GPs could prescribe bingo and dancing after English trial’s success

One practice prescribing activities saw 20% cut in hospital outpatient admissions

Tom Watson: how I lost seven stone and reversed my type 2 diabetes

Labour’s deputy leader cut out sugar, took up exercise and radically transformed his health. He believes Britain’s food system is broken and NHS advice needs to change – and says his mission is to help other patients

Diane Abbott: ‘Before going to bed, I wrap my hair and have a cup of camomile tea’

The shadow home secretary on bedtime reading, long days in parliament and the importance of efficient staff

Ban fat-shaming show Insatiable, its critics cry. But none of them have seen it

Like Beverley Hughes railing against Brass Eye, those who pelt round the hamster wheels of social media outrage have – yet again – confused the subject of a joke with its target

Communism is hip again – but until it means liberty, count me out, comrade

Activist Ash Sarkar is promoting a revitalised ‘fun communism’, without the inconvenient history. I want a revolution I can dance to, not a cult of obedience

Britain needs to get fit. But warnings and advice alone aren’t enough

It’s taken an integrated strategy to reduce smoking. We need a similar policy to change the way we look at fitness, says public health academic Mike Kelly

Sajid Javid looks into easing rules on medical cannabis prescription

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to carry out study for home secretary

Scottish government plans restrictions on sugary and fatty foods

Ministers’ plans to tackle obesity in some cases go further than health ministers in England

70 years of the NHS: a revolution that is reborn every day

The creation of the health service changed Britain. Yet while this vision is under severe threat, it has also never been more keenly cherished

Is it time to legalise medical cannabis in the UK?

The case of 12-year-old Billy Caldwell has given fresh impetus to the debate on medicinal marijuana, but reforming the law is difficult in an industry plagued by non-scientific methods