Over the first few years of a child’s life, foods found in a family’s fridge and cupboards tends to get less healthy, new research shows. “We found significant changes in several food categories over time,” said study lead author Jennifer Barton. “Food items such as non-whole grains, processed meats, savory snacks, candy and microwavable or…  read on >  read on >

Teen pregnancy can change the trajectory of one’s life, but now a new study suggests it could also shorten that life. Canadian researchers report that women who were pregnant as teenagers were more likely to die before they reached the age of 31. “The younger the person was when they became pregnant, the greater their risk…  read on >  read on >

Why humans, five whale species and some chimpanzees are the only known mammals to go through menopause has long been a mystery. Now, researchers at the University of Exeter in the U.K. think they’ve found the answer: It’s all about survival of the species. It turns out that females of five toothed-whale species that experience…  read on >  read on >

For years, U.S. health officials have been sounding the alarm over a steady rise in pregnancy-related deaths among American women, with numbers that appeared to far outstrip those of other wealthy nations. However, the statistics behind those trends could be flawed, researchers report in a new study. Their detailed reanalysis of government data from 2002…  read on >  read on >

A woman’s risk of intentional death by firearm rises during and shortly after pregnancy, new research shows. About 1 in 6 intentional firearm-related deaths in women of childbearing age occurred during pregnancy or within a year of childbirth, the study found. Dr. Naima Joseph, of the Boston Medical Center, led the inquiry, which included data…  read on >  read on >

Early menopause influences how working women feel about their ability to do a good job.  That’s the key takeaway from a study of more than 2,600 Finnish women recently published online in the journal Menopause, a publication of the Menopause Society. Researchers wanted to know if entering menopause before age 45 affected women, when they…  read on >  read on >

Days clogged with numerous after-school activities are detrimental to the mental health of over-scheduled high school students, a new study finds. Researchers also found that these “enrichment’ activities — tutoring, sports, school clubs and even homework — are unlikely to benefit students academically. Many folks think extra study time or tutoring will lead to better…  read on >  read on >