However, researchers from the Department of Public Health Sciences at King's College, London say the link between obesity and asthma is recent.

BBC: Asthma and obesity 'link'

Dr Parkes, head of the MRC's social and public health sciences unit in Glasgow, said it was wrong to blame social problems on TV.

BBC: TV time 'does not breed badly behaved children'

Along with the correction, the Journal has published letters from two of Merck's critics: Steven Nissen, interim chairman of the Cleveland Clinic, and Curt Furtberg, a professor of public health sciences at Wake Forest University.

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