Health Check

The gang decided to try out the sitting test this morning on the show, and let's just say somebody had a tough time.

Hold on to your lunch. Maggots have been approved for use in wound care in the US since 2004, but new studies are raising questions about whether or not they actually help the wounds heal or just do quick work while seeming kind of gross.

Who says the holidays have to be all warm and fuzzy? According to some health groups in the UK, Christmas can be the perfect time to tell a loved one he or she is overweight. It may sound rude, but experts insist the health risks involved with obesity, including diabetes, heart disease and stroke, make it worth the uncomfortable conversation.

The health risks of obesity are well-documented, but there’s a financial downside, too — data shows obese people also earn less money, especially women.

In recent years, health advocacy groups have recommended walking a minimum of 10,000 steps a day to stay fit. And although all that pavement-pounding does help keep your weight down, researchers have found it doesn’t make people stronger or improve their balance and agility.

When it comes to food, would you rather know how many calories you’re ingesting or how much treadmill time it’ll take to burn off the calories? Think carefully because some now believe displaying the amount of jogging time needed to burn off the calories from a sugary drink — instead of just showing a calorie count — may be more effective in dissuading you from drinking those beverages.

If you’ve decided to greet the New Year with a resolution to quit smoking, you may be dreading the stress and jitters often associated with nicotine withdrawal. But take heart! A new study says you’ll be healthier and happier.

Studies about the dangers of using a cell device while driving have produced mixed results — some say talking or texting behind the wheel can increase the odds of a crash exponentially, while others say the perils are few. Regardless, the National Transportation Safety Board is so convinced of the dangers of “distracted driving” that it’s now called for a nationwide ban on non-emergency cell phone

In recent years, study after study has raised the alarm about the dangers of talking on the phone while driving, with some saying you could be four times as likely to have a crash if you’re using a phone behind the wheel. But new research indicates it may have been much ado about nothing.

Arguably the best part about making cookies during the holidays is getting a sneak spoonful of the raw dough before it goes in the oven. Like with tons of other great-tasting grub, however, it’s so not good for us. In fact, two years ago, 77 people in 30 states became ill from doing just that.

If you were going to choose a segment of society least likely to need birth control pills, no one could fault you for putting nuns at the top of the list. Researchers, however, say the notoriously contraceptive-averse Catholic Church should make the pills available to those women to reduce their risk of cancer.

Unless you’re lucky enough to live in one of those beautiful, warm places, where the weather never changes, you are now settling in for a season of gloves, static, chapped lips and chills to the bone. But what do we really know about how our bodies react to winter?