Tough new food GCSE to test pupils on poached eggs, palmiers and provenance

Examination will test pupils on culinary techniques as well as knowledge of nutrition, food traditions and kitchen safety

Fat China: how are policymakers tackling rising obesity?

Paul French: Childhood obesity in China could heavily impact on its economic development. What is being done about it?

China: nutrition guiding light or ticking time bomb?

Lawrence Haddad: The world’s second largest economy is leading the world in reducing malnutrition, but its overweight children threaten to impact economic growth

The new yuppies: how to build a new generation of tech-savvy farmers

If the highest calibre of young people become farmers it will improve food security and help solve the unemployment crisis. Can tech make farming cool?

The Observer view on our health and the sugar-peddling food industry

Observer editorial: The state has to play a more dynamic role in legislating food manufacturers and marketing

Fewer cows, fatter hogs: behind rising prices for meat in US supermarkets

Consumers are paying more for beef and pork products as farmers and cattle ranchers try to adjust to demand. One big problem: obese hogs

How to eat healthily, be mindful and simplify your life: new year’s resolutions made easy

Struggling with your new year’s resolutions? Our team advises you on how to stick to your goals

Five lifestyle factors are key to cutting risk of dementia, says charity

Age UK says exercise and diet help lessen Alzheimer’s risk and healthy activities may cut threat of dementia by 36%

The ketogenic diet: high fat, high hopes

Cure for epilepsy? Radical weight-loss programme? This increasingly popular regimen could have many benefits

Diets: is there any science behind the latest fad regimes?

The 5:2 to the Paleo, the Bulletproof and the Virgin and more claim they will make you thin, healthy and happy. We look at the facts