A new research has revealed that a higher body mass index (BMI) and larger waist circumference are each associated with higher risk of hearing loss, while a higher level of physical activity is linked to lower risk of hearing loss in women.

"We often think of hearing loss as an inevitable part of the aging process, but these findings provide evidence that potentially modifiable risk factors, such as maintaining a healthy weight and staying physically active, may help in the prevention of hearing loss or delay its progression," lead author, Sharon Curhan from the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said.

Using data from 68,421 women in the Nurses' Health Study II who were followed from 1989 to 2009, researchers analyzed information on BMI, waist circumference, physical activity, and self-reported hearing loss. The baseline and updated information was obtained through validated biennial questionnaires.

Researchers found that women with a BMI of 30-34 had a relative risk for hearing loss that was 17 percent higher, and with a BMI of 40 or more had a relative risk that was 25 percent higher, when compared with those with a BMI of less than 25.

For women with waist circumference 80-88 cm, the relative risk for hearing loss was 11 percent higher and with waist circumference greater than 88 cm the relative risk was 27 percent higher when compared with women with waist circumference less than 71 cm.

Researchers also found that higher level of physical activity was associated with lower risk. Compared with women who were the least physically active, women who were the most physically active had a 17 percent lower risk of hearing loss.

Walking, which was the most common form of physical activity reported among these women, was associated with lower risk; walking 2 hours per week or more was associated with a 15 percent lower risk of hearing loss, compared with walking less than one hour per week.

The study was published in The American Journal of Medicine.

Men are less likely to develop skin cancer than women but they are more likely to die from the disease due to lack of awareness, says Iain Mack of The MOLE Clinic.

The facts about skin cancer have been revealed following Hugh Jackman's scare. Recently, the Hollywood star revealed his skin cancer problem and how early detection made his life easier.

Mack is the founder of The MOLE Clinic, an independent skin cancer screening and diagnostic centre, and a skin cancer survivor.

"Men are less likely to develop skin cancer than women; however they are more likely to die from it due to lack of awareness. The number of British men who die each year of skin cancer melanoma has exceeded 1,000," femalefirst.co.uk quoted Mack as saying.

"Around 2,000 people die of melanoma a year and over 1,000 are men. The latest melanoma survival rates show that 78 percent of men and 91 percent of women are alive five years after diagnosis," Mack added.

Mack says that skin cancer usually appears as a new or changing mole or freckle.

"Skin cancer has no cure, so it is important for the public to become more aware of their moles and spot any that might be suspect. If a mole is new or changing it needs to be examined by an expert right away," he said.

Over half of people with moles, which are cancerous or at risk of skin cancer, have a history of sunburn or sunbed use, according to figures released by The MOLE Clinic.

In the past 12 months, the London-based independent skin cancer screening clinic screened more than 10,000 moles. This is a record figure in the company's 10 years of skin cancer screening.

<b>What are the preventive measures to avoid skin cancer?</b>

Virginia Hubbard, consultant dermatologist at London Bridge Hospital, recommends that people examine their skin every month.

"People with fair skin, who burn easily, and people with lots of moles should take particular care as these people are more likely to develop a skin cancer.

"Check your skin regularly. If in any doubt about any changes in a mole, seek expert help. Avoid sunburn of your skin. Use a sunscreen of at least SPF30, with UVA protection too. Use twice as much sunscreen as you think you need. Make sure you reapply every hour or so, especially if sweating or after swimming," said Hubbard.

A new research suggests that 15 million women aged 40 and older (1 in 5) suffer from accidental bowel leakage.

"Fecal incontinence is not a part of normal aging. It is a medical condition and there is treatment available," Dana Hayden, MD, colorectal surgeon at Loyola University Health System, said.

"People with this condition become inhibited, stop socializing and do not even complete everyday routines such as grocery shopping or going to church because they fear an accident," she said.

Loyola is one of the first medical institutions to offer a new outpatient procedure for fecal incontinence that often results in immediate improvement.

In the new procedure, a gel is given through four injections into the wall of the anal canal.

"The gel is a natural substance that helps bulk up the muscle area around the anus to prevent leakage," Hayden said.

"Treatment takes about 10 minutes to complete and patients are able to go home without any negative side effects other than mild soreness," she said.

The injections do not usually cause pain and anesthesia is not necessary.

There are many reasons for fecal incontinence, Hayden said.

"Poor diet, frequent diarrhea or constipation, weakening of anal sphincter muscles and damage to the rectum or surrounding nerves," she said.

"Women during childbirth often experience muscle or rectal wall damage, and it can also be caused by surgery or injury," she added.

Rather than relying on expensive and often faulty paper pads and sanitary products as a temporary fix, Dr. Hayden strongly encourages patients with fecal incontinence to talk with their physician.

People who increased the number of times they chewed their food before swallowing ate less over the course of a meal, in a new study.

Slow eaters tend to be slimmer. But researchers didn't know whether asking people to chew more would change the amount of food they ate.

They found meal sizes shrunk when adults chewed extra before swallowing - whether they were normal weight, overweight or obese.

"The study reinforces the benefits of taking time to chew food well and enjoy the variety of textures and flavors in our meals," registered dietician Constance Brown-Riggs said.

Brown-Riggs is a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and was not involved in the new research.

Prospective study participants were asked to consume five portions of Totino's pizza rolls and count the number of times they chewed each roll. Researchers did not tell them what specifically was being tested in the study.

Forty-seven people went on to finish the study. Sixteen were a normal weight, 16 were overweight and 15 were obese.

Those participants attended three weekly lunchtime test sessions. On each day, researchers gave them 60 pizza rolls and told them to eat until they were full. Depending on the session, researchers asked people to chew every bite the same number of times as at their test visit, 50 percent more or twice as many times.

They also asked participants how full they were feeling before, during and after each lunch session.

Researchers found people ate about 10 percent less food, corresponding to 70 fewer calories, when they increased their chewing by 50 percent. When they doubled their chewing, they ate 15 percent less food and 112 fewer calories.

Normal-weight participants ate more slowly than overweight and obese participants. Across the board, people spent more time eating when they increased their chewing.

The participants rated their appetite the same after each meal even though slower chewing reduced how much they ate, according to findings published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Researchers noted that the study was conducted under laboratory conditions, so it's not clear how it would translate to normal life. Long-term studies are needed to look at the effect of extra chewing on weight and other markers of disease.

"Increasing the number of chewing cycles before swallowing can reduce food intake and increase satiety," James Hollis said. He worked on the study at Iowa State University in Ames.

"However, it is not clear if this is a practical approach to weight management," Hollis said. The researchers are now looking to see whether how fast people eat, for instance, influences how much they consume.

"It takes about 20 minutes for the brain to signal your stomach that you're full," Brown-Riggs said.

"Fast eaters can consume a large amount of food within that 20-minute period resulting in more calories, which can lead to overweight or obesity. This may be why participants in this study reduced their food intake. Increasing the number of chews increased the meal duration," she said.

Older adults who follow dietary guidelines tend to have a better quality of life and less trouble getting around and taking care of themselves, according to a new study.

Not many prior studies had tried to tackle that issue, researchers said.

"Our paper showed that maintaining an overall optimal diet quality will be beneficial for preserving the general well-being of older adults," lead author Bamini Gopinath said in an email.

Gopinath is a senior research fellow with the Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research at the University of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia.

"Adhering to national dietary guidelines which is typified by high intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish could be beneficial in maintaining a good quality of life and functional ability such as shopping, household duties, meal preparation, and taking their own medication," she said.

Her study included 1,305 men and women age 55 and over that were part of a large Australian study of common eye diseases and general health.

Participants filled out questionnaires about what they ate and how often in 1992 to 1994. Researchers scored each person's diet on a scale from 0 to 20 based the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Higher scores indicated better diets.

The one-quarter of participants with the highest-quality diets had scores above 11.1. The one-quarter with the poorest diets scored 8.1 and below, the researchers reported in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Five and ten years after reporting on their diets, participants completed surveys assessing their quality of life with regard to physical health, mental health, social functioning and vitality. Each area was measured on a scale of 0 to 100.

On average, participants with the highest diet scores also reported a better quality of life.

Physical function was almost six points higher among the healthiest eaters than the least healthy. General health was four points higher among healthy eaters and vitality was five points higher.

However, there were no differences on measures of mental health or social functioning, based on diet.

The researchers also assessed how well people could perform basic and instrumental activities of daily living 10 and 15 years after the diet surveys.

Basic activities include being able to eat, dress and groom without assistance and the ability to walk alone. Instrumental activities include the ability to go shopping, use a telephone, handle money and travel beyond walking distance.

There was no difference in how well people performed basic activities of daily living based on their diets. But participants with the highest diet scores were half as likely to be impaired when it came to instrumental activities compared to those with the worst diets.

The findings don't prove diet, itself, was responsible for the differences in quality of life and how well people performed daily tasks.

But Gopinath believes they could contribute to the evidence needed to come up with strategies that help an aging population make dietary changes.

"If older adults didn't make healthy choices when they were younger, they may need to change their habits to get the necessary nutrients for a better quality of life. In fact, many older adults are coming up short, when it comes to essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber," Ruth Frechman said in an email.

She is a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and was not involved in the study.

Frechman said people can turn to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate guide for help with healthy eating.

"To reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer, half of the grains should be whole grains, such as whole grain pasta, brown rice or oatmeal. It's also important to include low-fat or fat-free sources of dairy for healthy bones," she added.