The German cabinet has earmarked 30 million euros ($46.7 million) until the end of 2010 to combat mounting obesity in the general population. The national program is intended to improve the well-being, productivity and quality of life of Germans, the health ministry said.

The "In Shape" program, prepared by Health Minister Ulla Schmidt in cooperation with Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Minister Horst Seehofer, aims to cut disease related to obesity noticeably by 2020. The national level program will aim to achieve the target by educating the youth on healthy eating and sports, as well as tougher standards for school lunches

McDonalds has been a favorite whipping boy of health buffs and nutrition experts, with its French fries and Quarterpounders being blamed for obesity among Americans. A Virginia man, however, credits the fastfood outlet for his losing about 80 pounds.

But Chris Coleson, who was 278 pounds in December, did not gorge on McDonald's fattening offers. Rather, he feasted on the hamburger chain's healthy menu such as salads, wraps and apple dippers, less the caramel sauce

Gastric bypass surgery, popularly known as weight loss surgery may lower the chances of getting cancer in the morbidly obese people, new findings suggest. Gastric bypass surgery decreases the incidence of cancer by more than 80 percent over the five years following the procedure, Canadian researchers reported Wednesday.

The treatment for obesity has already known to reduce heart disease and diabetes but researchers have now found that incidence of two of the most common tumors, breast and colon, were reduced by 85 percent and 70 percent respectively

Four million Canadians do not have a regular physician, indicating the acute lack of doctors in the country.

The Canada Community Health Survey of Statistics Canada released Wednesday said 86 percent of those born in Canada or have been in the country for at least 5 years have a regular doctor who oversees their medical needs, while only 65 percent of recent immigrants have one

Pregnant women who smoke cannabis harm the developing brain of their unborn babies, researchers have claimed. In addition to cannabis, certain prescribed drugs, including some to treat obesity, could have a negative impact on the fetal brain, the University of Aberdeen researchers have found.

The tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) present in cannabis targets the receptors and signalling systems in the brain. For the brain to develop normally, this signalling process should occur unhindered, researchers noted