Behind the Headlines

Does a veggie diet lead to a healthier heart?

Thursday Jan 31 2013

Most of the media is reporting the findings of a wide-ranging UK study that found that people on a vegetarian diet were 32% less likely to develop heart disease. The reduced risk is possibly due to veggies eating less cholesterol than meat eaters…

Early lunchers lose more weight, study finds

Wednesday Jan 30 2013

'Scientists who studied the timing of meals have discovered that people who ate late in the day lost less weight than those who ate earlier' The Independent reveals after a Spanish study found that 'early-eaters' lost more weight than 'later-eaters'…

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…

Eating your 5 A DAY 'could make you more optimistic'

Friday Jan 18 2013

'Another good reason to eat your greens: It makes you more optimistic about the future' is the cheerful news in the Daily Mail as a study finds a link between fruit and veg and optimism. But like the chicken and the egg, its unclear what came first…

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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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…

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...

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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Family meals 'help kids get their five-a-day'

Thursday Dec 20 2012

'Family meals aid five-a-day: Eating together at the table boosts children's intake of fruit and vegetables,' the Daily Mail reports. The news is from a study that aimed to explore the influence that the home...

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...