Health
Yes, adults can develop food allergies. Here are 4 types you need to know about
If you didn’t have food allergies as a child, is it possible to develop them as an adult? The short answer is yes. But the reasons why are much more complicated. Preschoolers are about four times more likely to have a food allergy than adults and are more likely to grow out… Read
Why is cancer called cancer? We need to go back to Greco-Roman times for the answer
One of the earliest descriptions of someone with cancer comes from the fourth century BC. Satyrus, tyrant of the city of Heracleia on the Black Sea, developed a cancer between his groin and scrotum. As the cancer spread, Satyrus had ever greater pains. He was unable to sleep and had convulsions. Advanced… Read
How much time should you spend sitting versus standing?
People have a pretty intuitive sense of what is healthy – standing is better than sitting, exercise is great for overall health and getting good sleep is imperative. However, if exercise in the evening may disrupt our sleep, or make us feel the need to be more sedentary to recover, a… Read
Have smartphones created an ‘anxious generation’ among teenagers?
The social psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s new book "The Anxious Generation" delivers an urgent call for action. Haidt argues that the evidence is in. Teenagers’ widespread use of smartphones is causing a mental health crisis. Individual, collective and legislative action is required to limit their smartphone access. Haidt begins his book with an allegory.… Read
Drugs like Ozempic won’t ‘cure’ obesity but they might make us more fat-phobic
Many have declared drugs like Ozempic could “end obesity” by reducing the appetite and waistlines of millions of people around the world. When we look past the hype, this isn’t just untrue – it can also be harmful. The focus on weight, as opposed to health, is a feature of diet culture. This… Read
I want to eat healthily. So why do I crave sugar, salt and carbs?
We all want to eat healthily, especially as we reset our health goals at the start of a new year. But sometimes these plans are sabotaged by powerful cravings for sweet, salty or carb-heavy foods. So why do you crave these foods when you’re trying to improve your diet or… Read
How much weight do you actually need to lose? It might be a lot less than you think
If you’re one of the those people whose New Year’s resolution involved losing weight, it’s likely you’re now contemplating what weight-loss goal you should actually be working toward. But type “setting a weight loss goal” into any online search engine and you’ll likely be left with more questions than answers. Sure,… Read
People in the world’s ‘blue zones’ live longer – their diet could hold the key to why
Aging is an inevitable part of life, which may explain our strong fascination with the quest for longevity. The allure of eternal youth drives a multi-billion pound industry ranging from anti-aging products, supplements and diets for those hoping to extend their lifespan. If you look back to the turn of the 20th century, average life expectancy in the UK… Read
What does weight-inclusive health care mean?
Weight-inclusive health care means a focus on better health with no weight loss required. This includes practices such as eating for overall well-being rather than for the number of calories. It may also include prioritizing activities to reduce stress, avoiding smoking, drinking less alcohol and striving to be physically active in… Read
Loneliness is a major public health problem – and young people are bearing the brunt of it
Writing in the Week, journalist Theara Coleman has declared 2023 “the year of the loneliness epidemic”. In May, the U.S. surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, said loneliness posed a public health risk on a par with smoking and drinking. “It’s like hunger or thirst,” Murthy said. “It’s a feeling the body sends us when… Read
