Behind the Headlines

Twitter diet? Tweeting can 'aid weight loss'

Wednesday Jan 16 2013

"Logging on to Twitter could help you shed a few pounds," the Daily Mail has reported. Its story is based on a study exploring the role of the online social network Twitter as part of a weight loss programme for obese and overweight...

IVF pregnancies 'increase blood clot risk' in mothers

Wednesday Jan 16 2013

'A new study has found that women who undergo IVF have a higher risk of experiencing blood clots and pulmonary embolism while they are pregnant' ITV News explains. But women should be reassured that the increase in risk is small in absolute terms…

Fast-food 'link' to child asthma and eczema

Tuesday Jan 15 2013

'Teenagers more likely to have severe asthma and eczema if they eat fast food more than three times a week,' The Guardian reports. The claim is based on wide-ranging research looking at the dietary patterns of children across the world…

Breast cancer drugs set for preventative use

Tuesday Jan 15 2013

Almost all of the newspapers and their websites are leading with the news that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published draft guidelines recommending that women with a high risk of familial breast cancer...

Does the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet work?

Monday Jan 14 2013

The 5:2 diet, and other forms of intermittent fasting (IF) have become increasingly popular, with claims that IF can help you lose weight, live longer and prevent disease. But is there any evidence to support these claims?...

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Pill-size camera may make cancer diagnosis easier

Monday Jan 14 2013

'Doctors have made a pill-sized device that can take detailed microscopic images of inside the gullet' BBC News explains. It is hoped that this new technology will make diagnosing digestive system cancers easier…

Body shape stories fail to kill off myths

Monday Jan 14 2013

"Pear-shaped women aren't protected from heart disease," the Daily Mail warns, going on to say that a new study "overturns 'myth' that it's better to have wobbly thighs than a fat stomach." Despite the headline...

Passive smoking link to dementia

Friday Jan 11 2013

"Passive smoking can dramatically increase the risk of developing severe dementia," is the Daily Mail’s headline. The newspaper reports that a study has been the first to show a significant link between secondhand smoke and dementia...

Wrong fat in pregnancy diet 'may make kids fatter'

Friday Jan 11 2013

Pregnant women who eat too much of the ‘wrong’ type of fat are likely to have fatter children' the Daily Mail advises. The advice is based on a UK study that found a link between maternal consumption of omega 6 fatty acids and the child’s weight…

New strain of norovirus detected

Thursday Jan 10 2013

The emergence of a new Australian strain of norovirus – the ‘winter vomiting bug’ – has featured in most newspapers today. The Daily Telegraph reports that the new strain is to blame for the record number of cases of the virus seen this winter...