Researchers said people who paid out-of-pocket for a medical weight-loss program lost 13.6% of their weight, compared with 13.4% for those whose program was paid for by insurance. The study in the journal Obesity found the dropout rate for covered patients was 12.7%, compared with 17.6% for self-pay patients.

Registered dietitian Toby Amidor says fruit juice has a place in a healthy diet as long as sugar, calories and portions are taken into account. Store-bought juices are nutritious but can contain added sugars, Amidor says, and homemade juices are good options if a sugar source is not added.

Conventional eggs are nutritious and may be the best choice based on cost, but people concerned about farming practices may want to buy cage-free or free-range eggs, said registered dietitian nutritionist Jennifer Hunt. Most non-conventional eggs may not be any more nutritious than regular eggs, but omega-3-fortified eggs can be an option for people who do not eat fish or plant sources of omega-3s, Hunt said.

An analysis of 17 studies found women who had breast-fed their children had a 11% lower risk of endometrial cancer, compared with women who had not breast-fed, according to a study in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Researchers said longer breast-feeding, up to 6 months to 9 months, was associated with even lower risks.

Colon cancer patients who ate a nutritious diet, exercised, maintained a healthy body weight and limited alcohol consumption had better survival rates and a longer disease-free period than those who did not, according to research to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting. The study also was published in the American Journal of Managed Care.

NIH researchers examined baby teeth from 32 pairs of Swedish twins and 12 individual twins and found that those with autism spectrum disorder had consistently higher lead levels as well as lower manganese uptake before and after birth and less zinc before birth, compared with those without ASD. The findings in the journal Nature Communications also showed that toxic metal levels in baby teeth at age 3 months could predict ASD severity at ages 8 to 10.

Technology in physical education courses can offer big advantages, according to education consultant Matthew Lynch. Classes can incorporate student smartphones, physical education apps and wearable technologies, such as fitness trackers, as part of teaching strategies to engage students in improving their health, Lynch says.

Wisconsin hospitals are buying more locally sourced and agriculturally sustainable foods to serve to patients and visitors. Gundersen Health System is adding vegetarian options to the menu and using the money saved to purchase sustainable beef and chicken, said Sara Ashbeck, director of Gundersen's food service program.

This lightened-up dip tastes like the classic Mexican street corn! Rachel Cooks