Students: just say no to sugar

Forget illegal drugs, students are overdosing on sugar. Little do they know that binging on sweet food is a serious form of substance abuse

Sugar is behind global explosion in type 2 diabetes, study finds

Researchers say link between consumption of sugar and diabetes is independent from obesity

Should we believe being overweight is good for our health?

Suzi Gage: A recent study has shown that having a BMI classed as overweight is associated with a lower risk of mortality than one classed as ideal. But what does this mean?

Diet and weight loss: our readers respond

The people's panel: As doctors call for urgent action on Britain's obesity crisis, six readers tell us of their experiences of diet and weight issues

A history of diets – from Byron to 5:2

Emine Saner: From the poet's faddish potato diet to the Atkins, Dukan and current favourite the 5:2 fast, the search for effective weight-loss programmes has been going on for centuries

How psychology can beat obesity

Long-term success of gastric operations linked to change of lifestyle and behaviour

How many calories do you need? – quiz

Counting calories can be confusing. So, how much do you know about them – and can you guess which foods contain the most?

Obesity epidemic: as a lifelong comfort eater, I understand the emotional pull of food

Rae Earl: In times of stress and unhappiness, food is this country's biggest pick-me-up

There’s no need for this obesity epidemic hysteria

Charlotte Cooper: Forty years of fat activism has shown that people with high body weights can stay healthy without dieting