Could the obesity epidemic be coming to an end soon? Perhaps. The so-called 'cure' for obesity is only a few years away, according to leading scientist in the UK. This 'cure' would be a drug, most likely administered in needle form, which could control the hormone responsible for hunger (called ghrelin) and put an end to overeating. And it's hoped this drug could totally wipe out the need for invasive gastric bypass surgery.

I think the term 'cure,' is a bit optimistic. After all, this surgery is supposed to do what gastric bypass surgery does -- eliminate hunger and reduce how much you can eat. And yet gastric bypass surgery often doesn't lead to long-term weight loss. And compulsive overeating often isn't based on hunger -- it's based on emotional factors like stress. And hunger control doesn't automatically lead to healthy habits.

If you ask me, teaching and preaching healthy habits is a much better option for treatment of obesity than a quick fix. What do you think?

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Drinking wheatgrass is one of those new-ish trends out there--particularly among those anxious to get healthy without too much effort. I'll admit, even I've added it a shot of it to my morning smoothie on a couple of occasions. But I'm curious: Why is wheatgrass so good for you? And does it actually live up to the hype?

Wheatgrass has a number of supposed benefits--it's said to help detox your liver and blood, as well prevent gray hair, tooth decay and even cancer--but surprise! There are few proven benefits to drinking wheatgrass daily. That's not to say it's not beneficial--it just hasn't been studied thoroughly. Wheatgrass has fairly significant amounts of vitamin A, iron and calcium, but if you eat your RDI of fruits and veggies, you're probably already getting enough of those.

Bottom line? It can't hurt, as long as you can stand the taste and the cost.

(Via Fitsugar)

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If you were able to stop smoking by taking a regular shot, would you do it? Many would, and recent testing showed promise that may lay the foundation for some to kick the habit in the future without all the mental willpower and addiction problems that come with it.

This shot prevents the nicotine buzz that is common with cigarettes and other forms of tobacco and helps a smoker more easily quit because that mental withdrawal (and physical also) is made into an easy transition.

This new experimental process produced smoking cessation results comparable to those of already-available aids made to help someone stop smoking. To those who have had problems quitting using other methods, this could be promising soon.

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I have no idea when I last got a tetanus shot. But I just learned that I need a vaccine called Tdap, a three-in-one vaccination for tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis, every 10 years. Even if I was immunized as a kid against these diseases, I still need the shot. So do all other adults.

I never knew adults needed shots. Until now.

Apparently, about 50,000 to 70,000 adults in the United States die each year of diseases that are preventable by vaccine. It seems it's time we keep track of what we need, and when we need it. So here are some grown-up guidelines for those vaccinations we should not let pass us by.

Hepatitis B

If you've had a sexually-transmitted disease and/or are not in a monogamous relationship, you need this shot. If you have more than one sexual partner in a six-month period, you need this shot. It's given in three doses over several months and protects against liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. The virus is spread by sex with an infected partner or exposure to an infected person's blood.

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Anti-fat shots, better known as lipo-dissolve in most cases, are growing in popularity around the country -- but people may be making unsafe assumptions about both the risks and the results. In a strange circumstance of loopholes people are being prescribed and given these injections despite the fact that the FDA has not approved any injections for the purpose of dissolving fat. Experts have serious questions about things like where does the fat go? Is it really being flushed completely out of the body or just moved elsewhere (i.e. increasing cardiovascular risks)?

Of course there are also those out there who love this procedure and swear by it. Where do you fall? I'm not a big fan of cosmetic procedures anyway so it's no surprise I think people should wait until we know more.

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When you are on a prescription or over-the-counter drug, did you know that the remnants of that product end up in the sewage system? This isn't rocket science, after all -- what goes in comes out (in some form, anyway).

It's been found that modern sewage systems don't break down the Tamiflu flu-prevention drug, which results in components of the drug ending up into natural waters where certain viruses may have more exposure to it -- causing resistance after a while.

In other words, the overabundance of Tamiflu could lead to flu-resistant viruses in the future at precisely the time a flu pandemic would emerge -- not exactly the best-case scenario. Researcher Bjorn Olsen stated that "Antiviral medicines such as Tamiflu must be used with care and only when the medical situation justifies it." So, do you 'really' need that Tamiflu prescription?

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