Lifestyle

By Mark Herbert, Head of Schools Programmes at the British Council Mandarin Chinese, the world’s most popular first language, is the top non-European language that UK parents would like their children to study, a new survey has revealed. Amongst more than 1,000 UK adults with children aged under 18, over half said they believed that learning Mandarin Chinese would boost their children’s career prospects and open their minds to an ‘exciting and dynamic’ culture. And while Mandarin Chinese was still...

Heavy workloads and job insecurity are just two of the stress triggers which could increase your risk of heart disease and strokes. Scientists who analysed a series of high tech brain scans found heightened activity in the amygdala, a region of the brain involved in stress, is associated with a greater risk of heart disease and stroke. The study, published in The Lancet, provides new insights into the possible mechanism by which stress can lead to cardiovascular disease in humans. While...

Britain's shattered kids are ‘working’ for over 46 hours a week, according to a new survey. The shock research shows that parents are over-timetabling their children with extra-curricular activities in addition to their school commitments. This means exhausted children are actually working harder than the average parent who only completes a 37.5 hour week at work. The average child already completes 30 hours and 50 minutes a week at school Monday to Friday, as well as seven hours and 51...

The poor have got fatter and it is passed on from one generation to the next, a new British study found. The lower a person is on the social ladder, the higher their body mass index was likely to be. A new study which looked at class and weight since the Second World War found the rich and educated have been able to shield themselves against the obesity epidemic. And efforts to close this health inequality gap between the rich...

This year people in the UK will suffer more than 300,000 fractures because of the bone disease osteoporosis. That’s one fracture every two minutes. The good news is, there’s plenty you can do to keep your bones strong. Here’s some tips from the National Osteoporosis Society to help you stay fracture free in 2017. It’s easy to assume that osteoporosis only affects older people and is an inevitable part of the ageing process, but – according to the National Osteoporosis...

If you want an active, well mannered and kind child you better make sure they don't spend much time around their father. That's according to new research which shows virtues such as honesty, integrity and tolerance are most likely to come from mothers while laziness, temper, wit and potty mouth.come from fathers. While mothers are most likely to be responsible for passing down traits including kindness, reliability and good organisational skills, fathers are likely to be behind your temper, wit...

That magical time of year, when retailers slash their prices to make way for a fresh new stock, is almost upon us. It’s a great time to take advantage of some amazing deals from fashion to electronics and homeware. This hectic time of year can put many people off sale shopping. It’s no surprise that the much-preferred alternative to queues and overcrowded shops is shopping online from the comfort of your own sofa (you’d be mad not to). Although you...

Drinking Diet Coke won't stop you getting fat, according to new research. Ditching your favourite beverage for its heavily marketed sugar free alternative is no better for preventing weight gain - and could also harm the environment. Diet drinks contain artificial sweeteners which may be perceived by consumers as the healthier option for those who want to shed the pounds. But there is no evidence to support the claims they are any better for health, or prevent obesity and related...

Anyone who woke up this morning in a good mood deserves a medal. As the alarm chimed for the first time in two weeks and the winter's chill made escaping the confines of your bed sheets unthinkable there must have been a nation-wide exhale of contempt for life, for today is a very dark day indeed. January can be a tough month all told, with the festive cheer enjoyed in December evaporating leaving only the credit card debt used to finance it in...