Whether it is down to work pressure, money worries or relationship troubles, most of us experience stress at some point in our lives. In fact, around 75% of us report experiencing moderate to high levels of stress over the past month. It is well known that stress can cause sleep problems, headache and raise the risk of depression. But in this Spotlight, we look at some of the more surprising ways in which stress may harm our health. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) define stress as the "brain's response to any demand." In other words, it is how the brain reacts to certain … [Read more...] about Stress: its surprising implications for health

Exercise alone is not enough to lose weight because our bodies reach a plateau where working out more does not necessarily burn extra calories, researchers have found. The team are the latest to challenge obesity prevention strategies that recommend increasing daily physical activity as a way to shed the pounds. In a study, published in Current Biology on Thursday, they suggest that there might be a physical activity “sweet spot”, whereby too little can make one unhealthy but too much drives the body to make big adjustments to adapt, thus constraining total energy expenditure. If true, it … [Read more...] about Exercise alone won’t cause weight loss, study shows

If you crave chocolate or Cheetos after a hectic day, it may be because you're sleep-deprived, a new study suggests. Researchers have found that lack of sleep may lead to increased appetite and an affinity for unhealthy foods. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three U.S. adults don't get enough sleep and roughly the same percentage are obese. Study author Erin Hanlon, a research associate at the University of Chicago, aimed to connect these two nationwide problems. "Evidence from laboratory and epidemiological studies has started to consistently associate insufficient … [Read more...] about The cure for your junk food cravings? Sleep