linked to specific diseases like cancer, diabetes and obesity, an international team of scientists said in a paper on Thursday.


Obesity - Health - Diabetes mellitus - Human gastrointestinal tract - Conditions and Diseases
Want fresh veggies? Let there be light!
Supermarket lights help keep spinach fresh and producing new vitamins, U.S. government researchers reported.
Spinach - Fruit and Vegetable - Cooking - Home - Green
Will a low-fat diet work for you? Your genes tell
A new genetic test may help dieters decide whether they would lose more weight on a low-fat diet, one that cuts carbohydrates or a more balanced approach.
Weight loss - Low-fat diet - Carbohydrate - Health - Special Diets
Obesity hits N.Y’s poor neighborhoods hardest
New York City's obesity rate has climbed in recent years, but there are large variations across the city's neighborhoods, with lower income areas hit hardest, a new study finds.
New York - New York City - United States - Obesity - Metro Areas
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Snacks mean kids engage in ‘constant eating’
Children eat an average three snacks a day on top of three regular meals, a finding that could explain why the childhood obesity rate has risen to more than 16 percent, researchers said on Tuesday.
Childhood obesity - Health - Obesity - Conditions and Diseases - Nutrition and Metabolism Disorders
Targeting inflammation can ease obesity ills
What if you could be fat but avoid heart disease or diabetes? Scientists trying to break the fat-and-disease link increasingly say inflammation is the key.
Heart disease - Obesity - Health - Diabetes mellitus - Conditions and Diseases
Salmonella fears prompt onion soup, mix recall
An ingredient in Kroger Onion Soup & Dip Mix and Kroger Beefy Onion Soup & Dip Mix may have been contaminated with salmonella, prompting the company to recall the items.
Home - Cooking - Salmonella - Kroger - French
Top doc: Fit nation isn’t a matter of dress size

At a YMCA event in Alexandria, Va., last month, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin and Michelle Obama urged parents, schools, health care providers and community leaders to step up efforts to combat the rise in child obesity.Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, who has weathered some harsh criticism about her own weight, wants to make one point very clear: success can’t be measured by clothing size alone. She talks to msnbc.com about her vision for a fit nation.





Regina Benjamin - Clothing - Health - Msnbc.com - United States
High-fat diet hikes women's stroke risk, study says

Feb. 24: A new study shows the average age of stroke patients declining, as more young adults are suffering from diseases that may increase stroke risk. Erika Edwards reports. (NBC News Channel)A moment on the lips, forever on the hips? A bad figure is hardly the worst of it. Eating a lot of fat, especially the kind that's in cookies and pastries, can significantly raise the risk of stroke for women over 50, a large new study finds.



Stroke - Health - Diseases & Conditions - Neurological Disorders - Organizations
‘Biggest Loser’ show has big health problems

It’s the biggest “Loser” ever, including the heaviest person ever to compete. Meet the contestants from “The Biggest Loser: Couples” before they shed the weight and find out what they hope to gain from the show.Experts worry that "The Biggest Loser" focuses too heavily on competitive weight loss — a focus that is at best, counterproductive and, at worst, dangerous.



Biggest Loser - Weight loss - Health - Shopping - Support Groups
Kids’ chronic health ills fade by adulthood
More than a quarter of American children have a chronic health condition such as obesity or asthma, but many children overcome these problems with time, U.S. researchers said.
Asthma - Child - Obesity - Health - Conditions and Diseases
Heavy kids struggle with heavy emotions
While many urge kids to slim down to avoid heart disease and other physical ailments, the emotional consequences from teasing and low self-esteem could be just as debilitating, scientists say.


Heart disease - Self-esteem - Health - Disease - Conditions and Diseases
Poisonings point to diet supplement risks
A new report on people sickened by a liquid dietary supplement illustrates the real — if rare — risks associated with using these products.
Dietary supplement - Health - Weight loss - Diet - Shopping
‘Biggest Loser’ trainer sued for diet supplement

Personal trainer Jillian Michaels is being sued for false advertising after a woman failed to lose weight with one of her products. Here Michaels is shown speaking at the Women's Conference's  Night at the Village at The Long Beach (Calif.) Convention Center in 2009. Jillian Michaels has been sued for alleged false advertising by a woman who claims she was duped into buying a diet supplement endorsed by the celebrity trainer.



Jillian Michael - Biggest Loser - Weight loss - Health - Shopping
The price of thin: Meal delivery by the numbers

The price of losing weight for 22-year-old Thomas Ferraro is about $300 a month. That's how much he pays for Nutrisystem to ship low-cal meals to his doorstep. The food is shelf stable, meaning it doesn't go bad for months even without refrigeration.





Weight loss - Nutrisystem - Health - Refrigeration - Shopping
First lady begins fight against childhood obesity

First Lady Michelle Obama said the Let's Move campaign will encourage more physical activity for children, healthier food in schools and more accurate food labeling.First lady Michelle Obama launched a nationwide campaign Tuesday to fight childhood obesity, part of her effort to teach America's children about better nutrition and exercise.



Michelle Obama - United States - Childhood obesity - Health - Obesity
First lady is tackling childhood obesity
After laying the groundwork for nearly a year, first lady Michelle Obama launches a campaign on Tuesday against childhood obesity that she hopes will change the way millions of Americans eat, exercise, look and feel.
Michelle Obama - Obesity - United States - Health - Conditions and Diseases
Obama wants school vending machine changes
The Obama administration will ask Congress to improve childhood nutrition by ridding school vending machines of sugary snacks and drinks and giving school lunch and breakfast to more kids.
Vending machine - School meal - Business - Vending - Opportunities
Are you destined to inherit your mother's body?
Peeking into your future isn't as simple as taking a look at your mom.  Studies suggest that while your genes may determine up to 80 percent of your weight and body shape, environment and personal choice still play a significant role.


Mother - Parenting - Family - Home - Health
Study links sugary soda to pancreas cancer

Feb. 9: NBC’s chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman speaks with TODAY’s TMatt Lauer about a new study linking sugary, carbonated beverages to pancreatic cancer. Dr. Snyderman also addresses another study that links a mother’s age to autism. (Today Show)People who drink two or more sweetened soft drinks a week have a much higher risk of pancreatic cancer, an unusual but deadly cancer, researchers reported on Monday.



Cancer - Pancreatic cancer - Health - Conditions and Diseases - Gastrointestinal
Ditch just one tempting food — and lose weight

Eliminating one vice from your diet — such as candy — could save you at least 300 calories a day.Certain foods can be a dieter's downfall. By cutting out just one vice, you can reshape your body.



Weight loss - Health - Support Groups - Shopping - Chats and Forums
Losing the weight war? Head to the mountains

Doctors took 20 obese men up to a research station on Germany's highest mountain Zugspitze for a week. The guys felt less hungry and lost weight.Overweight people may want to vacation in the mountains rather than at the beach — and not just to avoid putting on a swimsuit.  A new study finds obese people lose weight at high altitudes.



Weight loss - Obesity - Health - Support group - Shopping
Michelle Obama worried about daughters' BMI
First lady Michelle Obama framed her national campaign against childhood obesity in intensely personal terms Thursday, relating that her own daughters were starting to get off-track before the family's pediatrician gave her a wake-up call and warned her to watch it.
Michelle Obama - Politics - United States - Barack Obama - Obesity
Huge range of salt found in processed foods

Jan. 25: David Zinczenko, author of “Eat This, Not That!", shows TODAY’s Ann Curry how salt intake can add up as he compares food choices.  (Today Show)Many processed foods contain too much salt, and sauces, spreads, and processed meats are the top offenders, new research shows.





Salt - Meat - Food - Shopping - Food and Related Products
8 secrets for all-day energy

These strategies ensure you will wake up refreshed and recharged, remain alert throughout the day, and wind down just in time for a good night's sleep.



Energy - Business - Wind - Renewable - Health
1 in 5 teens has unhealthy cholesterol levels
One in five American teens has unhealthy cholesterol levels, a major risk factor for heart disease in adults, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.
Heart disease - Center for Disease Control and Prevention - United States - Health - Conditions and Diseases
Your diet on trial: 5 lessons from food lawsuits

A New Jersey man sued Denny's Corp. for selling single meals that contained more than a day's worth of sodium without making that info readily available. The thought of suing a restaurant because of how much salt their meals contain may seem a little extreme. But the fact is, the food and restaurant industry is hiding a lot of secrets, and it's up to you to defend your health (and your waistline) against their false promises.



Food - Restaurant - Salt - Business - Food and Related Products
Chubby? Blame your kitchen

Larger plates often equate to larger portions, which may cause you to consume more calories.Your plates, pantry, and yes, your lightbulbs, may hurt your efforts to lose weight.





Weight loss - Health - diet pill - Shopping - Support Groups
Floor caves under Weight Watchers weigh-in
As a Weight Watchers group gathered for a routine weigh-in, the dieters got an idea of how far they still had to go: The floor underneath them collapsed, a Swedish newspaper reports.
Weight Watchers - Weight loss - Health - Newspaper - Support Groups
Self-control — or lack of it — is contagious
When you refrain from scarfing down unhealthy foods or hold back on that extra drink, others may deserve some of the credit. Self-control is contagious, a new study suggests.
Business - Self control - Financial Services - Home - Personal Finance
Losing weight before surgery may help outcome
Shedding a few pounds before weight-loss surgery might reduce your risk of surgical complications, a new study suggests.
Weight loss - Bariatric surgery - Surgery - Health - Medicine
Caffeine gives boys a bigger buzz, study says
Caffeine has a stronger effect on boys than on girls, finds a new study that zeros in on the drug's health impacts on adolescents.


Caffeine - Youth - United States - Organizations - Kids and Teens
Fat butt? It may be healthier than you think
Having junk in your trunk is healthier than a spare tire around the gut, new research suggests. The extra padding on the backside could even help to protect against disease.
Abdominal obesity - Health - Spare tire - Conditions and Diseases - Nutrition and Metabolism Disorders
Couch potatoes may have shorter lives

New research finds each hour of TV-viewing is associated with an 11 percent increased risk of death from any cause, and an 18 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease.Lounging in front of the tube not only eats up hours in your day, it may also shorten your life, according to a new study.



Couch potato - Technology - Recreation - Television - Home
6 skinny (and delicious) foods for weight loss

Jan. 12:  Joy Bauer, TODAY contributor and author of “Your Inner Skinny,” reveals six slimming foods that help curb your appetite but satisfy your taste buds. (Today Show)You don't need to skimp on flavor in order to eat healthy. TODAY nutritionist Joy Bauer shares tasty options to help you stick to your diet.



Weight loss - Health - Joy Bauer - Shopping - Nutritionist
NYC asks food manufacturers to hold the salt
New York City health officials have already battled calories and trans fat. Now, they're taking on salt.


New York City - Trans fat - New York - United States - Calorie
Blown diet? How to get back on track

If you've just come off a few days of overindulgences, it may be hard to pass up treats altogether — but you can set limits. Try limiting yourself to one dessert this week and one meal where you'll enjoy a favorite food in a reasonable portion.Like many people, you may have woken up feeling fat, bloated, and mad at yourself for overdoing it while celebrating the holidays. Here's how to make a fresh start.



holiday - Christmas - Holiday Pages - Classroom - Home
Kale chips! Joy Bauer’s junk food makeovers

Jan. 8: Nutritionist Joy Bauer shows TODAY’s Al Roker favorable alternatives to grilled cheese, chips and popcorn. (Today Show)If kids ruled the world, they would  have pizza, burgers and chips for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here, TODAY nutritionist Joy Bauer cooks up healthy, kid-approved alternatives to common junk foods.



Pizza - Junk food - Joy Bauer - Cooking - Home
Calories in restaurant food often more than claimed

Calorie watchers beware: Some chain restaurant food and frozen supermarket meals may underestimate how fattening they are, researchers say.A study of meals from 10 restaurant chains including Ruby Tuesday and Wendy's found calorie counts averaging 18 percent more than the values listed by the restaurants.



Food - Frozen food - Business - Food and Related Products - Chain store
Calorie postings trim Starbucks consumption
A New York City law requiring restaurants to post the calories of their menu items led Starbucks customers to consume 6 percent fewer calories per transaction, a Stanford University study found.
Stanford University - New York City - Starbucks - United States - New York
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Flipping the switch is only the first step

Diane Falvey, 50, seen working out with her trainer, Jennifer Ross, lost more than 60 pounds in one year and is training for an Olympic distance triathlon.Flipping the switch and making a lifestyle change is the easy part. Look at any health club in January, after all, and you'll see plenty of new faces. The hard part is what comes next.



Apple - Macintosh - Humor - Health - Switch
How to drop a size this year

Forget the deprivation diet and marathon workouts. New research shows that taking baby steps — not giant leaps — is the best way to get lasting results.Forget the deprivation diet and marathon workouts. New research shows that taking baby steps — not giant leaps — is the best way to get lasting results.



Marathon - Sport - Road running - Running - Events
Special diets unnecessary for autistic children
An expert panel says there's no rigorous evidence that digestive problems are more common in children with autism compared to other children, or that special diets work, contrary to claims by celebrities and vaccine naysayers.
Autism - Vaccine - Health - Mental Health - Neurodevelopmental
6 stealth health foods you should be eating

Celery contains bone-beneficial silicon and cancer-fighting phenolic acids and may even help reduce blood pressure.Power up your diet by expanding your menu.



Health - Nutrition - Mental Health - Eating - Disorders
5 big, fat holiday health lies
True or false: Sugar makes kids crazy and most people pack on an average of five pounds during the holidays.  Here's the real story about some of the most common pervasive health misconceptions you might encounter this Christmas.
Christmas - Sugar - holiday - Kids and Teens - People and Society
Certain aromas could help fight obesity
Anti-hunger aromas that make one feel full could help fight the global obesity epidemic, scientists now suggest.


Obesity - Health - Epidemic - Conditions and Diseases - Nutrition and Metabolism Disorders
Weekend eating wrecks diets, study confirms
It's no surprise that holiday feasts often bring expanding waistlines, but a new study finds that weekend eating can also be a cause for concern.
Eating disorder - Health - Mental Health - Disorders - Eating
Man drinks fake fat in NYC anti-soda video

Dec. 14: The New York City health department has released a nauseating video in an effort to prevent people from drinking sugary beverages. Msnbc's Tamron Hall reports.  (Other)A man drinks a glass of goop made to look like fat in a new video released by the New York City health department as part of a campaign to curb the consumption of sugary beverages.



New York City - United States - New York - Glass - Metro Areas
Sports drinks: Do they really help?

When you’re sweating through an intense workout, you probably reach for a sports drink to  rehydrate your body.  But which beverage is right for you?



Sports drink - Beverages - Business - Food and Related Products - Drink