In the first study of its kind, using sophisticated methods to measure body composition, the nationally known commercial weight loss program, Weight Watchers, was compared to gym membership programs to find out which method wins in the game of good health. »more»

Rates of sexually transmitted infections have more than doubled among the over 45s in less than a decade according to the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections. »more»

Steve Demos, the man responsible for much of the popularity of soy milk in America, is at it again. This time it is "probiotic" foods for baby boomers. Steve's first company, WhiteWave, Inc., created and marketed Silk Milk making soy milk a household product and a staple in Starbucks Coffee. »more»

A new five-year analysis of the nation’s death rates recently released by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the suicide rate of middle-aged people (45-to-54-year-olds) has surged nearly 20 percent from 1999 to 2004. This increase is larger than nearly every other age group when adjusted for population size. »more»

You are over 40, maybe even over 50, and it's been a little while (okay a long while) since you've done something athletic. We think you should do a triathlon. So does the Los Angeles Times who recently published a series of articles about in its Health Section (may require registration to access). »more»

Being laid off in middle age can subtract as much as two years from your life. »more»

There is one part of the DVD store where the youthful faces lose out to women in their 40s. You won't find perky 20-somethings as they cannot compete with mature women who have given birth and raised families. Where is this parallel universe that seems to go against everything we know about marketing? It's the exercise DVD section. »more»

Here's a positive to middle age: you might deal with stress better than you did when you were younger. »more»

The final numbers for deaths in the U.S. have been tallied for 2004, and while the increase in life expectancy to a record 77.8 years was the headline in many news stories, not all the trends behind that single figure are positive. The report contains worrisome news too. »more»

Feeling lonely is never fun. However when it happens in middle age it can take a very bad toll on one's health. In the August issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science, two University of Chicago psychologists report their findings that loneliness leads to very negative physiological affects on middle age bodies. »more»