Thousands of cancers and deaths potentially averted and billions of dollars saved in US Additional food industry product reformulation could substantially boost policy impact Specifying the number of calories for each item on restaurant menus is likely linked to lower rates of cancers associated with obesity and attendant healthcare costs in the US, suggests a […]
Category: In the news
Midlife obesity linked to heightened frailty risk in older age
Frailty often wrongly perceived as purely wasting disorder, say researchers Findings highlight importance of keeping trim throughout adulthood to minimise risk Carrying far too much weight, including a midriff bulge, from mid-life onwards, is linked to a heightened risk of physical frailty in older age, finds research published in the open access journal BMJ Open. Frailty […]
Probiotic bacteria found in fermented foods might help dispel bad breath
Lactobacillus salivarius and reuteri, Streptococcus salivarius, Weissella cibaria may work Probiotic bacteria usually found in fermented foods, such as yoghurt, sourdough bread, and miso soup, might help dispel the embarrassment of persistent bad breath (halitosis), finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Open. Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, […]
Acupuncture can relieve lower back/pelvic pain often experienced during pregnancy
And no observable major side effects for newborns of mums-to-be who opted for therapy Acupuncture can significantly relieve the lower back and/or pelvic pain frequently experienced by women during their pregnancy, suggests a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Open. And there were no observable major side effects […]
Poor quality sleep may be linked to heightened risk of irreversible sight loss (glaucoma)
Findings underscore need for sleep therapy in those at risk + eye checks in poor sleepers Poor quality sleep, including too much or too little shut eye, daytime sleepiness, and snoring, may be linked to a heightened risk of developing irreversible sight loss (glaucoma), suggests a large UK Biobank study published in the open access […]
Children very vulnerable to severe injury from quad bike use
Public education campaigns on potential dangers urgently needed, say researchers Children are very vulnerable to severe injury from the use of quad bikes, also known as ATVs, finds research published in the open access journal BMJ Open. Public education campaigns on the potential dangers associated with their use are urgently needed, say the researchers. First developed […]
Scant evidence to support roll out of social prescribing policy internationally
Inconsistent evidence for improvements in social support, physical function, or primary health services use Limited evidence for improvements in self-rated health and quality of care There’s scant evidence to support the roll out of social prescribing policy internationally, concludes a review of the available evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Open. The review found […]
Exposure to air pollution may worsen autism-related hospital admissions in children
Boys more at risk than girls; cutting air pollutant levels could lower risks, say researchers Autistic children seem to be at heightened risk of being admitted to hospital if they are exposed to air pollution for relatively brief periods, with boys more at risk than girls, suggests research published in the open access journal BMJ Open. […]
Steroid meds linked to structural and volume changes in brain white and grey matter
Associations may help explain neuropsychiatric side effects after long term use, say researchers The use of prescribed steroids, including in inhalers, is linked to changes in the structure and volume of white and grey matter in the brain, suggests the findings of the largest study of its kind, published in the open access journal BMJ Open. […]
Men have high probability of outliving women, especially the married and degree educated
Between 25% and 50% of men have done so in all continents over past 200 years Sometimes large differences in life expectancy mask substantial overlap in lifespan Men have a high probability of outliving women—especially those who are married and have a degree—reveals a statistical analysis spanning 200 years across all continents of the globe […]