The Checkup: Lose Weight to Sleep Better, Study Says

• I love giving you a new reason to shed a few pounds. How about this? New research shows that losing weight leads to better sleep. The research, conducted at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, found that issues like sleep apnea, insomnia, fatigue and restlessness improved significantly when people dropped weight, especially belly fat. And it proved true whether the weight loss came via exercise, diet, or a mix of both. Read more about the study here—then put down that chocolate-chip cookie, will ya? (Looking for tips on how to shed belly fat? We’ve got 10 of ’em right here.)

• Um, so Pepsi is releasing a “fat-blocking soda” in Japan, a soft drink spiked with dextrin, a fiber that the drink’s distributor says can reduce fat levels in the body, ABC News reports. Funny thing is, the Pepsi product isn’t the first dextrin-laden soda to hit the Japanese market; one called “Mets” cola came out earlier this year. Somehow I don’t think the FDA will let this fly in the States any time soon.

• Why you should lay off Gatorade and other sports drinks and opt for water, courtesy of the Los Angeles Times. (We could all use the reminder, me thinks.)