Family and Community

Holiday cookies. Adult beverages. Grandma’s fudge. This time of year leaves a lot of people wondering how to get rid of the dreaded belly fat. If you ask the researchers at Harvard School of Public Health for advice, they’re likely going to tell you to head to the nearest weight room and work on your […]READ MORE

If you knew it would take walking five miles to burn off the calories in a 20-ounce bottle of soda, would you be less inclined to drink one? A new study suggests you might. When adolescents saw printed signs explaining how many miles they would have to walk to burn off 250 calories, which is how […]READ MORE

When children head back to school this fall, parents and teachers expect them to need a little remediation. But a new study shows that some of them may need something else – more physical activity and healthier meals. Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health found that some kids are gaining weight more quickly during the […]READ MORE

Participating in aerobic physical activity can be challenging if you have a disability. Yet physical activity is something many doctors strongly recommend for adults with disabilities. Nearly half  of adults with disabilities who are able to do aerobic physical activity do not get any, according to a Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease […]READ MORE

Lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Weight loss. Smaller waistline. Those are just a few of the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables. Now, researchers say people are less likely to have a stroke the more they eat these pieces of nature’s candy. A new analysis of 20 studies conducted in Europe, Asia and the […]READ MORE

Patients who want to have the best results after having joint replacement surgery should try to shed any excess pounds they carry. Although most patients who are overweight sincerely want to lose weight after joint replacement, research shows that an equal number of patients actually gain weight after hip or knee replacement. But those who were able to […]READ MORE

Lower risk of diabetes and heart disease. Lower body mass index. Smaller waist circumference. That’s what greater muscle strength can do for teenage boys and girls. Not only do stronger teens have a greater level of cardiorespiratory fitness, but they also have a lower percent of body fat, according to a new study published in […]READ MORE

The Mediterranean diet has long been recommended for lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease among older people. Now, researchers say it appears to help young, working adults, too. Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health found that the diet – which includes eating lots of fish, nuts, vegetables and fruits – helped a large group […]READ MORE

It may not be just extra calories and a lack of physical activity that are affecting children’s waistlines. Parents may want to start watching how much salt their children consume in a day. Researchers say there’s a link between salt intake and childhood obesity, but more study is needed. New research shows that most adolescents […]READ MORE

If your child falls between the ages of 12 and 15, chances are they’re not getting enough exercise. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that only 25 percent of kids in this age group are meeting the recommendation for 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity. […]READ MORE