Health & Fitness
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Why are crisps so addictive?
Scientists are starting to unravel the mystery of moreishness – why some snacks seem impossible to eat in small amounts. It is the phenomenon that explains why it can be so difficult to dip into a crisp packet without polishing off all the contents.
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Body shape linked to disease
People with apple-shaped bodies have an increased risk of harmful high blood pressure in their kidneys, scientists have found. Individuals with fat concentrated around their waist were already known to be extra prone to kidney disease. But the...
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Two interlinked illnesses
Stephanie Fsadni finds out that diabetes and obesity are inextricably linked, as obesity increases the risk of developing diabetes. The best advice a doctor can give to prevent the onset of both conditions is to adopt a more healthy lifestyle before...
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Watching and weighting
Increased media usage among children and young people is fuelling higher obesity rates, according to consultant paediatrician and president of the Malta Paediatric Association Thomas M. Attard. Chances are that as you’re reading this, your child is...
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The extra burdens of obesity
In its work, the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate comes across people who say: “My mum was really big and still lived until 83 with no problems!” Director Charmaine Gauci admits this can happen, but people also have to realise...
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Health and fitness tools for all
Facts and figures published in recent years have continued to paint a picture of alarmingly high inactivity and obesity levels in Malta when compared to other EU countries. However, little to nothing seems to be changing – particularly in terms of...
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Diabetic drivers
Many people may not realise that developing either type 1 or type 2 diabetes can also affect their performance behind the wheel. Stephanie Fsadni gets the lowdown from the first local study on the subject. A significant proportion of local...
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Raw fruit may not be linked to lower blood pressure
People who eat more raw fruits or drink juice do not necessarily have lower blood pressure, according to a new study that goes against previous evidence. Larger, more rigorous studies have found that eating more fruits and vegetables does lower...
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A third of over-50s ‘lonely’
A third of people in their 50s or above, and almost half of those over 80, suffer from feelings of loneliness, a study in the UK has found. Women were also more likely to experience loneliness than men, the report released by the Office for National...
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Sleep sounds 'boosted memory'
Memories can be boosted during sleep by playing sounds synchronised with brainwaves, a study has shown. The technique was used to help 11 slumbering volunteers remember word associations learned the evening before. Scientists used stimulating sounds...
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Genetic link to childhood obesity
According to The Telegraph, researchers found that 30 per cent of the difference between the body weight of one child and another can be explained by their genes. The study, carried out by University College London studied a random sample of 1.7...
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Nutrient found in red meat may damage heart
A red meat nutrient sold as a supplement for weight loss and muscle growth may damage the heart and arteries, new research suggests. Capsules of L-carnitine are widely available in health food stores and online. They are advertised as a fat-burning...
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Regulators block magic mushroom trial
The world’s first clinical trial designed to explore using a hallucinogen from magic mushrooms to treat people with depression has stalled because of British and European rules on the use of illegal drugs in research. David Nutt, president of the...
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Bird flu outbreak no cause for panic
A strain of bird flu that has been found in humans for the first time in eastern China is not a cause for panic, the World Health Organisation said yesterday, as the number of people infected rose to 21, with six deaths. The WHO praised China for...
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World dengue fever infections triple – experts
Around 390 million people are infected each year with dengue fever – the world’s fastest-spreading tropical disease – more than triple the current estimate by the World Health Organisation, experts said. The new finding, based on several years of...
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Reflexology effective pain relief
Reflexology may be as effective as painkillers, according to a scientific survey. Researchers at the University of Portsmouth have found that people felt about 40 per cent less pain, and were able to stand pain for about 45 per cent longer, when...
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Mutant gene cancer link probed
A faulty gene normally associated with breast cancer can lead to aggressive and deadly prostate cancer in men, research has shown. Prostate cancer spreads more quickly and is more likely to be fatal in men with a defective BRCA2 gene, a study found.
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Rosemary smell ‘may improve memory’
The smell of rosemary could boost your memory, researchers said. Aroma of essential oil from the herb could improve memory in healthy adults, according to researchers from the University of Northumbria. The smell may enhance the ability to remember...
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‘Skinny’ chocolate has half the fat
A Willy Wonka-style discovery could lead to ‘skinny’ chocolate bars made with fruit juice instead of fat. Scientists at the University of Warwick have come up with a way to cut half the fat from the confectionery while retaining its “chocolatey”...
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Potassium-rich food ‘a life saver’
Millions of lives could be saved every year if people ate more potassium-rich foods such as bananas and cut down on their salt intake, research suggests. People who have a high potassium intake have a 24 per cent reduced risk of stroke, according to...
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