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Health Link Obesity classified as disease, may improve patients’ care Obesity classified as disease, may improve patients’ care
The American Medical Association officially recognized obesity as a disease Tuesday, a decision local physicians believe will make it easier for them to treat the overweight. But, opponents argue obesity is a lifestyle choice and classifying it a medical illness will increase health care costs.
Health Link Report: Slowdown in health care costs to continue Report: Slowdown in health care costs to continue
There's good news for most companies that provide health benefits for their employees: America's slowdown in medical costs may be turning into a trend, rather than a mere pause.
Health Link Komen breast cancer charity names new CEO Komen breast cancer charity names new CEO
The breast cancer charity named Judith A. Salerno to replace founder Nancy Brinker, whose promise to her dying sister begat a fundraising powerhouse that invested hundreds of millions of dollars in cancer research
Health Link To ease shortage of organs, grow them in a lab? To ease shortage of organs, grow them in a lab? (Photo Gallery)
Growing lungs and other organs for transplant is still in the future, but scientists are working toward that goal. In several labs, scientists study how to build on the internal scaffolding of hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys of people and pigs to make custom-made implants.
Health Link Transplant vote seeks medical and legal balance Transplant vote seeks medical and legal balance
Faced with a federal judge's order in the heart-wrenching cases of two terminally ill children seeking lung transplants, a national review board sought a balance that will keep such decisions in the hands of doctors, not lawyers or judges.
Health Link Judge's ruling challenges U.S. organ transplant system Judge's ruling challenges U.S. organ transplant system
It's a life or death matter: Who gets the next scarce donated organ? In an unprecedented challenge to the nation's transplant system, a federal judge has allowed one dying child - and a day later another - to essentially jump the line in rulings that could have ramifications for thousands of people awaiting new organs.
Health Link Weight loss drug Belviq gets overdue US launch
Arena Pharmaceuticals says its weight loss drug Belviq will be available to U.S. patients beginning next week, nearly a year after the drug was officially approved by federal regulators.
Health Link Gene flaws common in blacks with breast cancer Gene flaws common in blacks with breast cancer
Gene flaws that raise the risk of breast cancer are surprisingly common in black women with the disease, according to the first comprehensive testing in this racial group. The study found that one-fifth of these women have BRCA mutations, a problem usually associated with women of Eastern European Jewish descent but recently highlighted by the plight of Angelina Jolie.
Health Link Poll: 2 in 5 women would consider parenting solo Poll: 2 in 5 women would consider parenting solo
An Associated Press-WE tv poll of people under 50 found that more than 2 in 5 unmarried women without children - or 42 percent - would consider having a child on their own without a partner.
Health Link French man dies of SARS-related respiratory virus French man dies of SARS-related respiratory virus
A French patient infected with a deadly new respiratory virus related to SARS died Tuesday of the disease, which has killed half the people known to be infected and alarmed global health officials.
Health Link Mom's obesity surgery may help break cycle in kids Mom's obesity surgery may help break cycle in kids
Obese mothers tend to have kids who become obese. Now provocative research suggests weight-loss surgery may help break that unhealthy cycle in an unexpected way — by affecting how their children's genes behave.
Health Link Report: Nation's kids need to get more physical Report: Nation's kids need to get more physical
The prestigious Institute of Medicine is recommending that schools provide opportunities for at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day for students and that PE become a core subject.
Health Link Sports seem OK for many with heart-zapping device Sports seem OK for many with heart-zapping device
New research is challenging medical guidelines that say people with a heart-zapping device in their chests should avoid intense sports like basketball and soccer in favor of golf or bowling.
Health Link What do we eat? New food map will tell us What do we eat? New food map will tell us
Until now, the only way to find out what people in the United States eat and how many calories they consume has been government data, which can lag behind the rapidly expanding and changing food marketplace. Researchers are trying to change that.
Health Link FDA has safety concerns on Merck insomnia drug FDA has safety concerns on Merck insomnia drug
Federal health regulators say an experimental insomnia drug from Merck can help patients fall asleep, but it also carries worrisome side effects, including daytime drowsiness and suicidal thinking.
Health Link Measles surges in UK years after vaccine scare Measles surges in UK years after vaccine scare
More than a decade ago, British parents refused to give measles shots to at least a million children because of a vaccine scare that raised the specter of autism. Now, health officials are scrambling to catch up and stop a growing epidemic of the contagious disease.