Your Health

Mom always liked you best. But is that enough of an excuse to start smoking dope? It depends on how teenagers perceive parental preference, a study finds. And also how warm the family is overall.

Squirrel monkeys, chimps and humans: Two among these are willing to give up an unfair advantage, but why? It's about greasing the social wheels, scientists say.

Do you want to be a lab rat? That's what teenagers are doing when they smoke marijuana, the state of Colorado says. But since hard evidence of marijuana's harms is scanty, it may be a tough sell.

Are you more an apple or a pear? If it's the former, you've got company. Americans' waistlines are growing, even though obesity rates have plateaued. And more belly fat increases health risks.

About 27 percent of respiratory tract infections in children are caused by bacteria, a study finds. But doctors prescribe antibiotics for 57 percent, leading to 11 million unneeded prescriptions.

Heating pads and other passive treatments don't do any good if the goal is gaining strength and mobility, according to the Choosing Wisely campaign. Instead, it's all about the exercise.

Parts of the Affordable Care Act seek to curb states from setting their own mandates requiring insurers to cover specific care. But many state legislators are trying to work around the restrictions.

Doctors and poets are collaborating in California to encourage young people to tell stories about Type 2 diabetes in their communities.

For those who think there are not enough hours in the day, researchers may have just offered you a solution. The brain can continue tasks even while asleep, a study finds. Texting not included, alas.