Health Highlights: Dec. 5, 2013

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Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Microsoft Designing ‘Smart Bra’ to Help Women Avoid Overeating

A “smart bra” that would monitor a woman’s heart activity in order to track her moods and prevent her from overeating is being developed by researchers.

Studies have shown that people tend to desire calorie-rich foods when they’re bored, stressed or discouraged. When sensors in the bra detect heart signals indicating such emotions, they would send a warning message to the woman’s smartphone to caution her against bad food choices, CNN reported.

Why did the researchers at Microsoft and a U.S. and U.K. university decide to use a bra?

“First, we needed a form factor that would be comfortable when worn for long durations,” they wrote in a research paper published online, CNN reported. “The bra form factor was ideal because it allowed us to collect (electrocardiogram data) near the heart.”

The team said more research is needed before a smart bra is actually a viable product. For example, the sensors need to be charged every three to four hours, which limits how long the bra can be worn.

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