Behind the Headlines

Quitting smoking 'reduces anxiety levels'

Wednesday Jan 2 2013

'Smoking does not relieve stress – but quitting does,' the Daily Mail reports. The story is based on research that looked at whether giving up – or trying to give up – smoking...

Overweight people 'live longer' study claims

Wednesday Jan 2 2013

“Being overweight can extend life rather than shorten it,” is the headline in The Independent. This and related headlines come from a large review of previous research...

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Spirituality 'link' to mental illness

Wednesday Jan 2 2013

'Spiritual people are more likely to be mentally ill' is today’s claim in the Daily Mail. They report on research which found that people with a spiritual views, but without conventional religious beliefs, had an increased risk of mental health problems…

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Social networking 'makes people snack more'

Thursday Dec 20 2012

"Facebook 'encourages unhealthy snacking'," according to The Daily Telegraph. It reports on a study that apparently found that socialising with close friends online on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter...

Energy drinks 'no better than a strong coffee'

Monday Dec 17 2012

'The only useful ingredient in beverages such as Redbull is caffeine', according to the Daily Mail, after new research argues that claims that other ingredients such as guarana and ginseng can boost energy, maybe a 'load of old bull'…

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Does marriage lower depression risk?

Monday Dec 17 2012

'Married women are less likely to suffer depression than cohabiters or singletons,' according to the Daily Mail. The claim is based on a large Canadian survey...

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One primary school child in three 'too fat'

Thursday Dec 13 2012

Obesity in children was in the headlines today, with most papers reporting that, among children in their final year at primary school, one child in three is overweight or obese. The stories come from the latest figures on children’s weight…

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Just a single cigarette a day linked to sudden death

Wednesday Dec 12 2012

Light smoking 'doubles sudden heart death risk in women', BBC News reports. It says women who are light smokers – including those who smoke just one cigarette a day – double their chance of sudden death...

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Parents 'need to drink less' in front of their kids

Monday Dec 10 2012

A study into the impact of parental drinking habits was in the papers today, with the Independent reporting that parents “should drink alcohol less in front of the children” and the Daily Mail claiming that women drinkers “pass on bad habits...

Childless couples who wanted kids 'die younger'

Thursday Dec 6 2012

Childlessness “may increase likelihood of early death” BBC News has reported. The story is based on a study of more than 21,000 Danish couples seeking IVF treatment. Researchers found that women who did not go on to have a child...