Eating well isn’t just about weight control: It can also help you manage inflammation to promote good health.

Inflammation is part of how the body heals itself. When you get a bee sting or a cut, the area swells, turns red and is painful to touch or even move. That’s inflammation at work. Normally, it goes away as your body repairs itself — within a few hours after a sting or up to a week after a cut. In these cases, inflammation’s a good thing.

You’ve probably heard the importance of managing your weight your entire life. Unfortunately, you’re probably focusing on the wrong metric if you’re just looking at your bathroom scale.

How much we weigh is merely a number. It doesn't provide an accurate picture of your body size, shape or health. What really matters is your body composition — the percentage of fat, bone, water and muscle in your body.

Adult obesity rates have been steadily climbing for decades. Unfortunately, being overweight is linked to a long list of health issues. 

The good news: losing just a modest amount of weight can help improve sleep, blood sugar levels, cholesterol profile and blood pressure readings, which can lower the risk of obesity-related diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

Happy 2026! As we usher in another year, it’s always a good idea to take a few moments to reflect on the past year and what we learned. We reviewed the top health news of 2025, and here are four important stories that can affect your health and wellness.

No one wants a beer belly: They’re unattractive and have been linked to health issues for years. Beer belly, the casual term used to describe abdominal obesity, is associated with more harmful changes in heart structure than overall body weight alone, according to a study presented at the 2026 annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago.  

It’s easy to brush off a muscle ache, feeling cold, or being tired. (It is just part of getting older?) But sometimes these can signal that it’s time to visit your primary care provider to rule out more serious problems — or get treatment.

Here are symptoms you shouldn’t ignore.

Heart disease remains America's number one killer, making routine blood pressure and cholesterol screenings essential for everyone. While traditional screenings offer a helpful snapshot, they don't always reveal the complete picture of your cardiovascular health.  

For example, results from standard tests may look fine, but you may still have risk factors like a family history of heart disease, obesity or diabetes. And there’s this:

Do you ever wonder why coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., despite medical advancements? One reason may be the food on your grocery store shelves.  

Every week, the average American unknowingly consumes a credit card-sized amount of plastic. For those living near the coast, the risks may be even greater. Recent research reveals a troubling connection between coastal living and increased rates of serious health conditions—and microplastics appear to be the culprit.

Every week, the average American unknowingly consumes a credit card-sized amount of plastic. For those living near the coast, the risks may be even greater. Recent research reveals a troubling connection between coastal living and increased rates of serious health conditions—and microplastics appear to be the culprit.