Obesity as dangerous as smoking, study shows

Being obese can be as dangerous to your health as a lifetime of cigarette smoking, a recent Oxford University study has shown.

As much as a decade of your life can be lost as a result of being severely obese, and even being "only" moderately obese can cut your lifespan by more than three years.

The label "severely obese" refers to anyone with a body mass index over 40. Moderately obese is defined as someone who has a BMI of 30 to 40.

To find your own body mass number, you can use this chart.

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Chantix users should be monitored for suicidal behavior, depressed mood, says FDA

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday said of Pfizer's smoking-cessation drug Chantix that "it appears increasingly likely that there may be an association between Chantix and serious neuropsychiatric symptoms," the Wall Street Journal reports.

In its public health advisory, the FDA said Chantix users should be monitored for suicidal behavior, depressed mood and other changes in behavior.

Sales of the drug totaled $280 million for the fourth quarter of 2007. The drug was approved by the FDA in May, 2006.

For information on smoking-cessation group seminars in your area, contact Dr. David Ross, ND.

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