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As we people of the modern world grow heavier by the year, we have developed a growing interest in our morbid obesity. Or a morbid interest in our growing obesity. Our curiosity is justified: obesity is firmly linked to poor health. As a result, there’s a massive, and growing, industry dedicated to helping us, or at least promising to help us, lose weight. But like most stories about metabolism, it’s complicated. One aspect that is not well understood is the relationship of exercise, physical exertion, to obesity.… Read the rest “Obesity: What’s exercise got to do with it?”

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It was the Spring of 1994, and the National Hockey League playoffs were heading for a dramatic finish. The Eastern Conference semi-final featured the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils. The Devils were ahead three games to two in the seven-game series, and appeared to be destined for victory. The next game was in the Devils’ home arena, in front of a sold-out crowd of their rabid supporters.

The captain of the Rangers was the power forward Mark Messier, a threat to score or level an opponent whenever he was on the ice.… Read the rest “Why Junk Food makes us fat”