Do birth control pills cause weight gain?   Virtually since their introduction it was believed to be true but new research conducted at the Oregon National Primate Research Center at Oregon Health&Science University says that is not the case.

To conduct their research, scientists and physicians studied a group of rhesus macaque monkeys at the OHSU Oregon National Primate Research Center for almost a year. Rhesus monkeys were used in this study because their reproductive system is nearly identical to humans. However, unlike human studies, more variables can be controlled and measured – such as exact food intake - to provide more meaningful data.

If you are concerned your child spends too much time playing video games, you're not alone.  And you may be right in your worry.   A new study says video game "addiction" is a global problem and that greater amounts of gaming, lower social competence and greater impulsivity were risk factors for becoming pathological gamers.

A two-year longitudinal study of 3,034 third through eighth grade students in Singapore found approximately 9% of gamers to be pathological players according to standards similar to those established by the American Psychiatric Association for diagnosing gambling addiction. Serious problems like depression, anxiety, social phobias and lower school performance seemed to be outcomes of their pathological play.

America has been a global powerhouse more due to individual and small group initiative than the large, government projects currently popular.     But the U.S. seems to have a widening 'inventor' gap - people who regard themselves as creative and interested in science math and desiring to help society.   While the U.S. relies on big funding, Indians make $4 microscopes so everyone can have fun with science and generate interest.

The 2011 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index announced today indicates  there is a generational basis for the looming shortfall.    Americans aged 16–25 possess creativity, interest in science and math and preference for working in groups or with mentors yet do not regard themselves as inventive. 

At isn't just people that have gotten fatter as society has converged on the Utopian ideal of enough food for everyone at low cost.   Over 20 percent of horses are overweight or obese too.   
A pilot study carried out by The University of Nottingham's School of Veterinary Medicine and Science and published in Veterinary Record showed that rates of obesity among horses are likely to be just as high as they are among people, a condition that can lead to laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome.

Yes, horses can have metabolic syndrome also.

In every study done over the last 70 years, since weight loss research began, the one solution guaranteed to work was ingesting fewer calories than you burn.   Nevertheless, any number of gimmicks have come into fashion.

One claim is that eating a big breakfast will lead to weight loss.   It can be confusing for laypeople because almost anything can begin with 'clinical tests show' and sound authoritative.

A U.K. study showed that wetter, cooler summers have a detrimental effect on the milk we drink.

Newcastle researchers found that milk collected during a cooler summer and the following winter had significantly higher saturated fat content and far less beneficial fatty acids than in a warmer year.