Behind the Headlines

Your guide to the science that makes the news

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'Baseless claims' its harder for women to lose weight

Friday Jan 25 2013

Women have to 'work harder' than men to lose weight

'Women have to do about 20% more exercise to get the same benefits' (as men) the Daily Mail has claimed as they report on a study looking at the benefits of exercise in both men and women who were obese…

Lightning may cause 'thunderous headaches'

Friday Jan 25 2013

Lightening may give migraines sufferers 'thunderous headaches'

'Lightning could cause headaches and migraines, according to researchers' The Daily Telegraph reveals. This is after a new study finds that cases of migraine rose by around 25% in people who were in close proximity to a lightening strike…

Women's smoking death risk 'highest ever'

Thursday Jan 24 2013

Smoking death rates in women at record highs

“Women smokers are five times more likely to be killed by their habit today than in the 1960s,” The Sun has reported, while...

Sex using condoms is 'just as good'

Thursday Jan 24 2013

"Men and women enjoy sex just as much with condoms as they do without," the Daily Mail was delighted to report, covering a US study that appears to contradict one of the classic male excuses...

Plastic plates and kidney stones claim 'overcooked'

Wednesday Jan 23 2013

Using plastic plates could 'lead to kidney stones'

'Eating hot food off plastic plates can increase the risk of kidney stones' is the latest in a long-line of misleading Daily Mail headlines. The study they report on involved only 12 people and only looked at urine samples…

Going bald by 40 'raises prostate cancer risk'

Wednesday Jan 23 2013

Going bald by 40 increases prostate cancer risk

'Men who go bald by the age of 40 are more likely to get prostate cancer' is the somewhat depressing news in the Daily Mail as they report on an Australian study into male pattern baldness and cancer…

New meningitis B vaccine approved for UK use

Wednesday Jan 23 2013

Many of the newspapers and news websites are reporting the announcement that a new meningitis B vaccine has been licensed for use in the UK. It is currently uncertain whether the vaccine will be provided free-of-charge by the NHS…

Long-term aspirin use 'increases blindness risk'

Tuesday Jan 22 2013

Long-term aspirin use 'increased blindness' risk

'Aspirin 'triples chance of leading cause of blindness'' The Daily Telegraph reports as a study finds an association between aspirin use and the eye condition macular degeneration…

Cleaning jobs linked to adult asthma

Tuesday Jan 22 2013

'People who work with cleaning products risk developing asthma' BBC News warns. The headline is prompted by a study that tracked people over 40 years, which found that jobs involving cleaning products increased asthma risk…

Is Viagra a new wonder diet pill?

Monday Jan 21 2013

Viagra - a potential treatment for obesity?

'Viagra helps men fight the flab as well as boost their sex life,' reports the Daily Mail, somewhat prematurely, on a study involving mice. The study aimed to examine the effect of a chemical...

News: 'Half of all health news is spun'

Read about the September 2012 study that found over-optimism about scientific results from researchers, press offices and journalists alike

Miracle cure or scam?

Will an online miracle cure provide the answer to your health problem?

Stem cell research in the news

Stem cells are often portrayed in the media as a miracle cure for many serious conditions and disabilities. We analyse the facts behind theses stories

Miracle Foods: myths and the media

Each day there's a new crop of possibly life-changing headlines about how food affects our health. Read our report on the health properties of food

Video: the placebo effect

Watch Ben Goldacre explain what the placebo effect is and describes its role in medical research and in the pharmaceutical industry

Alcohol, myths and the media

Can lager help you live longer? Can wine help you lose weight? We take a sober look at the media’s claims about alcohol, and what the science actually says