I am 13 and hate what I see in the mirror

Being what you may think of as thin or pretty doesn’t change how you feel inside, says Annalisa Barbieri

You can smell a new mother’s loneliness. Unless you’re the state

As a new mum, I know loneliness cuts deep – and the lack of services for parent and child plays a large part in this, says the freelance writer Nell Frizzell

I never wanted to be a nurse but helping a suicidal patient changed my mind

I failed twice to get a nursing degree, but I’ve seen how my experience of mental health problems can help others

The Tories’ latest campaign tactic? Blaming Labour for hepatitis

A Tory local election leaflet claimed that Labour was responsible for ‘delivering’ hepatitis in the area. Can this party get any more farcical?

Rise of contraceptive apps sparks fears over unwanted pregnancies

Health experts say it’s unclear how effective menstrual trackers are for the average UK woman

The future of sex work – a photo essay

It has been 23 years since New South Wales decriminalised sex work. How much has changed for sex workers?

Loneliness isn’t inevitable – a guide to making new friends as an adult

Striking up friendships as an adult can be tricky – and studies show millions of us are lonely. Here, four people who forged new connections explain how they did it. Plus: psychologist Linda Blair gives her tips

Stopping the rot: the distressing condition that makes​ children’s teeth crumble

One in 10 children are affected by MIH, which can cause their molars to disintegrate. But scientists are baffled by what causes it

From the archive: big girls are back

It’s 1986 and the Observer is wondering if we will ever escape our fixation with thin women

‘It’s normal to puke after a monster session in the gym’: a man’s battle with bulimia

Eating disorders in men are often hidden. One man reveals how bulimia has shaped his life