Any father who doubts that his absence isn't having a damaging effect on his children should listen to the telling letters in the new documentary 'Dear Daddy.' The film explores the long-term effects of absentee fathers on eight young women in Washington, D.C., and aims to bring awareness to the epidemic of single-parenting in the black community.

"82.3% is the number of African-American children born since 1990 that will not live in the same home as their biological fathers before graduating High School," according to iYAGO Entertainment Group.

In the film, director Janks Morton attempts to locate the girls' fathers to show them their daughters' heartfelt letters and ultimately to reunite the fathers and daughters. Watch the preview to get a glimpse of 'Dear Daddy's' emotional reunions.

Since the 1960s, women have been afforded the convenience of taking oral contraceptives,but soon it may be men who take the pills. Researchers are getting closer and closer to a viable product -- but will it catch on?

Medical professionals are in talks about the state of obese children because the nation as a whole is facing an epidemic, with Mississippians in the worse shape, but the youngest Americans are also in dire condition. It's no surprise that First Lady Michelle Obama is on a crusade to combat childhood obesity. Obese children become obese adults at risk for cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, so Dr. David Ludwig, an obesity specialist at Harvard-affiliated Children's Hospital Boston is advocating to get out the root of the problem with parents.

When you're on your "Kanye workout plan," do you find a side glance from men distracting or does it inspire you to put more pep in your step?

The annual Essence Music Festival attracts large crowds each year and this year's lineup with Chaka Khan, Boyz II Men, Jill Scott, Kanye West and Mary J. Blige and Usher will continue the tradition. Aside from the great music, the three day festival, which runs July 1-3, also features an empowerment series with speakers like Iyanla VanZant and numerous sponsors and vendors promoting wellness. This year Planned Parenthood is teaming up with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the Black AIDS Institute to offer free HIV testing to the crowds.

From The Root:

From headstands to "Namaste," these yogis have taken the ancient discipline and made it an integral part of their lives.



Russell Simmons:
Co-founder of the legendary hip-hop label Def Jam and the clothing line Phat Farm, and producer of many movies and TV series, Simmons is the archetypal multiformat black entertainment mogul. Since 2000 he's also added "devout yogi" to his résumé. Simmons meditates each day and has a vigorous, 90-minute daily yoga regimen. His studies at the famous Jivamukti Yoga Center inspired him to adopt a vegan diet. He is eager to spread the word via DVDs and a yoga scholarship through his endeavor Global Grind.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recently brought good news to millions of women suffering from HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Last week she announced a public-private partnership with the M•A•C AIDS Fund to expand medical and emergency support services for survivors of rape and sexual assault in South Africa, a country estimated to have 3.3 million women and 330,000 children living with HIV/AIDS according to the 2010 UNAIDS report.

A recent poll revealed gynecologists in South Florida now discriminate against overweight patients whether they are otherwise healthy or not.

The Florida Sun Sentinel's poll found that 15 out of the 105 gynecologists polled said they have set weight cut-offs for new patients starting at 200 pounds or based on measures of obesity and turn down women who are heavier.

Obesity is an epidemic in the United States, and childhood obesity has become such a growing concern that it's an item on the White House's agenda. First Lady Michelle Obama's anti-obesity campaign is already in full swing, and recently Beyonce joined to endorse the "Lets Move" campaign and encourage kids to stay fit and eat healthily. But is this health kick going too far now that Sketchers' Shape-Ups are being marketed to tweens?