For the third consecutive year, Mississippi has claimed the title of fattest state, while Colorado repeats as the leanest. West Virginia passed Alabama to grab a chubby spot towards the top (or bottom, depending on your perspective) as the second fattest state in 2008. Washington DC was the only region to boast a slimdown while Delaware seemed to suffer an influx Krispy Kreme and White Castle with the east coast state jumping eight places. Step away from the computer and go for a jog!

Scientists have known since the mid-1990’s that people with a certain mutation have an incredible resistance to HIV and now a team of researchers may have found a way to duplicate the mutation’s effect, subsequently creating a possible immunity against the deadly virus. University of Pennsylvania scientists have tested the treatment on cultured T-cells and mice, so uncertainty remains as to whether the technique would work in humans.

The Danes have something to smile about as a new study says Denmark boasts the happiest citizens. On the other side of the spectrum, it seems Zimbabweans need something to smile about as the African nation landed in the most glum spot. The study also found that happiness overall has risen around the world, an up swing contributed to economic growth in formerly poor countries, democratization and increasing social tolerance for women and minority groups. Debbie Downer Baby Boomers and a whopping 81 percent of Americans dissatisfied with the country’s direction landed the U.S. at 16th.

Researchers have developed an implantable device that emits a low-level electrical charge to a stomach nerve and could provide a less invasive alternative to surgery in the battle against obesity. Patients regulate the device that blocks the vagal nerve, signaling a feeling of fullness to obese patients following a regular size meal. Far less invasive than the stomach snipping of bariatric surgery, the researchers also claim the device causes no damage to the vagal nerves or stomach.
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Prepare for an invasion of the plastic people as a new study predicts that by 2015, 17 percent of U.S. residents will be undergoing cosmetic procedures. Based on U.S. Census Bureau population projections, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that over 55 million cosmetic surgery procedures will be performed in 2015. The ASPS doesn’t have a guess for what procedures will be hot in the next decade (toe implants and third eyeballs perhaps?), but for now, the most popular surgeries include breast augmentation, liposuction and eyelid surgery.

A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week has brought bad news regarding the health of Americans as the CDC’s data says nearly 8 percent of the U.S. population suffers from diabetes. Older adults account for 25 percent of the 24 million Americans dealing with the disease. The CDC also estimates that an additional 57 million people qualify as pre-diabetic with blood sugar abnormalities.
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Bad news for those of us who live in flip flops during summer’s steamy days: researchers at Auburn University have discovered that the floppy footwear can lead to painful heel and ankle problems. Flip flops alter the way people walk as wearers scrunch their toes with each step, a repetitive motion that stretches the connective tissue between the heel and tow and consequently causes sole inflammation, heel spurs and tired footsies. Hmm, maybe we should all just deal with sweaty feet and invest in a pair of these hot kicks.

According to British psychiatrists, addiction to the internet is considered to be a clinical disorder which requires hospital treatment. It appears that highly educated men and middle aged women are the main sufferers. Can addiction to anything be a good thing? How about fasting from the internet.
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According to a researcher, having a big breakfast that is high in carbohydrates and protein, but low in fat, is a helpful way to reduce weight. Those who don’t have breakfast, tend to snack in between meals on foods that are high in fat and sugar. Some breakfast should be better than no breakfast.
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If you’re anxious to replace your old mildew-covered shower curtain, consider skipping the standard vinyl variety as lab tests reveal that PVC curtains and liners release more than 100 toxic chemicals into the air of people’s bathrooms. Yep, that “new curtain smell” is really just a pungent pollutant. The toxic compounds can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea and damage to the liver, kidney and the central nervous system. And you thought the most toxic part of your potty was the remnants of last night’s Taco Bell run.

A team of researchers lead by Dr. Todd Golde of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville have found chemicals called gamma-secretase modulators (GSMs) that inhibit the “plaques” of clumps of protein that inhibit brain functions. The GSMs cuts the production of one protein fragment that builds up. One in twenty people over sixty-five get Alzheimer’s.

Federal health officials say falling mortality rates in nearly all the leading causes of death has led to the United States’ highest life expectancy rate in history. The estimated life span for Americans surpassed 78, but continues to trail 30 other nations, including life expectancy leader Japan whose citizens live to an average to 83 years. Let’s toast some Ensure to that!
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released the first national study detailing recreational injuries with snowboarding topping the list for outdoor injuries. Snowboarding spills accounted for a quarter of emergency room visits, with most injuries being broken bones and sprains. Nonfatal injuries from outdoor activities mostly affect people between the ages of 10 and 24 with half of problems stemming from falls. Eh, just stick to knitting, unless you find yourself getting a little yarn crazy.

A 45-year-old man who suffered a massive heart attack and came within minutes of being sliced and diced for organs has sparked ethical debates in France about when a person is considered dead. Doctors used cardiac massage in attempts to restart the man’s heart, but after reviving attempts failed, they transferred the seemingly dead man to a nearby hospital. As surgeons prepared to remove his organs, they noticed the man had begun breathing again and he showed signs of being able to feel pain. One and a half hours after the man’s ticker ticked out, it started beating again. Medical professionals have now raised questions about the criteria used to determine a patient’s life status.

Just about everyone Mac fan I talked to yesterday after the developer conference keynote thought that Steve Jobs looked very thin. Now the Wall Street Journal has asked Apple for comment and learned that The Steve had a bit of bug in recent weeks and is using antibiotics to get well. Let’s hope for a speedy recovery!

A 12-year-old girl brought up on a strict vegan diet has been admitted to hospital with a degenerative bone condition that has left her with the spine of an 80-year-old. Her parents, who are strict vegans, have been reported to the police, after doctors and social workers were concerned that the girl’s health and welfare had been neglected. The case highlights the dangers of forcing parents’ beliefs on dietary restrictions on children.

A man who suffered pain for many years went to have surgery to remove a tumour. During the operation, the surgeons discovered that his tumour was actually a surgical towel that had been left behind from a previous surgery, twenty five years ago. The hospital officials apologized to the man and the man said that he has no plans to sue the hospital.
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Yes and it is painfully true. According to a group of doctors, people who regularly suffer from joint pains usually report significant increases in pain before and during severe changes in the weather like summer rains and thunderstorms. This is because when the atmospheric pressure changes, the amount of fluid inside the joints also changes, causing the pain.
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There is new evidence to show that those who are exposed to lead in early childhood, have an increased risk for criminal behavior later in life. Lead actually shrinks gray matter in the brain and affects the areas that are linked to problem solving, motor control, decision making and social behavior. No wonder some people behave the way they do!
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According to scientists, men who work as painters and decorators, are very likely to have a low sperm count because of their exposure to chemicals called glycol ethers. These chemicals are widely used as solvents in water-based paints.
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A couple who met in 1926 and married two years later is celebrating their eightieth wedding anniversary. According to them, the secret to a lasting marriage is to iron out your arguments before bedtime and share a kiss and a cuddle every night before bed. In this day and age where marriages have lost their meaning and relationships are short-lived, I think there is much to learn from this couple.
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When you cook a steak or a burger patty on a hot grill, amino acids from the meat produce unstable compounds called free radicals. These radicals react with the beef to produce HCAs (heterocyclic amines), which are considered to be carcinogens and can mutate DNA. Scientists have found out that when you add rosemary to the beef, the antioxidants in rosemary, prevent the HCAs from forming. But how many of us fancy a rosemary flavored burger?
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Talking about social networks, according to a new study, smokers are more likely to quit smoking if a co-worker, friend or spouse also quits. In other words, a group mentality persists even when it comes to quitting smoking. When it comes to friends influencing one another, those with more education had more influence on their friends.
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Howard “Dr. Juice” Levine’s Washington state medical license, which he has held since 1982, has been suspended three times and reinstated twice in the last eight years. Levine allegedly sold steroids over the internet and at a local Starbucks, leading to the juice doc pleading guilty to illegal steroid trafficking. He also tried to extort $500,000 from Jack In The Box and had a pool table in his exam room; he just went to prison but still has his medical license. Hmmm.

The British Medical Journal Group’s mission to improve access to evidence based medicine for doctors around the world comes a step closer as a result of new agreements in Germany and New Zealand. The BMJ Group has inked a three year nationwide licensing agreement with the Bavarian State Library that will provide BMJ Journals’ content to universities and other publicly financed research institutions all around Germany.