Health literacy linked to better asthma control
MedPage Today
Baseline health literacy is associated with better quality of life and improved disease control in asthma patients, researchers found. For every point higher that they scored on a measure of health-related print literacy, patients had better asthma-related quality of life and asthma control, as indicated by a 0.63-unit increase in the Mini-Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire and a 0.52-point improvement in the Asthma Control Questionnaire, according to researchers.More

Exercise, diet may keep sleep apnea from worsening
Reuters
Losing weight through exercise and healthier eating may have long-term benefits for people with mild sleep apnea, a new study suggests. Researchers found obese study participants who went through a one-year lifestyle intervention were about half as likely to see their sleep apnea progress to more severe disease, compared to those who received little extra help. More

Parents still enforcing 'clean your plate' rule through teen years
CBS News
Parents often tell their kids to be a member of the "clean plate club" — even when their children are in their teens. A study published online in Pediatrics showed that up to two-thirds of parents still encourage their adolescents to finish all the food on their plates. This advice could prevent children and teens from learning healthy eating habits on their own, the study warned.More

Double up: Diet, exercise together are key to success
USA Today
Folks who want to get in better shape and eat healthier are often encouraged to make one change at a time, but a new study finds that people are the most successful when they tackle their diet and exercise habits simultaneously.More

Obesity care: When the problems outpace the solutions
American Medical News
The nation's obesity epidemic has ballooned to epic proportions with more than a third of adults and 17 percent of children age 2 to 19 considered obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.More

Portion control is in the palm of hands
The Arizona Republic via USA Today
Portions are spinning out of control. We eat bagels the size of a small Frisbee and popcorn from tubs. A typical restaurant bowl of pasta could feed a small family. Much of what Americans eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner is two to three times bigger than the government's definition of a portion, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington, D.C.-based consumer group.More

The correct diet can help avoid kidney disease
Medical News Today
Bad diet choices and habits like smoking and obesity are linked to an increased risk for kidney disease, suggests a new study. A group of investigators discovered that people with regular kidneys whose diet quality was bad — high in processed and red meats, sodium and sugar-sweetened beverages, and low in fruit, nuts, legumes, whole grains and low-fat dairy — were more likely to develop kidney disease.More

Vitamin E boosts health heart for smokers who quit
Counsel & Heal
Previous research has shown that smokers who quit can drastically improve their health if they persevere and avoid smoking again. Although they might never be able to turn the clock and be as healthy as they once were before smoking, researchers have suggested that quitting alone can already improve one's health. More

Wasted real-world clinical data
By Mike Wokasch
We spend tens of billions of dollars every year on healthcare research, yet we don't have answers to some very basic questions about prevention and treatment of most diseases.More

Practical tips may help parents address kids' obesity
USA Today
Here's some practical advice to parents who are concerned about their children's weight: Serve them meals on smaller plates, pay attention to what they watch on TV, and make sure they get adequate sleep at night.More

How technology can get CVS out of the wellness penalty box
Wired
The big flap over drugstore giant CVS' reaction to the Affordable Care Act has ignited an age-old debate: Which motivates humans, the carrot or the stick?More

New York City aims to ban cigarette sales for under age 21
Reuters
New York City, home to bans on trans fats and salt, is taking a step toward outlawing sales of cigarettes to anyone under age 21. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, running to replace health conscious Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is due on Monday to announce legislation to increase the minimum age for buying cigarettes to 21 from 18, the current limit.More

Wasted real-world clinical data
By Mike Wokasch
We spend tens of billions of dollars every year on healthcare research, yet we don't have answers to some very basic questions about prevention and treatment of most diseases. We can't prove to what extent preventive medicine is actually cost effective. We can't prove that one drug is more effective than another. For some diseases, we don't even know if drug treatment is any better than no drug treatment at all. Interestingly, much of the data probably already exist to answer many of these questions.More