New research suggests that not getting enough sleep may doom adolescents and teens to obesity and poorer health as they enter adulthood. Those who slept less than eight hours a night were more likely to be overweight or obese than their peers who do get enough sleep, the study found. Those shorter sleepers were also…  read on >  read on >

Marijuana and hallucinogen use are at an all-time high among young adults, U.S. health officials reported Monday. Compared to five or 10 years ago, the use of these drugs over the past year has risen significantly among 19- to 30-year-olds, according to the Monitoring the Future panel study. The new data were collected through online…  read on >  read on >

Smokers in the throes of nicotine withdrawal when they wake up in the morning may crave not just a cigarette but a cup of coffee along with it. Science can explain that. Researchers have identified two compounds in coffee that directly affect certain nicotine receptors in the brain. Study author Roger Papke, a pharmacology professor…  read on >  read on >

School lunches can be nutritious, help kids maintain their energy throughout the day and fit into a budget. One nutrition expert offers some tips for cost-effective healthy lunch options. “All foods belong in our diet, but we need to view them as energy,” said Courtney Cary, a senior registered dietitian at Baylor College of Medicine…  read on >  read on >

Kids can take part in sports while on vegetarian and vegan diets, but parents and caregivers must help them select foods that will fuel them and meet their nutrition needs. Vegan athletes can become deficient in vitamin B12, vitamin D, long-chain omega-3 fats, riboflavin and calcium, so it’s important to find good substitutes, said Roberta…  read on >  read on >