Features - The Malaysian Insider

Barbie gets curvy in real-world body makeover

Barbie, the world's most famous doll, has a new body. In fact, she has three new bodies – petite, tall and curvy. Some 57 years after the impossibly busty and narrow-waisted blue-eyed Barbie...

Menopausal women should increase exercise to reduce hot flashes

A new study has now shown that as well as contributing to obesity and other health risks, a sedentary lifestyle can have another negative effect on well-being, by worsening symptoms of menopause...

Exposure to e-cigarette vapor increases inflammation and boosts harmful bacteria

More evidence has been released this week about the possible harmful effects of smoking e-cigarettes, with a study published on Monday suggesting that e-cigarette vapor could be toxic to humans,...

New study advises seniors to stay behind the wheel for good health

Individuals who continue to drive as they head into later life have more to gain than just a feeling of independence, with a new US study showing that seniors who don't stop getting behind the...

US urges screening adults for depression, including pregnant women

An influential US panel yesterday called for all adults to be screened for depression, including women during and after pregnancy, marking the first time it has urged a focus on maternal mental...

Face value – how fertile women spot rivals

It is not only animals that rely on physical cues to gauge the fertility of potential rivals for a mate, an unusual study asserted on Wednesday. Without knowing it, human women seem to be able...

Eat more fibre to reduce risk of lung disease, says new study

The American Thoracic Society has released research which suggests that a high-fibre diet could help to reduce the risk of developing lung disease. Using information from the National Health...

Texting at night bad for sleep and studies, research shows

A recent US study has found that teenagers who continue to text on their phones after turning off the lights for bedtime have poorer sleep and grades than those who text with the lights on. The...

Nano-thin pressure sensor could aid breast cancer exams, says study

Super-thin bendable sensors developed by Japanese and US scientists could someday be used in special gloves to detect breast lumps and make a digital record of the exam, the scientists said in a...

Vaping may lead teens to tobacco, study says

E-cigarettes, marketed as an aide for stopping smoking, may instead nudge teens towards tobacco, claimed the latest study on Tuesday in a flood of research on the controversial...

Toxic chemicals found in most outdoor gear, says Greenpeace

Greenpeace said on Monday that hazardous chemicals were "widely present" in a range of outdoor gear it tested, from clothing and footwear to backpacks, tents and sleeping bags. The...

Pizza a go-to for many Americans when stressed

The Harris Poll has conducted a survey into the eating habits of Americans during times of stress and found that 53% admit to eating more when going through a difficult time and 67% say they have...

Give weight-loss efforts a boost with ‘negative-calorie’ foods

For many, a new year means new resolutions, and in the top five inevitably come losing weight and getting healthy. So maybe it's time to try so-called negative-calorie foods as the key to a...

China’s secret plan to use the force of ‘Star Wars’

A long time ago in a country far, far away, Chinese authorities managed to obtain a copy of the US's ultimate cultural weapon, a blockbuster movie with enough special effects to wow an entire...

Breed-your-own insect ‘revolution’ for the kitchen

A seething mass of larvae in the kitchen is not everyone's cup of tea, particularly for squeamish Westerners. But for two young Austrian entrepreneurs, it's a food revolution that can help save...

Mindfulness can help curb childhood obesity

New research from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Tennessee, suggests that mindfulness training may help reduce childhood obesity. A French NutriNet-Santé study from December 2015...

Height genes play a role in physical attraction, study finds

Forget fate, genetics could play more of a role than we might think in determining our physical attraction to certain romantic partners. A new study from researchers at the University of...

Would you dare try the latest trend for glow-in-the-dark hair?

We may only be a few weeks into 2016, but the latest wacky hair trend is already upon us, as beauty fans embrace "glow-in-the-dark" tresses. The eye-catching look has been taking over...

Rodents may shed new light on empathetic behaviour, says study

Dogs, dolphins and elephants are known to show empathy when a loved one is in pain, and now researchers have found the first consoling behaviour in a rodent, known as the prairie...

Move over buns, the ‘man braid’ is here

2015 might have been the year of the 'man bun', but 2016 is all about boys wearing braids. The 'man braid' is the latest male hair trend to hit the internet, splitting opinion as it takes over...