The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began reviews this month on three new weight loss drugs. The first to be reviewed, Qnexa developed by Vivus Inc., which is a mixture of two existing drugs, an anticonvulsant (topiramate) and an amphetamine (phentermine).

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Next Weight Loss Drug on FDA Agenda: Contrave

Optifast is a serious weight loss program for individuals who need to lose 50 pounds or more.

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Optifast Diet

Cooking Light recently released an article on “Dietician-Approved Healthy Snacks” and while some of the choices are obvious, others are downright scrumptious and easy to make, and all are easy to find at your local supermarket. read more

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HealthNews Dozen: 12 Healthy Snacks

It’s no secret that celebrities feel the pressure to look beautiful, to be thin and smart and the best at what they do. Many mere mortals share that trait, and both groups often jump in headfirst to diets and weight loss programs outside the standard norm. It’s considered newsworthy to highlight the latest fast and diet trend, particularly in products that lack any celebrity endorsement

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The Clean Diet: Newest Celebrity Fad?

Yesterday’s census report delivered data on the nation’s medically uninsured, in a very detailed way, and while the snapshot doesn’t paint a very pretty picture for most of the country, it’s not near as dire as today’s reality. The reason: the facts and figures are from 2007. read more

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HealthNews Dozen: States with Highest Rate of Medically Uninsured

While your doctor may not give you a prescription for a daily martini, having a regular dose of alcohol just may provide some protection against rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its side effects.

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A Martini a Day Keeps Arthritis Away?

While your doctor may not give you a prescription for a daily martini, having a regular dose of alcohol just may provide some protection against rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its side effects.

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A Martini a Day Keeps Arthritis Away?

Today the Annie E. Casey Foundation released its twenty-first Kids Count Data Book , which measures the well being of children across all 50 states.

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America’s Report Card on Well-Being of Children

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently considering broadening its standards on gastric banding to include adolescents 14 to 17. Currently the procedure is legally approved for use in weight reduction for severely obese adults 18 years of age or older.

Whooping cough—also known as pertussis—was once a major cause of childhood illness and death in the United States, but all that changed with an effective vaccine introduced in 1940.

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Whooping Cough Recurrence Prompts Call for Booster Vaccinations

Women who are pregnant and consume caffeine , even as little as one cup of coffee a day, are at a higher risk of delivering an underweight baby. Diet sodas, which contain both caffeine and artificial sweeteners, may not only contribute to underweight births, but also to premature births in those women who drink large amounts.

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Overconsumption of Diet Soda May Elevate Risk of Premature Birth

Consumer-based genetic testing has come under fire in recent months, prompting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to launch an investigation in June. While that investigation is not complete, information coming out of one federal agency and presented to a Congressional panel points to preliminary tests showing faults in over-the-counter and direct-to-consumer DNA tests. read more

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Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Facing Fire

It’s not uncommon these days for women to schedule cesarean sections early in their pregnancy, making plans to avoid a vaginal birth. Whether it is because they had a previous C-section, are trying to avoid the pain of childbirth, or just want to schedule the birth as a convenience, many doctors accommodate the request. read more

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New Guidelines Released for Births Following C-Section

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is now a commonly diagnosed neurological disorder affecting between 8-9 percent of children ages 8-15 in the United States, meaning that out of a class of 25 it is likely that two will have ADHD. How those two are treated may make the difference in their adult life and parents struggle to make the right decisions for their ADHD child. read more

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Consumer Reports Survey Finds Parents Conflicted on ADHD Drugs

American consumers spent an estimated $34 billion on alternative medicine in 2007, with about $3 billion of that going toward homeopathic treatments. Homeopathy is a system of medicine pioneered by Samuel Hahnemann over a hundred years ago

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Homeopathic Zinc Nasal Spray May Affect Sense of Smell

Who needs a friend when you can have Autom by your side, counting calories, monitoring exercise and providing progress reports? That’s right, a new diet robot will soon be available, courtesy of Hong Kong start-up Intuitive Automata. For a mere $500 (+/-), you can have an adorable 15-inch robot who will bat its eyelashes, provide updates on its LCD screen and keep you on that diet.

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Autom, the Diet Robot, Set to Launch in 2011

Obesity surgery has been shown to be the only long-term effective means of weight loss for morbidly obese patients, typically working far better than diet, exercise or drugs, but as with any surgery there are risks, chief among them surgically opening the abdomen and a resulting scar.

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New Innovations in Weight Loss Surgery

The last decade has seen an enormous increase in the abuse or non-medical use of prescription pain relievers among Americans. Actually the word “enormous” is probably an understatement, as the facts and figures emerging from a White House study show the increase to be a whopping 400%

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Prescription Drug Abuse Rising in America

U.S.

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HealthNews Dozen: Top 12 U.S. Hospitals Named by US News & World Report

On Monday we reported on three new weight loss drugs that were scheduled to come before FDA committees in the next few months. The first faced the firing squad this week and lost their bid.

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FDA Panel Fails to Approve Weight Loss Drug Qnexa

In a press release issued Wednesday by the Department of Health and Human Services, regulations were issued requiring new private health plans to cover evidence-based preventive services and eliminate cost-sharing requirements for such services (deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments).

Controversy has long reigned over the best way to lose weight. Will slow and steady win the race or is rapid weight loss a better solution to the problem? A new study shows that the motivating factor of quicker weight loss is more effective and retains participants over the more gradual shedding of pounds

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Rapid Diet May Be Best Weight Loss Solution

Gossip sites, news sites, and diet sites are all reporting on the latest trend in health: Master Cleanse. Recently undertaken by power couple Demi and Ashton, this liquid-only diet is severely restrictive, difficult to maintain, and is designed to be followed for at least ten days

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Daily Diet: The Master Cleanse

It’s been a long time coming. Back in 2008, then-President Bush had a goal to implement an interoperable, secure electronic health record for most Americans by 2014. The development and implementation of Electronic Health Records will prevent medical errors, bring greater efficiency at lower costs, decrease administrative paperwork, and most importantly, will result in better patient care

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Electronic Health Records Closer to Reality for All Americans

Just like death and taxes, one sure thing in [a woman’s] life is menopause. Typically occurring in their late 40s and early 50s, women can experience a whole host of physical symptoms, chief among them weight gain and hot flashes

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Symptoms of Menopause Can Be Relieved by Weight Loss

Millions of people suffer from hemorrhoids without knowing quite what to do to relieve the pain, burning and itching. While there are both OTC and prescription drugs that can be used to help alleviate the pain, many consumers prefer not to use chemical formulations in or on their body so they simply suffer in silence. Venapro is a homeopathic formulation of natural ingredients that are just as safe as they are effective.

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Venapro Hemorrhoids Review

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will begin reviews this week on a several new weight loss drugs, bringing with it another round of hope for overweight and obese Americans. Trying to find an effective drug therapy for obesity has been more difficult that finding a needle in a haystack, but hope remains that a “magic pill” will pass all the required tests and make its way to market.

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Three New Weight Loss Drugs on the Horizon

With a heat wave sending the thermometer soaring in many parts of the country, it’s time to bring out the cold summer treats that put a smile on your face, satisfy your sweet tooth, and cool you down in a hurry.

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Summer Treats without the Guilt

With a heat wave sending the thermometer soaring in many parts of the country, it’s time to bring out the cold summer treats that put a smile on your face, satisfy your sweet tooth, and cool you down in a hurry. Doing that without packing on the pounds at the same time can be difficult, but there are some great ways to have your ice cream and eat it too. read more

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Summer Treats without the Guilt

Most adults are getting recommended breast and colon (colorectal) cancer screenings. Screening for serious chronic disorders can allow your doctors to diagnose these diseases earlier when there has been less damage to organs, and this can preserve your quality of life

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Screening for Cancer Needs to Be a Priority