Health

Would you really rather keep up with the Kardashians than sweat? That was a question I posed last year in this LA Times column. I asked it because physical activity rates are at an all time low, and yet we seem to have plenty of time available to watch TV. And this sorry state of affairs has led not just to expanding waist lines, but a serious health crisis. Exercise IS the cure for what ails you in most cases. There are few medical conditions that cannot be improved or ameliorated by physical activity.

According to new research reported by the BBC, we no longer rely on alcohol simply to enhance our charm at cocktail parties or make family events more bearable; a huge number of people are also using alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress, consuming a drink — or several — in the evenings to unwind from yet another very long day.

The environment we live in now is referred to as obesogenic and it’s practically designed to make us fat. We’re surrounded with overly tasty and incredibly convenient food. Sure, the super tasty stuff is addicting, but it’s more than just an addiction to the taste, it’s an addiction to the convenience.

There are certain emotional states that feel as close to death as we might be able to get in a lifetime: intense grief and heartbreak top the list. But what about loneliness? Well, it turns out that loneliness doesn't just feel like death but can actually kill you.

The most fattening cookbooks of 2010; a face transplant recipient meets the donor’s family; what not to post on Facebook; why landlines are so last year; and President Obama cares about nursing mothers.