WASHINGTON (AP) ― The battle of the bulge has been a big, fat failure for U.S. drugmakers. But that hasn’t stopped them from trying.For nearly a century, scientists have struggled to make a diet pill that helps people lose weight without side effects that range from embarrassing digestive issues to dangerous heart problems.Earlier this week, a government panel recommended the FDA approve the latest diet drug Qnexa. The recommendation raises hopes that the U.S. could approve the first anti-obesit

Children who play active video games do not engage in more physical activity than those who play inactive video games, U.S. and Hong Kong researchers suggest. MCTTom Baranowski of the Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Ester Cerin of the Institute of Human

DETROIT ― The little boy who would grow up to become a surgeon at the University of Michigan learned right away ― parts is parts.Dr. Douglas Chepeha started out as a carpenter, making boats and decks and furniture out of scraps of wood; and then, he took that same mental approach into surgery.That’s how he saved Sherry Wittenberg’s voice: He removed part of her shoulder blade and inserted it into her voice box, like a strange home renovation project inside a human body.Chepeha views the human bo

BOSTON (AP) ― U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials plan to investigate whether inhalable caffeine sold in lipstick-sized canisters is safe for consumers and if its manufacturer was right to brand it as a dietary supplement.AeroShot went on the market late last month in Massachusetts and New York, and it’s also available in France. Consumers put one end of the canister in their mouths and breathe in, releasing a fine powder that dissolves almost instantly.Each grey-and-yellow plastic canis

As the nights get shorter and the temperature rises in spring, our muscles relax more and we can become sluggish and tired. People are also generally more physically active in spring which can add to the tiredness. This is accompanied by an increased demand for various nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals. As many people have an insufficient intake of them during winter, they may develop spring fever or chronic fatigue. In individuals who had less exercise or activity during winter,

Manufacturers to reduce sodium in 51 products favored by children; ramen makers reluctantThe Korea Food and Drug Administration said it had got agreements from food manufacturers to reduce the salt content of some products. The food agency on Wednesday said makers of sauce, ketchup, salad dressings and retort foods have agreed to voluntarily reduce the amount of sodium used in 51 products popular with children. Makers will reducer the salt content of readymade jjajang, spaghetti and udong sauces

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Alexis McKenzie’s mother had mild dementia, but things sounded OK when she phoned home: Dad was with her, finishing his wife’s sentences as they talked about puttering through the day and a drive to the store.Then their phone service was cut off. “I mailed that check,” McKenzie’s father insisted. No, he’d mailed the phone company a bank deposit slip instead. McKenzie visited and discovered spoiling food. Dad the caregiver was in trouble, too.Dementia can sneak up on families. I

Aphthous stomatitis, commonly known as “thrush on the tongue,” is a disease where a shallow ulcer is formed in the mouth. Despite an unknown etiology, its occurrence is reportedly associated with the involvement of factors such as viral infection, bacterial infection, malnutrition, immune disorder, stress, trauma, generic factors, hormonal imbalance and other systemic diseases. It is therefore probable that the accumulated fatigue during summer might be one of the causative factors of common mou