A regular diet of even modest amounts of food containing soy has been linked to infertility, particularly in obese men, a new British study suggests. Plant oestrogens in foods such as tofu, soy mince or milk may interfere with hormonal signals increasing estrogen activity, lowering the sperm count in men.

The study, carried out by Harvard School of Public Health, looked at the diets of 99 men who had fertility-related problems. When the sperm concentration of men eating the most soy was compared with those eating the least, there was a significant difference

British Health Secretary Alan Johnson, in a major speech, has asked the public to be kinder to obese Britons.

In a major speech, Johnson said vilifying the overweight would not spur the obese to amend their behavior. He said a campaign to encourage healthy eating must be done in a more intelligent and less hurtful manner

Health inspectors will on Saturday begin issuing citations and fines to New York City fast-food chain restaurants that fail to post calorie counts next to the prices on their menus.

The new rule, allowing a two-month grace period, took effect in May. It marks the first time a U.S. city has launched an anti-obesity campaign. It requires restaurants that have 15 or more nationwide outlets to post calorie information beside their prices

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is recommending reduced-fat milk for overweight or obese babies ready to graduate from breast milk or formula to cow's milk.

Low fat milk, instead of whole milk, should also be given to those who have a family history of obesity, high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease. The age to start the cow's milk is anywhere between 1 and 2 years of age, says the latest guidelines from the clinical report Lipid Screening and Cardiovascular Health in Childhood

Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama lead the nation in the percentage of obese adults, according to survey results released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that self-reported obesity rates in these states were over 30 percent. Mississippi respondents reported the highest rate of obesity, at 32 percent, and Tennessee had the third-highest rate at 30.1 percent. Colorado had the lowest rate of obesity at 18.7 percent