Behind the Headlines

'Baseless claims' its harder for women to lose weight

Friday Jan 25 2013

'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

'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

“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

'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…

Long-term aspirin use 'increases blindness risk'

Tuesday Jan 22 2013

'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 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...

One million Brits can 'dump deodorant'

Friday Jan 18 2013

"One million people who have non-body odour gene still use deodorant," is the bizarre headline from The Daily Telegraph, with a similar Daily Mail report saying many people use deodorant needlessly because their sweat doesn’t smell…

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...

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