Men better at dieting than women
And other stories from the stranger side of life

Men are better at dieting than women but women are more likely than men to lose weight if prescribed weight loss drugs, according to a new study. Researchers in Australia found that when overweight patients were given the weight loss drug semaglutide, women lost an average of 18% of their body weight, compared with 13% for men. However, according to the Telegraph, in 10 out of 11 studies involving traditional weight-loss diets, men lost more pounds than women.
Black Death still affects our health
The Black Death left such an “incredible genetic mark on humanity” that it’s still affecting our health nearly 700 years later, said the BBC. A ground-breaking study analysing the DNA of centuries-old skeletons found that mutations that helped people survive the plague are linked to auto-immune diseases afflicting people today. It is estimated that up to 200 million people died in the plague.
Worst service station named
A service station on the M62 has been named as Britain’s worst, reported The Times. In a poll of 31,000 motorists, Hartshead Moor East, near Huddersfield, had satisfaction levels of just 80%. Its toilets came in for a particular lashing, with only three-quarters of visitors pleased with the facilities. Welcome Break, which runs Hartshead Moor East, said that it was “very disappointed” by the news.
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