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Rebecca Kiernan
News Articles
Control pants a hidden hazard
BODYSHAPING ‘control pants’ worn to flatten bulging stomachs may actually be a health hazard, according to British experts. While endorsed in Bridget Jones’s Diary and recommended to women by UK makeover gurus Trinny and Susannah, the underwear, which “hides” bulging stomachs, could be causing women to ignore underlying weight issues. The International Obesity Taskforce, the research arm of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, said the popular underwear hid pot bellies and ‘muffin tops’ where stomach spilt over a waistband. “Hiding behind” bodyshaping garments meant women weren’t tackling their weight and related ...
New seats cut cyclists’ losses
NEW-STYLE bicycle seats without a protruding nose extension can provide male cyclists with more comfort and improve their genital health, scientists say. Their research found ‘noseless’ bike seats were useful for alleviating pressure on the groin and improving penis health. The researchers, who studied 90 US bicycle police officers, found that, after six months of using the noseless seats, the number of officers indicating they experienced no genital numbness rose from 27% to 82 per cent. In addition, officers who reported erectile dysfunction before changing seats noted a significant improvement in penile sensation by the end ...
Banning junk food is tempting fate
THE usual approach among dieters is to banish fattening treats from the cupboard, but new research is pointing to the benefits of keeping such food around as a good way to build up willpower. Tests conducted by researchers in Belgium suggest keeping chocolate and chips at hand can help trigger a person’s “self-control strategies”. Researchers recruited female college students for a series of experiments in which they were presented with either images of treats or the food itself. They found women who had already been tempted by real treats were more likely to exercise self-restraint than ...
Airbags given a human touch
JAPANESE inventors have devised a solution for people who are unsteady on their feet: an airbag to wear. Similar to the devices found in cars, the airbags have sensors, which are on a vest strapped to the waist, and can detect if the wearer is about to topple over. The product has been aimed at the elderly and infirm and is so far only available for sale in Tokyo, according to Times Online . The airbags will inflate with 1.5 litres of compressed gas in 0.1 seconds to the size of three footballs, providing a ...
Space helps ground control
A PROGRAM to treat depressed astronauts could be brought down to Earth to help others in remote locations. Scientists with the US National Space Biomedical Research Institute are developing an interactive multimedia program that will assist astronauts to manage depression and other psychosocial problems that can occur during long space missions. The program, known as the Virtual Space Station, can be used for training before, and for help during, missions. Other problems addressed using the program include interpersonal conflict and stress and anxiety. The researchers believe the system could have applications on Earth, especially in ...