Women are more likely than men to complain about their health even when they are in better shape, according to government statistics. UK researchers looked at links between how healthy people thought they were, and their death rate. They found women were more likely than men to say they were in poor health, but less likely to die over the following 5 years.

Food manufacturers are being asked to start making smaller versions of unhealthy snacks to help the public stick to a healthier diet. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) also wants food producers to cut saturated fat in their biscuits, cakes, and chocolates. It insisted that the recommendations were not about telling people what to eat, just offering them more choice.

Extracts of a fruit grown on tropical vines appears to have breast cancer blocking powers, say researchers. Scientists found key ingredients of the green and knobbly bitter melon fruit interfered with chemical pathways involved in cancer growth. It turned off signals telling the breast cancer cells to divide and switched on signals encouraging them to commit suicide. Experts told Cancer Research journal more trials were needed.

A form of group "talking therapy" is a cheap, effective way to alleviate low back pain, a UK trial has shown. The positive effect was still seen a year after the short six-session therapy programme, The Lancet reported. The 600 patients taking part in the trial were also offered standard GP treatment including pain medication.