Well+Being - The Washington Post

An illustration of a person holding a pair of open scissors moving towards a yellow measuring tape that is constricting their waist. — (Celia Jacobs for The Washington Post)

Weight-loss drugs are challenging for people with eating disorders

Many people with eating disorders struggle with the thinness myth — that happiness, prosperity and good health come with thinness — and not their weight.

By Pamela Ramos, MD

Is ice-melting salt bad for dogs? How to keep paws safe in snowy weather.

By Lindsey Bever

Will your older self refuse to give up the car keys? Here’s how to plan.

By Judith Graham

Medical Mysteries: A daughter’s pregnancy and a life-or-death decision

By Sandra G. Boodman

AI could flag patients’ dangerous alcohol use before surgery

By Erin Blakemore

This $10 purchase can improve your sleep and boost your brain health

Research has shown that even relatively dim light when we snooze — about the equivalent of a hallway light — can have surprisingly profound physiological effects.

By Richard Sima

Could potatoes lose their status as a vegetable? The debate has deep roots.

Potatoes rule U.S. dining tables, mostly in processed forms. Upcoming U.S. dietary guidelines could reclassify them — but the industry has long fought such a change.

By Kelly Kasulis Cho

An illustration of a man reading a book by the fire, sitting on a red rug, leaning against some pillows. There are candles on the mantle and a steaming mug next to him.

Lessons on aging, ‘hungry’ foods and health fads: The week in Well+Being

Learn more about the easy switches you can make to upgrade your daily diet.

By Tara Parker-Pope

Have a question for a doctor? The Washington Post can help.

By Washington Post staff

latest from Well+Being

This $10 purchase can improve your sleep and boost your brain health

Could potatoes lose their status as a vegetable? The debate has deep roots.

Do you eat foods that leave you hungry or full? Take our quiz.

At 93, he’s as fit as a 40-year-old. His body offers lessons on aging.

How to prevent shingles and what to do if you get it

Does your ‘love language’ really matter? Scientists are skeptical.

Advice

The health fads you shouldn’t get caught up in this year

Older adults with common eye diseases at higher risk for falls, injuries

New Year’s Tuneup

DON’T MISS

Is ketamine therapy safe? Answers to questions after Matthew Perry’s death

News that the actor Matthew Perry was undergoing ketamine therapy before his death has raised new questions about the drug’s safety.

By Rachel Zimmerman

Why daylight saving time is worse for your body than standard time

By Aaron Steckelberg and Lindsey Bever

Running a fall marathon? Here are 26.2 tips to help you finish.

By Kelyn Soong

Salmonella outbreak sickens over 70 people. Here’s how to protect yourself.

By Marlene Cimons

Plantar fasciitis is painful. Some people are treating it the wrong way.

By Teddy Amenabar

meet the WELL+BEING TEAM

Tara Parker-Pope is a longtime editor and science writer who knows that well-being is best achieved through the small health decisions we make each day.

Anjuman Ali is an editor with a passion for health journalism who believes in empowering people with science-based information to care for their health.

Emily Codik is an editor focused on elevating expert voices through a variety of formats, including visual journalism and social media.

Anahad O’Connor is a veteran health reporter who writes about the science of food and the various biological and cultural forces that influence how we eat.

Gretchen Reynolds has covered exercise science for more than two decades, including the perils of inactivity and the benefits of moving just a little more every day.

Richard Sima is a neuroscientist turned science journalist committed to revealing the wonder and mystery of the brain — and why it matters.

Kelyn Soong is an avid runner who writes about exercise culture and the lessons everyday athletes can learn from sports stars and fitness experts.

Amanda Morris is a science reporter and hard of hearing woman whose reporting on people with disabilities and chronic illnesses challenges long-held stigmas and sheds light on health disparities.

Lindsey Bever writes with empathy and expertise on a variety of personal health topics, including chronic illness, mental health and navigating the medical system.

Teddy Amenabar explores the science and the myths behind the health information people are seeing, searching and talking about online.

Caitlin Gilbert is a data reporter and former neuroscientist who uses analyses, statistics and visualizations to better understand and explain how we live.

Trisha S. Pasricha writes the Ask a Doctor column. She is a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Shirlene Obuobi is a second-year cardiology fellow at the University of Chicago medical center. Her comics about navigating health care appear on her Instagram @ShirlywhirlMD.

Chelsea Conrad is a designer, illustrator and art director whose vibrant visuals add explanation, depth and, sometimes, humor to well-being stories.

Garland Potts is a news designer focused on explaining health and well-being topics with engaging visual storytelling.

Alexa Juliana Ard is a video journalist who pairs her passion for fitness and healthy living with her expertise in photography and videography.

Maya Valentine is a photo assignment editor who produces visually rich stories that explore nutrition, fitness and other health topics.

Aaron Steckelberg uses his deep knowledge of graphics and visual storytelling to create health and science journalism that informs and delights.