Separating fact from myth
• ALCOHOL IS GOOD FOR YOU? A study of 8,236 non-smokers showed that those who were moderate drinkers were more likely to be slim than non-drinkers. It follows previous claims that up to three drinks a day is good for the heart
• BUT While drinking might have benefits, New Zealand researchers (published in the Lancet) say that the negative effects could outweigh the positive, and add that previous research may have reached false conclusions.
• BEING OVERWEIGHT IS GOOD FOR YOU? People who are slightly fat - but not genuinely obese - are less likely to die prematurely, according to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Previously, Danish researchers concluded that people who succeed in losing weight are more likely to die prematurely than people who stay overweight.
• BUT Critics say that much of the research is based on the Body Mass Index, on which fit, muscular people are heavy enough to be classified as fat. It might classify you normal, the New Scientist pointed out recently, but you could still be carrying enough of a waist to leave you with health problems commonly associated with obesity.
• RICHARD AND JUDY ARE GOOD FOR YOU? According to Prof Kevin Warwick of Reading University, students who watched the TV chat show hosted by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan (pictured left), while drinking coffee, performed better in tests than those who didn't.
• BUT Prof Warwick's critics argue that his methodology is flawed and his data unpublished by any real medical journals. And that the study is just plain ridiculous anyway.