Local councils in England are warning that government cuts to public health funding could hamper their efforts to tackle obesity. Local Government Association figures show that councils will have spent £505m by 2017 on fighting obesity. Councils use the money to measure children’s weight at primary school, help people lose weight and offer free or … More Public Health Cuts Could Hamper Anti-Obesity Efforts
A study of nearly 10,000 adults ages 18 to 64 shows that staying hydrated by drinking water and eating more water-loaded fruits and vegetables could help with weight management, especially if you’re overweight or obese. Find out more at CNN
Suspected sepsis in patients must be treated as an emergency in the same say heart attacks are, England’s health watchdog says. National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidance urges medics to consider sepsis early on when treating any patients unwell with infections. The problem, caused when the body’s immune system overreacts to infection, leads … More Treat Sepsis with the same importance as Heart Attacks
More than half of those seeking a diagnosis for dementia have delayed going to their GP by at least a year, according to a survey carried out by the Alzheimer’s Society. The charity says nearly two-thirds of people fear a diagnosis would mean their life is over. But it says an early diagnosis can actually help … More Self Imposed Delays in Dementia Diagnoses
A growing body of research suggests that gardening is good for both physical and mental health. Pilot schemes for GPs to prescribe gardening are under way, while school gardening projects have been set up to give children a peaceful space to relax in. There are also community garden schemes where patients at GP practices work … More Improving The Nation’s Health Through Gardening
It looks like the primary culprit behind the obesity epidemic may be the modern-day environment, and not genes, new US research suggests. Americans were more likely to pack on more pounds if they were born later in the 20th century, regardless of whether they had a high genetic risk for obesity, said senior researcher Maria … More Modern Lifestyle to Blame for Rising Obesity Rates
The NHS in England is introducing a ‘superior’ test for cervical cancer, following a successful pilot scheme. Experts say it is a switch that could pick up an extra 600 cancers a year. Women invited for a routine smear test will now automatically be checked for an infection called HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), which has … More HPV Cervical Cancer Test Introduced in England
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is urging people to ‘face their freezer fears’ and stop unnecessary food waste. Steve Wearne, director of policy at the FSA, says in a statement: ‘Every year we throw away 7 million tonnes of food and drink from our homes. Much of this waste is unnecessary, and a better understanding … More Freezing Food to Reduce Waste
