Scandal of dead bodies left on hospital ward in funding crisis
Dead bodies are being left on hospital wards overnight because of a shortage of night porters to move them to a mortuary, it has emerged. Nurses at a hospital in Lancashire have been told dead patients cannot be moved until the following day because of a funding crisis

Diet drug may help obese adolescents (Reuters)
Reuters - The weight-loss drug Meridia may be a safe, effective treatment for severely overweight children as young as 12, researchers reported Monday.

Teen Obesity Linked With Premature Death In Adulthood
Children and adolescents in the U.S. and around the world are becoming more overweight. A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) has found that there may be serious consequences to that trend. Researchers found that being overweight at age 18 is associated with an increased risk of premature death in younger and middle-aged women. The study appears in the July 18, 2006 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. [click link for full article]

Puppy-fat Myth Undermines Children’s Future Health
According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, it is a myth to believe that puppy-fat naturally disappears as young children get older. The study claims the myth may be undermining the future health of children. If a child is overweight during adolescence, his/her likelihood of continuing being overweight throughout adulthood is much greater. [click link for full article]

Connecticut approves ban on sodas in schools (Reuters)
Reuters - Connecticut's state legislature voted on Thursday to ban sales of sodas and other sugary beverages in state elementary, middle and high schools as part of an effort to stem teen obesity.