Ex-bodybuilder Taryn Brumfitt campaigns to ditch diets and end myth of the ideal shape

Australian writer took on body image prejudices – and a new film, Embrace, shows her message winning global support

Women suffer much more work stress than men, says psychiatrist

Sexism in the workplace and family responsibilities add to pressure as they face unequal pay and lack of support

A new year that changed me: realising I wanted to live, and giving up heroin

The New Year’s Eve I spent with my family when I was a junkie was horrific. But their contempt for the state I was in helped me to finally change

Eat less? Drink less? In the Year of Dying Too Soon we need to get real

Public Health England’s campaign for healthier lifestyles feels like a party pooper in a world where the party’s the thing. And that’s just the start of its problems

Eight in 10 middle-aged Britons ‘are overweight or exercise too little’

Public Health England launches campaign aimed at 40 to 60-year-olds, 83% of whom weigh too much or drink above guidelines

Self-help works for us as individuals – but as a society we’re failing

We have spent decades seeking self-improvement but the price has been loss of tolerance and empathy

High-quality abortion services come at a price, so let’s pay it

Abortion care charities now have to compete for contracts – and NHS cost-cutting means the cheapest service is almost always commissioned

Loneliness is a hazard of old age. A phone call can mean a lot

Most of us are too busy to help an older person we may not know. But a few minutes each week can open the door to a lifetime of experience

Prostate cancer laser treatment could be a gamechanger for men

A drug that can kill cancerous cells without the side-effects of radical surgery is causing massive excitement for good reason

Labour of love: the volunteers helping fellow refugees give birth

When Safa came to the UK from Syria, she faced giving birth alone. Now Fatoma, who fled Sudan 10 years ago, will be with her as part of a groundbreaking scheme