Adults referred to the commercial weight loss programme Weight Watchers shed twice as much weight as people who received standard care over a 12-month period, according to a study published Thursday. In clinical trials, researchers led by Susan Jebb of the UK Medical Research Council assessed 772 overweight and obese adults in Australia, Germany, and Britain. About half the patients received a year's standard care, while the other half were given … full story

NEW YORK: Anybody who's smoked marijuana knows about "the munchies," that desire to eat everything within reach. But a study from France has found that, surprisingly, pot smokers are actually less likely than non-smokers to pack on weight. Using data covering more than 50,000 U.S. adults, researchers headed by Yann Le Strat, a psychiatrist at the Louis-Mourier Hospital in Colombes, France, found that roughly 14 percent to 17 percent of the people … full story

Red wine and chocolate make for a deadly combination to keep your mind sharp and alert, a study suggests. Polyphenols, plant chemicals abundant in dark chocolate and wines, dilate blood vessels, speeding the supply of blood to the brain. This provides it with a rush of oxygen and sugars, making complex calculations easier and quicker. Besides polyphenols are more effective in combination than alone, the Daily Mail reports. The theory follows two … full story

One way of prompting physical activity among children is to promote them duringleisure time, tailored to the specific gender. Researchers found children’s perceptions of what constituted play included both physically active and sedentary behaviours. Rowan Brockman from the University of Bristol Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, who led the study, said: “Contemporary children do engage in active play and value both the physical … full story

Raspberry extract has been found to kill stomach and colon cancer cells. Researchers from Clemson University in the US said that 90 percent of these cells were destroyed when exposed to an extract of red Meeker raspberries, a popular variety in the US. Anti-oxidants in the fruit were also shown to kill breast cancer cells, the Daily Mail reports. Researchers say that while the anti-oxidants in the red fruit explain some of the effects, other as … full story

Chocolate is healthier than many fruit juices and is a ’superfood’ in its own right, says a new study conducted by a US-based chocolate company. Superfoods are high in anti-oxidants and compounds that help prevent damage to healthy cells. Researchers from the Hershey Centre for Health & Nutrition in the US found that powdered dark chocolate had more anti-oxidants and polyphenols, believed to protect us from cancer and cardiac conditions, the Chemistry … full story

Victims of stroke who regularly take B-vitamins are better able to combat depression. Researchers demonstrated for the first time that they could reduce the risk of depressive symptoms after stroke with the help of vitamins, said Osvaldo Almeida, research director at The Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing. “Previous work had suggested that certain vitamins could have a role in preventing depression,” the journal Annals of Neurology … full story

The best way to improve your looks is to get some sound sleep, rather than spend a small fortune on lotions, potions or dresses. Those who manage eight hours a night look far more attractive than those who are sleep deprived, say scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. A group of healthy young adults were photographed after a good night’s sleep, and again after much less, reports the British Medical Journal. Each picture … full story

There are 3,500 calories In one pound of fat. Thus, If you cut back or work off just 3,500 calories, you will lose an entire pound of fat. While It Is possible to cut back on your calorie Intake and Increase your exercise regimen In order to lose pounds quickly, It Is Important to note that doctors recommend that you lose no more than 2 pounds of weight per week In order to ensure that your body properly adjusts to the weight loss. Here are some … full story

The wish to retain youthfulness is prevalent in both men and women. To hold on to the youth or to prevent oneself from looking old specially before the age, it's important to know some anti-aging secrets. Unlike the regular view, nowadays men too are interested in anti-aging processes because they too are subject to the aging process, though it starts later than in women. Biologically, men aging process starts later than in women but due to constant … full story