Fitness & Nutrition

Peggy Renzi (middle) talks with her teammates Erika Hersey (left) and Erica Webster. The three are part of a team of nurses in the Bowie Health Center emergency room in Bowie, Md., who are working together to lose weight.

Money Replaces Willpower In Programs Promoting Weight Loss

6:23pm February 20, 2013

by Yuki Noguchi

A group of nurses is competing for $10,000 in a weight-loss contest. A New York man motivated himself by pledging to donate to a cause he hated. Both approaches use money to reach a target weight. But which is better — the carrot or the stick?

Queue Listen Now

Some sports supplements contain the ingredient DMAA. The FDA has warned that DMAA may not be safe.

Popular Workout Booster Draws Safety Scrutiny

4:18pm February 15, 2013

by Rob Stein

Exercise buffs who take dietary supplements with the ingredient know as DMAA say the stimulant gives them a boost of energy. But some researchers and the Food and Drug Administration are worried that these products could be dangerous.

Queue Listen Now

Health & Safety

The Unexpected Side Effects Of Chemotherapy

3:13pm February 04, 2013

Undergoing chemotherapy is an unpleasant and often disruptive experience that can radically transform a cancer patient's life. From nausea and hair loss, to so-called "chemo-brain" and "metal mouth," the side effects can vary drastically and many are unexpected.

Queue Listen Now

PepsiCo's product line ranges from salty chips and its sugary namesake drink to more healthful fare like hummus and yogurt. In 2010, the company announced plans to cut sugar, fat and sodium in its products to address health and nutrition concerns.

Health & Safety

How One Man Tried To Slim Down Big Soda From The Inside

8:42am January 31, 2013

by Dan Charles

Public health expert Derek Yach surprised nutrition advocates when he joined PepsiCo six years ago. He got the company to cut salt, sugar and fat from some popular products like chips and soda. But critics say he did more harm than good.

Queue Listen Now

Front-loading your calories may help you lose weight.

To Maximize Weight Loss, Eat Early in The Day, Not Late

10:44am January 30, 2013

by Allison Aubrey

In a Spanish study, overweight people who ate most of their calories before 3 p.m. lost significantly more weight than their counterparts who were nighttime eaters. So watch those calorific midnight snacks.

Queue Listen Now

Boot camp participants at an early morning class in Palisades Park in Santa Monica, Calif.

Fitness Boot Camps May Get The Boot In Santa Monica, Calif.

1:10pm January 16, 2013

by Kirk Siegler

In the mornings, the lawn at Palisades Park is often covered with people in sweats and spandex, exercising in groups. But city officials are weighing a plan to muscle out the fitness classes.

Queue Listen Now

Regular consumption of blueberries, such as these found at Butler's Orchard in Maryland, may prevent heart attacks in middle-aged women.

Women With A Berry-Snacking Habit May Have Healthier Hearts

10:08am January 15, 2013

by Allison Aubrey

Love berries? It seems a habit of eating them three times a week may stave off heart attacks, at least in middle-aged women, according to a new study. That's because of compounds called anthocyanins found in these brightly colored gems.

Queue Listen Now

Health & Safety

Families And Fat: What Can Help, What Can Hurt

2:33pm January 10, 2013

Living with an overweight parent, child or spouse can be difficult. Loved ones who want to help a family member struggling with obesity may be hesitant to broach the subject for fear of causing shame or making matters worse.

Queue Listen Now

Health & Safety

The Latest Science On Fat And Fitness

2:39pm January 08, 2013

Each January, people flock to gyms and raid the produce aisle at grocery stores to fulfill New Year's resolutions. NPR food and health correspondent Allison Aubrey and Dr. Timothy Church, professor of preventative medicine at Louisiana State University, discuss what the latest research on fitness and weight loss.

Queue Listen Now

An analysis of many studies finds a small spare tire may be associated with longer life. But skeptics say that conclusion is rubbish.

Research: A Little Extra Fat May Help You Live Longer

9:09am January 04, 2013

by Allison Aubrey

An analysis from the Centers For Disease Control and Research finds that being overweight, but not obese, is associated with lower risk of death. But no one is suggesting you ditch your exercise or diet goals.

Queue Listen Now