School programs discouraging carbonated drinks appear to be effective in reducing obesity among children, a new study suggests -- the first research to document that such programs work. Associated Press

Weight training can help women lose weight and keep it off, and can also help older men and women strengthen their immune systems, according to research presented at a conference this week. Reuters

People who say they are addicted to chocolate or pizza may not be exaggerating, U.S.-based scientists said on Tuesday. A brain scan study of normal, hungry people showed their brains lit up when they saw and smelled their favorite foods in much the same way as the brains of cocaine addicts when they think about their next snort. Reuters

A weekly yoga class is a new and mandatory part of the Bengals' three-month off-season strength and conditioning program that started March 22. And even once-skeptical 300-pound men who make their living in a violent sport are seeing the benefits of this peaceful undertaking. Cincinnati Inquirer

Golden, greasy and oh-so good, french fries are the guilty staple of the American diet. But in California, a strict right-to-know law could soon force fast-food restaurants to tell customers that the ubiquitous fries may pack something worse than fat and cholesterol: a potential carcinogen. The Mercury News

Leptin, a hormone that affects weight and appetite, apparently helps wire the brain in ways that might set an animal on a lifetime path to slenderness or obesity, two teams of U.S. researchers said on Thursday. Reuters