follows five teens’ battle against obesity, and we think the series is totally worth tuning into. We got to watch the first episode, and after an hour, we’re completely rooting for the unique students attending Wellspring Academy.

During the premiere, we get to meet Tanisha Mitchell, 17; Scotty Basso, 13; Emily Hodge, 11; and Terrina Cyrpress, 17. (We’ll hopefully get to meet Miranda Nichols later.) Although each of them come from different backgrounds, they all have the same goal: to lose weight. (more…)

sinfully sweet apple company elicious, Sinfully Sweet Apple Co. offers guilt-free desserts. Their carmel apples are “90%” apple. Even the glaze is sugar free. Don’t make the mistake of asking about the different kinds of apples they offer: Pecan Pie, Cherry Chocolate Chip, New York Cheesecake, Cookies n Cream, German Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Almond, Snickers, Turtle, Rocky Road, Apple Pie, Red Crunchy Flakes, Toffee Crunch, Caramel Almond, Almond Roca, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Caramel Peanut, Strawberry Shortcake, Neapolitan, White Chocolate (more…)

Like many states, Texas faces a large deficit. And as in many states, state leaders are seeking to slice and dice programs — including those that serve people with mental illness – just when Texans need them most.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) recently released a proposal to eliminate $134 million from its already underfunded and overburdened mental health programs. Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and Speaker Joe Straus ordered the agency to cut its 2012-13 proposed budget by 10 percent. This reduction is in addition to a 5 percent cut that was recently made to the current DSHS budget.
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Prader-Willi Syndrome is an uncommon genetic disorder that causes poor muscle tone, low levels of sex hormones and a constant feeling of hunger among other things. People with this disorder have a problem with their hypothalamus, part of the brain that controls feelings of fullness or hunger. Thus, these people never feel full and have a constant urge to eat, ultimately leading to life-threatening obesity. (more…)

The Hundreds of women face this reality each day, but on the big and small screens, that phone call is a rare occurrence. The call actually resulting in an abortion is a particularly notable taboo, one that has been broken so few times in mainstream pop culture it can be counted on two hands The most beautiful, important moments of moms and expectant mothers get excited to see the positive tests on their home pregnancy test. (more…)

Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become thin, frail and brittle, and may break easily. Women and older people are more prone to developing osteoporosis, although it can affect people of any age or gender.

Eating a healthy, balanced diet that’s rich in vitamin D and calcium.
Getting frequent exercise that’s designed to help strengthen bones. Your doctor can recommend specific exercises.
Taking medications designed to prevent bone loss or increase bone mass.
Taking steps to prevent falls, which increase your chances of breaking a bone, such as the hip, wrist or spine. Such steps include removing clutter inside the home, wearing low-heeled shoes, securing rugs to the floor, and (more…)

MiraLAX Recall 2010 – OTC Pharmaceutical Product Recall?
Two MiraLAX Products Have Been Recalled Due to Cap Not Fitting Properly

According to a notice posted by Giant Food Stores, two MiraLAX products have been recalled because their caps are not correctly resealable and as such poses a health concern. (more…)

An experimental diet pill helped about half the people who tried it lose some weight and keep it off a year later, without the heart problems that some earlier drugs caused, a study found.

Most people don’t stick to diets. And diet pills have had bad side effects or can’t be taken long-term. A low point came in 1997 when the popular “fen-phen” was pulled from the market after it was tied to heart valve problems. (more…)

MADISON – University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics
ranked in the top 50 US hospitals in seven medical specialties, according to the 2010 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” guide.
The U.S. News guide ranks hospital care in 16 specialties. UW Hospital is ranked among the nation’s top 50 hospitals in the following categories: “Noteworthy is urology’s (more…)

An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) came up with mixed reviews Wednesday for a drug that a number of studies have suggested puts patients at risk for heart disease and stroke. A panel of 33 physicians, patient advocates, and academics decided that Avandia, a drug commonly used in treating diabetes, should either be withdrawn from the market or sold under very strict controls.

Studies of Avandia have found that it can increase a person’s risk of heart disease by as much as 43 percent, which is even more concerning considering that the disease it treats can double someone’s risk for heart disease. (more…)