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Overweight patients are more likely to take weight-loss advice from overweight doctors, but the advice from thin doctors may be of higher quality. Katherine Harmon reports
Participants in a media-assisted weight-loss program had some success, and those who tweeted about their efforts lost a bit more. Karen Hopkin reports
Exercisers who worked out to a video featuring a verbally encouraging gym buddy showed lower stamina than those who watched the muted video. Amy Kraft reports
Rather than significantly hardening tooth enamel, fluoride may cut cavities by making it harder for oral bacteria to stick around. Karen Hopkin reports
Two or more drinks cut REM sleep, which is important for memory and health. Katherine Harmon reports
New smart phone apps that purport to assess patients' skin lesions as cancer or not are unreliable, according to a new study. Katherine Harmon reports
The errors known as surgical "never events," which are never supposed to happen, still occur some 4,000 times annually in the U.S. Katherine Harmon reports
The American Chemical Society has produced a YouTube video with info to help you survive the holiday eating season. Katherine Harmon reports
Weather prediction models armed with citizens' flu symptom query data enable researchers to predict flu outbreaks. Katherine Harmon reports
A study finds that patients who enter information online about common infections get decent diagnoses from docs, although antibiotics may be overprescribed. Katherine Harmon reports.
Patients know that health care workers should wash their hands, but are are often reluctant to ask a doctor or nurse to lather up. Katherine Harmon reports
Just a couple of hours of physical activity each week adds years to average life expectancy. Katherine Harmon reports
A small study finds that sleep-deprived fat cells are less sensitive to insulin, a condition that often precedes diabetes. Katherine Harmon reports
Young adults at risk for getting a sexually acquired infection were more likely to use a condom if they followed a social media's sex education campaign. Katherine Harmon reports
Patients are more likely to follow doctors' orders if they have access to their notes. Katherine Harmon reports
Obese kids have higher cardiovascular risks as adults, and sugary beverages are stoking that obesity epidemic. Katherine Harmon reports
Making bad choices harder is actually the best way to help people get healthier, say public health experts. Katherine Harmon reports
This year has had the most recorded cases of West Nile virus on record in the U.S. Public health experts offer tips to avoid the virus. Katherine Harmon reports
Produce grown organically cuts pesticide use and the promotion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. But nutrient levels appear similar to conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. Katherine Harmon reports
Being in good shape in your 30s through 50s not only increases life span but also improves quality of life for decades to come. Katherine Harmon reports
Better sidewalks and other changes to the physical environment could encourage more activity and improve the overall health of the public. Katherine Harmon reports
A Mayo Clinic doc says physicians may miss the signs of extreme deconditioning and prescribe medication instead of long-term exercise programs. Katherine Harmon reports
Six months after color coding its food choices as least, somewhat or most healthful, Massachusetts General Hospital saw its cafeteria users substantially decreased their least healthful food choices and increase the more healthful ones. Katherine Harmon reports
The most common chronic condition among all Olympic athletes is asthma. But many don't start suffering symptoms until their later years, suggesting that endurance training could be a trigger. Katherine Harmon reports
M.I.T. researchers used real traveler patterns, geographical information and airport waiting times to predict what U.S. airports are most likely to spread an epidemic from its origin. Katherine Harmon reports
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The Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer’s Initiative (GBFAI) is launching the 2013 Geoffrey Beene Global NeuroDiscovery Challenge whose
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