I found it agonising to quit smoking. So why are people ignoring the new treatments on offer?

Patches, gum, lozenges and hypnotism ... none of it worked for me in the long term. If an effective remedy had existed back then, I would have jumped at it

Home cooking and minimally processed foods best for weight loss, study finds

Dieters in trial lost twice as much weight when avoiding ultra-processed ready meals with as much nutrition

The one change that worked: I grew my own vegetables – and suddenly stopped wasting food

When I started caring for some tomato plants, it was as if a switch had been flicked in my mind. I knew I had to stop throwing food away. I immediately became much more creative with the meals I was making …

Is it true that … you need to lift heavy weights to build muscle mass?

Most people who want larger muscles head to the gym. But gains can be made at home without any equipment at all

I wallowed in booze for four decades. Here’s what five sober years have taught me

To give up drinking once seemed unthinkable – and when I finally made the leap, it didn’t go quite as expected

‘They ate my ex’s furniture!’: people on their drastic divorce decisions, from training huskies to getting plastic surgery

Whether it’s quitting a job and hitting the road, selling precious gems or jumping out of a plane, the agony of a breakup can spark huge changes – for better or worse …

Women at the helm: an all-female sailing weekend on the Norfolk Broads

The mazy channels, reeds and and big skies of the Broads are the perfect setting for a sailing holiday with wellbeing on the agenda

I lost my hearing in one ear and I’m worried I won’t find a new job

Getting back into work after a long absence, especially with health issues, can seem overwhelming. Help is available – and don’t underestimate your own internal resources

Naomi Stadlen obituary

Psychotherapist and author who focused on the communication of mothers with their babies

Trump revives presidential fitness test – will US students run a mile?

Pull-ups, sit-ups and a mile-long run on menu of test first introduced by Eisenhower – but does it actually work?