Tracy Davidson

Thirty-five percent of middle class Americans said they or someone in their household has experienced a physical symptom of stress related to the economy, according to a recent report by First Command Financial Services, a financial service provider. Most common were anxiety, changes in weight, sleeplessness, low energy and irritability. “These are health conditions that [...]

The first lady, Michelle Obama, relegated the government’s well-known food pyramid to the sands of history, unveiling a new, simpler image of a plate divided into basic food groups. The new design, called MyPlate, was conceived as a crucial part of Mrs. Obama’s campaign against obesity, designed to remind consumers about the basics of a healthful diet. The [...]

When West Philadelphia resident Candice Cheatham was pregnant with her daughter Micaiah, now 7 months, her nurses never mentioned the dangers of mercury poisoning. But Cheatham did some research and learned that mercury spewing from power plants could work its way into the fish she normally ate, which could lead to birth defects. So, she [...]

Forget those late-night cheeseburgers ordered from room service. Hotels increasingly are filling menus with low-calorie, low-fat options so you can eat healthy on the road. Among nods to the health-conscious: Hilton will feature low-calorie, low-fat breakfast options at all its hotels by the end of April. Sofitel’s De-Light menu launched in the U.S. in February [...]

Sales of energy drinks and shots are soaring, just as medical concerns are increasing about the popularity of the high-caffeine drinks among young people. Energy drinks had 13.3% dollar sales growth in 2010 and received a “significant boost” from energy shot sales at convenience stores, says a report out this month from market research firm [...]

Starting in the next few months, the front of many food packages will prominently display important nutrition information, including calorie, fat and sugar content. The industrywide program was announced Monday by food makers and grocers. The executives who made the announcement repeatedly invoked the campaign against obesity initiated by Michelle Obama, the first lady, saying [...]

Just a few years ago, President Obama refused to shop at Wal-Mart. But his wife now has other ideas. First lady Michelle Obama joined executives from the big-box behemoth on Thursday to announce a new program to promote more healthful foods. The move was part of her signature campaign to fight childhood obesity, and Wal-Mart [...]

The issue of the health of Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs has come up again, an issue that investors and its fans don’t want to think about. This time, Apple (AAPL 348.48, +2.80, +0.81%) gets some kudos for telling investors, employees, customers and everyone else who obsesses over the company, that Jobs is taking [...]

he Philadelphia Department of Public Health is unveiling a new media campaign targeting smoking and sugary drinks. The ads will crop up everywhere – in corner stores, on SEPTA, TV and radio. The campaign is part of the “Get Healthy Philly” initiative. “People are bombarded every day by advertising on TV and on the Internet, [...]

Trying to fight the growing child obesity epidemic, new federal guidelines proposed Thursday focus on making school lunches healthier. The new guidelines, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), would be the first such changes in 15 years and include cutting salt and fat and adding more fruits and vegetables to school cafeteria fare. “For [...]