Obesity is a major problem worldwide. In the United Sates, more than 66% of adults are overweight, with 1 out of every 3 being considered obese (National Institutes of Health). Obesity is determined based on a person’s Body Mass Index or BMI. BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height squared in meters. A healthy BMI ranges from 18.5 to 24.9, a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, a BMI of 30+ is considered obese, and a BMI of 40+ is consider

The hypothalamus is an almond-sized structure that sits in the lower, middle portion of the brain. It consists of a variety of different nuclei that regulate different aspects of behavior including thirst, hunger, body temperature, fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms as well as parenting and other attachment relationships. The hypothalamus produces specific neurohormones (called releasing hormones) that help regulate homeostatic processes in the body. Recently, scientists h

Remember Woodstock? If you went to the 1969 festival or not, Woodstock, NY (though not the actual site of the Woodstock Festival) is still a thriving artist’s community. This town of ~6,000 people is a mecca for artists, musicians, writers, dancers, and many other vibrant bodies. If you have not been there, you should definitely put a visit on your calendar for some time this summer or fall. I recently was invited to Woodstock as part of the festivities for The Secret City Ar