35,001 diet books, but do we really need any of them?
Surveys show that two out of five women diet most of the time as half of weight lost is regained in a year
Eat, drink and be merry: dieting’s new philosophy
A new book telling women that eating fats is good and a shot of vodka is allowed is an unsurprising hit
Alcohol abuse worst in north-west
Manchester, Salford and Liverpool top list for drink-related health problems
Messages on healthy eating and alcohol moderation not getting through
Despite measures to tackle rising obesity, public lack understanding of lifestyle choices, survey finds
Bred in the genes
Review: Blood Matters: A Journey Along the Genetic Frontier by Masha GessenHilary Rose finds hope and caution in a thoughtful survey of DNA-based medicine
From the edge
Review: Aids Sutra: Untold Stories from India, edited by Negar AkhaviAnita Sethi is moved to hear the voices of those afflicted by a modern scourge
‘Plain old untrendy troubles and emotions’
David Foster Wallace, who died last week, was the most brilliant American writer of his generation. In a speech, published here for the first time, he reflects on the difficulties of daily life and 'making it to 30, or maybe 50, without wanting to shoot yourself in the head'
How has The Joy of Sex changed since 1972?
Stuart Jeffries: Psychologist Susan Quilliam has updated the original with 43 new sections and it offers a woman's perspective for the first time
Escape from self-help hell
Review: Self-help books roundupSupposedly enlightened writers are queueing up to tell us how to live our lives and earning a fortune in the process. Reader beware ... says Stephanie Merritt
Battle of the boatmen
Review: The Last Amateurs by Mark de RondDaniel Topolski relives the intense pressure of the varsity race that strives for Olympian levels