Scientists may have uncovered the reason critical medications for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder cause weight gain and diabetes — findings they hope will lead to better drugs. The medications, known as antipsychotics, help control the hallucinations, delusions and confused thoughts that plague people with schizophrenia. They can also help stabilize extreme mood swings in those…  read on >  read on >

When your child enters college, the last thing you may be worried about is an eating disorder, but one expert says there are warning signs that parents shouldn’t miss. “Parents and family members are often the first to identify when their loved one is struggling with an eating disorder,” said Sydney Brodeur-Johnson, from the Veritas…  read on >  read on >

The growth patterns of kids born through fertility treatment differ initially from those conceived naturally, but those growth rates do catch up over time, a new study finds. In-vitro fertilization and other forms of “assisted reproductive technology” (ART) has long been associated with lower birth weights in babies, but it wasn’t clear how long differences…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 17, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Could the COVID-19 pandemic be taking a toll on kids’ teeth? A new, nationwide poll found the pandemic has made it harder for parents to get their kids regular dental care. But on the other hand, many say their youngsters are now taking better care of their teeth.…  read on >  read on >

MONDAY, Feb. 15, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Reducing sodium intake by any amount can lower blood pressure over the long term – and may benefit everyone, including people with normal blood pressure, new research shows. While the link between consuming less-salty foods and lower blood pressure is well established, researchers wanted to understand…  read on >  read on >

Despite their reputation for boosting the powers of your immune system, a new study reports that vitamin C and zinc supplements don’t help COVID-19 patients recover from their illness. Giving one or the other, or a combination of both, to patients didn’t significantly reduce the severity or duration of their COVID-19 symptoms. Zinc is important…  read on >  read on >

Too much coffee during pregnancy could lead to kids with behavior problems later on. That’s the key takeaway from new research that examined 9,000 brain scans from 9- and 10-year-olds as part of the largest long-term study of brain development and child health. “The goalposts are moved by caffeine, and there are subtle, but real…  read on >  read on >

A new weight-loss drug is almost twice as effective as current medications, clinical trial results show, and experts say it could revolutionize the treatment of obesity. Overweight and obese people lost an average 15% of their body weight using a weekly injectable 2.4 milligram dose of semaglutide (Ozempic), a new report reveals. What’s more, one-third…  read on >  read on >