HealthLine Health News

Four key factors can greatly impact how much weight people lose while taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Victoza, and Saxenda. Daniel Llao Calvet/Getty Images Researchers have used real-world data to identify key factors for long-term weight loss for patients taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. The study identified the type of medication, dosage, treatment indication, and medication persistence as four of the most important factors. GLP-1 drugs are powerful agents for weight loss, but cost and access are still barriers for many Americans. Millions of Americans have taken Ozempic or similar GLP-1 drugs to lose weight, but sustaining that weight loss long-term has proved difficult for many of them. However, new research suggests there are four factors that could be key to improving these outcomes. Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic looked at electronic health records of nearly 3,400 patients prescribed one of two different GLP-1 drugs — semaglutide ( sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy) and liraglutide (sold under the brand names Saxenda and Victoza) — to see how various factors like dosage, indication, and biological sex affected weight loss at one year.  Their findings were published this month in Jama Network Open. Researchers looked at how these factors affected weight loss in two ways: total percentage change in body weight and whether an individual lost 10% or more of their body weight. The 10% mark is clinically significant, as hitting that benchmark is known to improve other comorbidities like high blood pressure and chronic disease risk. They identified four factors that appear to be the most significant for long-term weight loss, some of them obvious and others more complex: The type of medication (active ingredient) – Did the patient use semaglutide or liraglutide? The dosage – Was the patient using a high or low-maintenance dose? Treatment indication – Was the medicine prescribed for type 2 diabetes or obesity? Medication persistence – Did the patient have any gaps in access to their medication? “Our findings provide timely data on longer-term weight outcomes in patients receiving treatment with injectable semaglutide or liraglutide for obesity or type 2 diabetes, as well as identify key characteristics that could inform the probability of achieving sustained weight loss of a magnitude large enough to provide clinically significant health benefits,” Hamlet Gasoyan, PhD, lead author of the study and a researcher with Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Value-Based Care Research, told Healthline. How the four key factors impacted sustained weight loss Gasoyan and his team used the Cleveland Clinic electronic health records for 3,389 patients who were prescribed either semaglutide or liraglutide from July 2015 through June 2022. In order to be included, patients had to have a BMI of at least 30, indicating the person had obesity. More than half the patients were female (54%) and had an average age of 50. The cohort was predominantly white (68%) but included significant Black (20%) and Hispanic (7%) populations. At the one-year mark, four factors appeared to have the largest influence on sustained weight loss. Here’s how they affected whether or not patients would achieve 10% or greater weight loss: Active agent: Patients who took semaglutide were more than twice as likely compared to those taking liraglutide. Indication: Those prescribed their medication for obesity were also more than twice as likely than those with type 2 diabetes. Dosage: Patients taking a higher maintenance dose of their medication were 1.5 times more likely than those taking a lower dose. Persistence: patients with persistent coverage (access to their medication) were more than three times as likely as those who had the least access.  Patient sex was also an important factor. Females in the study were 1.5 times as likely to hit the 10% benchmark as males. Two of the factors may seem obvious: active agent and dosage. Basically, the kind of medication prescribed and dosage affected the weight loss outcome. Semaglutide resulted in more than double the average weight loss of liraglutide (5.1% versus 2.2%). However, that’s nothing new: prior studies have shown that semaglutide is simply more effective for weight loss than liraglutide. Evidence has also pointed to higher maintenance doses of semaglutide being more effective for weight loss than lower doses. Indication is complicated. The evidence is clear that patients prescribed a GLP-1 for obesity tend to lose more weight than those with type 2 diabetes, but why that’s the case isn’t so obvious. Caroline Apovian MD, a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told Healthline that these findings are essentially confirmatory of prior research. It’s the fourth factor — persistence — that has grabbed the attention of Apovian and other obesity experts. Persistence is the biggest key “What this study adds is really diving into that persistence question. Nowadays, the conversation tends to focus on the idea that these are really great medications, but are patients actually taking them?” Beverly Tchang, MD, an endocrinologist, Spokesperson for the Obesity Society, and Assistant Professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, told Healthline. “This creates a very clear relationship between that persistence and the degree of weight loss,” she said. As effective as GLP-1 drugs are, access has proven to be a major roadblock for many Americans. With the soaring popularity of these drugs, patients across the United States have faced shortages, with manufacturers unable to keep up with demand. Cost and insurance coverage have also been problematic for many patients. The monthly cost for GLP-1 drugs can easily reach $1,000 or more before any insurance coverage or rebates are applied.  If patients can’t afford their medication or can’t access it, they won’t take it. It’s as simple as that.  This latest research helps to illustrate that dilemma. Gasoyan and his team found that at the one-year mark, only 40% of patients had persistent medication coverage, which they defined as a cumulative lapse in coverage of less than 90 days. But those that did have persistent coverage demonstrated significantly more weight loss (5.5%) compared to those with the least (1.8%) — less than 90 days of coverage for the year. The data “reinforces that persistence is key to achieving meaningful weight outcomes with these medications,” said Gasoyan. “If we avoid therapeutic interruptions with these medications, whether that be due to shortages or insurance coverage, then we will have better persistence with these medications and more weight loss,” added Tchang. The bottom line GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are powerful weight-loss tools. However, long-term weight loss outcomes can be affected by a variety of factors. In a new study, researchers identified four of the most important factors for long-term weight loss in patients taking a GLP-1 drug. These include the kind of medication, the dosage, the indication, and medication persistence (how long the patient continuously took the medication). Medication persistence is essential to long-term weight loss, however access and cost related to GLP-1 drugs continue to be roadblocks for many Americans.

Moderate caffeine consumption may protect heart health and lower your risk of metabolic diseases. FG Trade/Getty Images New research suggests consuming three cups of coffee or 200–300 mg of caffeine daily may reduce the risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases compared to consuming little to none. Caffeine may improve cardiometabolic health by lowering inflammation, but excess caffeine is associated with negative side effects. There are other ways to support cardiometabolic health, such as focusing on exercise and improving sleep quality. Cardiometabolic multimorbidity occurs when there are two or more diseases related to cardiovascular or metabolic health, including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke. As the global population ages, the rise of cardiometabolic multimorbidity has become a pressing public health issue. While prior research has highlighted to the protective effects of coffee, tea, and caffeine against these diseases individually, their impact on the development of cardiometabolic multimorbidity has remained largely unknown. Now, a large new study suggests that regular moderate coffee and caffeine consumption may decrease the risk of developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases in healthy adults, compared to consuming little to none. The findings were published online ahead of print in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Studying the effects of coffee, tea on cardiometabolic health The observational study explored how coffee, tea, and caffeine consumption might affect cardiometabolic health. Researchers used data from the UK Biobank, which includes diet and health information from over 500,000 United Kingdom residents ages 40 to 69. They focused on participants who had completed at least one dietary questionnaire, excluding those with pre-existing cardiometabolic conditions or incomplete data on coffee or tea consumption. The final analysis examined the caffeine consumption of 172,315 participants and coffee and tea intake of 188,091 participants. Researchers differentiated between regular and decaf options and estimated participants’ usual intake by averaging their responses from multiple dietary questionnaires.  Participants were categorized based on the estimated average coffee and tea intake (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more drinks per day) and estimated total caffeine intake per day in milligrams (mg) from regular coffee and tea, ranging from 0 to 100 mg daily to over 400 mg daily.  The study also analyzed 168 metabolites — substances produced during metabolism — to identify those associated with coffee, tea, and caffeine consumption and new cases of cardiometabolic multimorbidity among large subsets of participants.  New cardiometabolic multimorbidity was defined as having developed at least two of the following conditions:  type 2 diabetes coronary heart disease stroke Coffee, tea may lower risk of heart and metabolic diseases Over a median follow-up period of 11.7 years, less than 1% of participants developed cardiometabolic multimorbidity. Based on their initial caffeine intake, 135,844 participants (78.83%) consumed over 100 mg daily, with most (96.10%) consuming less than 400 mg daily. The researchers observed that consuming coffee and caffeine at moderate estimated levels was linked to a lower risk of developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases. Specifically, consuming three 8-ounce cups of coffee or 200–300 mg of caffeine daily was associated with a 48.1% or 40.7% lower risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity, respectively, compared to nonconsumers or those with less than 100 mg of daily caffeine intake.   Researchers also identified 81 to 97 metabolites related to coffee, tea, and caffeine intake that may be associated with these health issues, which could help inform future research.  Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that regularly consuming moderate amounts of coffee and caffeine might help protect healthy adults from developing cardiometabolic multimorbidity. Although the study’s results are promising, they should be interpreted cautiously.  As observational research, it cannot establish causality. The results also may not fully represent the general population, as the study only included UK residents and dietary data from less than half of the UK Biobank participants, who generally had healthier diets and slightly better health.  Additionally, the study did not account for dietary changes over time and only considered caffeine intake from coffee and tea, excluding other dietary sources. What to know before increasing your coffee, caffeine intake If you need more reasons to enjoy your daily coffee or tea, Alyssa Simpson, a registered dietitian in Phoenix, AZ, highlighted a few benefits. “Moderate caffeine intake has several benefits beyond cardiometabolic health, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that may protect against liver disease, certain cancers, and neurodegenerative conditions,” Simpson told Healthline. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that 400 mg of caffeine — about four to five 8-ounce cups of coffee — is a safe daily limit for most healthy adults.  Simpson advised staying within this recommended limit. “Excessive caffeine can lead to issues like sleep problems, migraine headaches, and increased eye pressure, and may be problematic for sensitive groups such as pregnant people, children, and adolescents,” she cautioned.   Anyone considering upping their caffeine intake, even to moderate daily levels, should be cautious about caffeine’s other potential side effects, such as: jitters rapid heartbeat temporarily increased blood pressure To maintain a healthy caffeine habit, Simpson suggested opting for black coffee or green tea, avoiding excess added sugar or high-fat creamers, and choosing organic options when possible to reduce pesticide exposure.  It’s also advisable to enjoy caffeine earlier in the day to prevent sleep disturbances, she said.  For those who prefer sweeter beverages, consider using natural sweeteners, like 100% stevia or monk fruit extract, or minimally refined natural sugars, such as pure grade A honey or coconut sugar, in small amounts.  While caffeine has many benefits, Seema Shah, MPH, an integrative and functional registered dietitian in Long Beach, CA, told Healthline you don’t need to rely on caffeine alone to reduce your cardiometabolic disease risk.  Instead, you could focus on the many other “powerful foods and behaviors” that can promote cardiometabolic health without the potential downsides of caffeine consumption, Shah said, such as: getting regular physical exercise and movement eating an anti-inflammatory diet filled with lots of colorful fruits and veggies getting good quality sleep managing stress having meaningful relationships to reduce loneliness Takeaway A new observational study suggests that moderate coffee or caffeine consumption might be linked to a reduced risk of developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases, including stroke, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. The beneficial effects of caffeine could be due to its ability to reduce inflammation. However, consuming too much caffeine can have negative effects. Caffeine consumption isn’t the only requirement to lower your cardiometabolic disease risk.  If you choose to enjoy caffeine, do so in moderation. Consider consulting your physician or a registered dietitian, especially if you have heart issues or other health conditions that may be impacted by caffeine intake.

Bovine colostrum supplements, which are made from the first milk cows produce after giving birth, are skyrocketing in popularity thanks to claims they provide numerous health benefits. Lakeview Images/Getty Images Bovine colostrum supplements, also known as “liquid gold,” are growing in popularity, in part due to promotion from wellness influencers on social media platforms like TikTok. Bovine colostrum is the first milk produced by cows in the days after giving birth. Proponents of bovine colostrum claim the supplement can provide several health benefits, including improved gut health, athletic performance, and recovery. Experts say quality research to support these claims is limited and recommend proceeding with caution and managed expectations, especially if you have specific conditions. Wellness influencers, celebrities, and social media content creators are touting the benefits of bovine colostrum supplements. Nicknamed “liquid gold,” these supplements are made from the first milk a cow produces after giving birth. “It’s filled with antibodies, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats that help newborn calves strengthen their immune system, grow, and stay healthy,” explains Maddie Pasquariello, MS, RDN. Humans also produce colostrum after giving birth, with the first thick breast milk also containing nutrients and antibodies that nourish and protect newborns from infections. Yet bovine colostrum and human colostrum are not the same. “To put it simply, human colostrum has evolved to benefit a human infant, and bovine colostrum to benefit a bovine animal,” Pasquariello says. “Bovine colostrum contains IgG…as the dominant immunoglobulin, while in human colostrum, IgA is the most prevalent. Bovine colostrum is overall higher in immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, and total protein content.” Nevertheless, bovine colostrum supplements are growing in popularity. The substance is claimed to provide several health benefits, including strengthening immunity, improving gut health, boosting athletic performance, and aiding recovery. However, unlike the benefits of human colostrum for human newborns, the data and evolutionary evidence supporting bovine colostrum for human adults are mixed, limited, or non-existent, according to dietitians and researchers. Here’s what we know about the evidence supporting the most commonly touted health benefits of bovine colostrum. Strengthen immunity Bovine colostrum contains immuno-active compounds, explains Lacy Puttuck, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian with Top Nutrition Coaching. Puttuck says these include: Enzymes Cytokines  Immunoglobulins Puttuck points to a narrative review from 2024 that included data on newborns through adults aged 69, suggesting that bovine colostrum supplementation might increase the ability to fight respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.  Much older research from 2006 on 35 male distance runners suggested participants who were supplemented with bovine colostrum had more immune biomarkers and reported fewer upper respiratory symptoms. However, the study was small, involved one population and sex, and relied on self-reported symptom data. Additionally, improved biomarkers (collected using saliva samples) don’t necessarily mean fewer days of illness. “Bovine colostrum is rich in immune-boosting elements like IgG, but its effect on human immunity needs more research to confirm whether it boosts immunity in adults,” says Chris Mohr, Ph.D., RD, a fitness and nutrition advisor at Fortune Recommends Health. Pasquariello agrees. “This is different from saying that maternal colostrum from a human enhances immune response in a human infant, which is true, but as a supplement, there’s no real evidence here,” Pasquariello says. Pasquariello adds that the oft-cited research doesn’t randomize the population or account for other potential factors for immune health, making it hard to apply them to a general population. Athletic recovery and performance Puttuck explains that the theory behind this one stems from the fact that bovine colostrum contains insulin-like growth factors (IgF-1 and IgF-2) that might improve muscle recovery, performance, and growth.  However, more studies are needed to support this claim, too, says Sheri Gaw, RDN, CDCES, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for Dietitian Insights.  Gaw points to a 2018 six-week study of soccer players that indicated that 3.5-gram daily doses of bovine colostrum reduced muscle soreness and boosted performance. More recently, a 2021 narrative review indicated that some studies suggested that bovine colostrum might help with body composition and recovery. However, the research was limited, and study designs didn’t account for other variables. Gut health Improved gut health is considered a benefit of nursing a human newborn in the first days of life. However, bovine colostrum is also being touted as a gut-health booster.  A 2021 review indicated that research on bovine colostrum’s effectiveness in treating and preventing gastrointestinal diseases was “building.” However, a 2022 systematic review suggested that bovine colostrum might help counteract gut permeability in high-performance athletes but that more, better-designed research was needed to assess safety and effectiveness. Mohr and Pasquariello say there simply isn’t enough evidence at this time to support the claims of improved gut health. Health risks associated with bovine colostrum supplements Mohr cautions that it’s possible to experience negative side effects from bovine colostrum supplements. Among the most common are: Nausea Diarrhea Bloating Mohr recommends that people with lactose intolerance or milk allergies steer clear and people with heart and autoimmune disorders or who are on medications speak with a healthcare professional before they begin taking any supplement. Gaw agrees. “Always discuss your interest in taking a new supplement with your doctor, pharmacist, or dietitian first, as it may interfere with other supplements or medications or just might not be needed,” Gaw says. “Getting to know a supplement before taking it is important because if you understand what you’re using, you can balance its benefits against any potential risks,” Pasquariello adds. “This prevents unnecessary spending and protects against possible negative reactions or conflicts with other medications or existing health conditions.” Takeaway Bovine colostrum supplements, also known as “liquid gold,” are growing in popularity, in part due to promotion from wellness influencers on social media platforms like TikTok. Bovine colostrum is the first milk produced by cows in the days after giving birth. Proponents of bovine colostrum claim the supplement can provide several health benefits, including improved gut health, athletic performance, and recovery. Experts say quality research to support these claims is limited and recommend proceeding with caution and managed expectations, especially if you have specific conditions.

Metformin, a common medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, may also help reduce the viral reservoir in people living with HIV who are undergoing antiretroviral therapy. Francis Dean/Corbis via Getty Images Research indicates that metformin could help reduce the viral reservoir in HIV patients. Metformin is currently used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It appears to reduce inflammation, which could reduce metabolic disease risk. It may also make it more difficult for HIV to evade the immune system. In the future, metformin might be used to make antiretrovirals more effective. Canadian researchers say the type 2 diabetes drug metformin could help to reduce the viral reservoir — or even clear it out completely — in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who also are undergoing antiretroviral therapy. The authors of the September 2024 study, which was published in the journal iScience, state that in previous studies, when people took the drug for three months, there were improvements in immunity and reductions in inflammation. In the current study, they found that metformin increased the number of cells with the HIV virus while preventing the virus from leaving the cells. They note that these effects could be used to boost the effects of antiretrovirals. This is significant because antiretroviral therapy can reduce the virus’s replication to undetectable levels, but it does not completely eradicate it. Although these drugs can improve people’s quality of life, the remaining viral reservoir can lead to chronic inflammation and associated diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and metabolic disorders. How metformin might work to reduce HIV viral reservoirs The authors explain that metformin is capable of inhibiting the activity of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) molecule. In their study, this inhibition helped slow down HIV replication in the CD4+ T lymphocytes that harbored them, indicating that metformin could help to reduce a person’s viral load. The researchers explain that metformin also causes the overexpression of the BST2 protein, which helps to tether virions (the infectious form of the virus) to the surface of infected cells. This allows the immune system to locate them and send antibodies to attack them. Edwin Bosa-Osorio, MD, a primary care physician and a faculty member in the Family Medicine Program at The Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center at Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI), commented on the study, explaining how metformin could exert its effects. “Metformin does this by helping boost the number of HIV-infected cells so as to help expose them to the HIV medication,” he explained. “So, metformin seems to be helping the HIV medication work more efficiently.” However, Bosa-Osorio, who was not involved in the study, cautioned that these studies have only been done in a laboratory. “So, in reality, the proof must be in the pudding,” he said, “which is to say that clinicians need to move to clinical trials that can tell us more about whether what they are seeing in vitro is applicable to actual patients.” John Lowe, MD, a Physician at Restore Care who was not involved in the study, said that while metformin is primarily used to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, it is also effective as an anti-inflammatory. “In HIV, inflammation matters since it is instrumental in viral persistence, and metformin may help dampen this inflammation assisting the virus to escape,” he said. Lowe added that this reduction in immune activity could make it harder for the viral reservoirs to persist. “Apart from that, metformin may be beneficial in HIV treatment since it decreases insulin resistance, thereby decreasing the chance of adequate conditions for HIV reproduction,” he stated. What this might mean for the future of HIV treatment If future investigations bear fruit, this could alter the way that HIV therapy is managed, according to Lowe. “Present-day therapies are effective in viral replication suppression, but there is no eradication of the virus. Hence, the patient requires medication for the rest of his life,” he said. Lowe further commented that metformin has a positive safety record and could make HIV treatment cheaper. It would also widen the range of possible treatments for the disease, he added, and it could decrease the number of drugs used in some people, for example, those with diabetes. “If the results of antiretroviral therapy were positive, it would not be surprising if Metformin went further still,” he said. “This study suggests the possibility of using metformin to get a faster response to the medications we currently use for controlling HIV,” added Bosa-Osorio. He explained that it’s not going to replace those medications, however, since it doesn’t appear to directly affect the virus, although it could make antiretrovirals more efficient. “And because metformin also has an anti-inflammatory effect, it can also help reduce cardiovascular conditions that HIV patients are prone to have because HIV is a pro-inflammatory disease,” Bosa-Osorio concluded. Takeaway A new study reports that the type 2 diabetes drug metformin could help people living with HIV who are using antiretroviral drugs. In a previous study, after three months of using metformin, people had reduced inflammation and improved immunity. This is important since the chronic inflammation associated with HIV puts patients at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic disorders. Metformin also appears to create immune system changes that make antiretrovirals more efficient at reducing the viral reservoir. While this has only been demonstrated in a lab so far, experts say metformin could someday become a valuable adjunct to antiretroviral therapy.

Kourtney Kardashian’s vitamin and supplement brand, Lemme, is launching a line of weight loss supplements, including an “all-natural” GLP-1 Ozempic-like alternative. Raymond Hall/GC Images/Getty Images Lemme, the supplement brand founded by Kourtney Kardashian Barker, is releasing an “all-natural” weight loss supplement called Lemme GLP-1 Daily. In spite of the name, the product is not a GLP-1 receptor agonist like Ozempic or Wegovy. The product contains natural ingredients such as Eriomin lemon fruit extract, Supresa saffron extract and Morosil red orange fruit extract. Lemme, the supplement brand founded by Kourtney Kardashian Barker, announced that it is releasing a supplement called Lemme GLP-1 Daily aimed at providing consumers with an “all-natural” way to manage their weight. In spite of its name, however, the product does not contain a synthetic GLP-1 hormone and is not a GLP-1 receptor agonist like Ozempic or Wegovy. Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs mimic the actions of the hormone GLP-1 by activating its receptor, which leads to weight loss and lower blood sugar, among other benefits. Lemme GLP-1 Daily instead contains natural ingredients such as Eriomin lemon fruit extract, Supresa saffron extract and Morosil red orange fruit extract.  The product is meant to “boost the body’s GLP-1 levels, reduce hunger, promote insulin sensitivity and support healthy weight management,” according to a company press release. The daily capsules will be available for purchase on the brand’s website beginning September 16 and will be sold via a subscription model at $72 for a month’s supply or $90 as a one-time purchase. But how effective is the product for weight loss? Here’s what to know about the potential benefits of the natural ingredients in Lemme GLP-1 Daily. Lemon fruit extract Small clinical trials of Eriomin lemon fruit extract found that this compound didn’t help people lose weight, but it may offer other benefits. A small study of people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes who took Eriomin for 12 weeks showed that there was no effect on body weight, body mass index (BMI), lean mass, fat mass or waist-to-hip ratio. However, those who took Eriomin saw on average a 5% decrease in their blood glucose and a 17% increase in the hormone GLP-1, compared to those who took a non-acting placebo. Another small 12-week study of people with prediabetes also found that Eriomin had no impact on weight. But there was a 22% increase in blood levels of GLP-1, and an increase in beneficial bacteria in the gut. Bacteria in the gut can influence your weight by affecting how food is digested, how fat is stored, and whether you feel full or hungry.  Eating a wide variety of high fiber foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds — and limiting intake of added sugars and highly processed foods — can also support healthy gut bacteria. Saffron extract An 8-week study of 60 women with overweight found that those who took a saffron extract had decreased snacking, compared to those who took a placebo. GLP-1 drugs work, in part, by reducing appetite and feelings of hunger, which can help people manage their weight. However, studies of saffron extract have not shown a large effect on weight when the compound is used alone. A meta-analysis of 25 earlier studies looking at the benefits of saffron extract found that people with obesity who took this compound saw decreases in their waist-to-hip ratio. There were also decreases in weight, BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference. However, these changes were not statistically significant, which means saffron extract may not offer any additional benefits compared to a placebo. Two other studies, including a review paper of previous studies and a small clinical trial in people with type 2 diabetes, also found that saffron extract didn’t help people lose weight. Other studies have examined the benefits of saffron extract for people with diabetes, such as improving blood glucose control and cholesterol levels. Some of these studies were done alongside other supplements like cinnamon and ginger or in conjunction with aerobic or resistance exercise. Red orange fruit extract The clearest weight loss benefits are seen with Morosil red orange fruit extract. A six-month study found that people who were living with overweight lost an average of 4.2% of their body weight while taking Morosil, compared to 2.2% in people who took a placebo. The Morosil group also saw larger decreases in hip and waist circumference, fat mass, and fat distribution. In contrast, one study found that people who took semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — lost 15.8% of their body weight over 68 weeks. Learn more about how to get GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy from vetted and trusted online sources here: How to Get Ozempic: Everything You Need to Know Where to Buy Ozempic Online How to Get Wegovy for Weight Loss In Person and Online How to Get a Wegovy Prescription Online How to Get Zepbound: What We Know So Far Where to Buy Zepbound Online How to Get Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Where to Buy Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Online Are supplements useful for weight loss? Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif., has concerns about how supplements used for weight loss are sometimes promoted.  “GLP-1 medications stimulate hormones in the body and have the same effect as those hormones. So when people claim supplements do the same thing, I think that’s a bit deceptive,” he told Healthline. And while “for some people, a natural, herbal supplement can be effective, there’s no convincing evidence that the supplement is going to have a significant effect on weight loss.” Libu Varughese, MBBS, an endocrinology physician and medical advisor of Aeroflow Diabetes, told Healthline that he would like to see more scientific evidence before recommending the use of natural GLP-1 supplements. However, if you do choose to use a dietary supplement, do so with caution, he said, and watch for any negative side effects. The Food and Drug Administration has information for consumers on safely using dietary supplements. Amy Lee, MD, head of nutrition for Nucific, suggests that people who want to lose weight naturally, think of supplements as just one component of a weight management program. People also need to make “behavioral changes that result in decreased caloric intake and increased energy expenditure through movement and exercise,” she told Healthline. Ali said certain diets have been shown in clinical trials to support weight loss, including ones that involve eating fewer carbohydrates, such as the keto diet and paleo diet. “These diets are based on minimizing carbohydrate intake to direct the body toward burning fat,” Ali said. “That’s natural. There are no medications involved. No supplements. It’s just eating the right things to promote the burning of fat.” These kinds of diets are even helpful for people who have had bariatric surgery or are taking a GLP-1 medication, he said, “because if you’re not eating the right things, you won’t see as much results.” Takeaway Lemme, the supplement brand founded by Kourtney Kardashian Barker, is releasing a supplement called Lemme GLP-1 Daily to provide consumers with an “all-natural” way to manage their weight. In spite of its name, the product does not contain a synthetic GLP-1 hormone, and it is not a GLP-1 receptor agonist like Ozempic or Wegovy. GLP-1 drugs mimic the actions of the GLP-1 hormone to lower blood glucose and promote weight loss. Lemme GLP-1 Daily contains natural ingredients such as Eriomin lemon fruit extract, Supresa saffron extract and Morosil red orange fruit extract. Clinical studies show that these compounds may promote modest weight loss, decrease hunger and appetite, or boost the body’s GLP-1 levels.

An alarming new report shows that Black women are 25% more likely to undergo a C-section than white women FG Trade/Getty Images An alarming new report reveals racial disparities in unnecessary C-section rates in New Jersey hospitals. The data show that Black women are 25% more likely to undergo a C-section than white women. The researchers suggest that implicit racial bias among providers may play a role in this rate and that there may be a “financial incentive” in some hospitals to fill operating rooms. Many factors may be responsible, experts say, and more research is needed to determine whether this disproportionate rate carries over to other states. As racism within the healthcare system persists, a large new study reveals startling disparities in unscheduled C-sections among Black women. A National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) report of nearly 1 million births at 68 hospitals in New Jersey found that Black women are 25% more likely to undergo unnecessary C-sections compared to white women.  While more research is needed to determine whether these disparities are found in other states, the data point to the potential for implicit racial bias occurring in hospital delivery rooms at a provider’s discretion.  “The findings from the new study are alarming — it is concerning that these disparities exist and are so stark,” said Mark Simon, MD, chief medical officer at Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG). “The CDC has released data that clearly highlights national differences in C-section rates across each state, with New Jersey ranking on the high end. But this problem is not unique to New Jersey — disparities in maternal mortality, particularly along racial and socioeconomic lines, are also well-documented,” Simon told Healthline. Simon wasn’t affiliated with the research. Why do Black women have higher rates of C-sections? Cesarean delivery (C-section) rates have been increasing in the United States in recent years. Many C-sections are scheduled in advance, leaving experts concerned about whether these are medically necessary. Planned and unplanned C-sections account for roughly 1 in 3 births in the U.S., well above the 10–15% target rate recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). As the new research suggests, these figures include a disproportionate number of Black women. The causes for this disparity, however, is less clear. NBER researchers suggest that more unscheduled C-sections may be occurring in Black women due to doctors who are “exercising their discretion and are more likely to conduct unnecessary C-sections on Black mothers.”  They cite in their report previous research showing that Black women are more likely to feel “pressure from a clinician to take medication to start or speed up labor and to have a C-section.” “I do think this points to implicit bias,” Simon said. “It’s crucial that healthcare workers receive training on implicit bias to help recognize and reduce disparities in patient care. Additionally, we know a diverse clinical workforce leads to improved outcomes for Black patients. When health systems prioritize equitable outcomes for maternal patients, everyone benefits,” Simon said.   What are the risks of C-sections? Cesarean deliveries, whether planned or unplanned, carry risks for both the birthing person and their baby. In emergency situations, however, C-sections can be lifesaving. C-section deliveries can raise the risk of bleeding, blood clots, infection, and injury to other organs, Simon noted. “Additionally, they pose increased risks for future pregnancies, including conditions like abnormal placentation,” he added. As NBER researchers note, Black women tend to have worse health outcomes overall than white women. However, experts point out there are underlying factors to consider that may affect the health outcomes of Black women following C-sections. “If Black women undergo more cesarean deliveries, their exposure to associated risk increases,” Simon said. “These risks are compounded by the fact that Black women already experience higher rates of pregnancy complications and are more likely to have underlying chronic health conditions.” Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, double board certified OB-GYN and maternal fetal medicine specialist and director of Perinatal Services/Maternal Fetal Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx, agreed that comorbidities often influence C-section outcomes. Gaither wasn’t involved in the new report. “Is there a high concentration of obesity,  hypertension,  diabetes, substance abuse, [or] HIV?” Gaither questioned.  “[It’s a] difficult question to answer.”  Multifactorial issues, such as racism, bias, poor attention to the clinical status of postoperative Black women, or the quality of the health facility, could all impact health outcomes following a C-section delivery, Gaither said. The long-term risks of C-section delivery are not fully understood, but research has shown that short-term effects of Cesarean delivery may include: altered immune development increased risk of allergy, atopy, and asthma reduced intestinal gut microbiome diversity “Cesarean sections are not benign procedures — the risk of hemorrhage, damage to the internal organs, [and] infection run high for the mother,” Gaither said.  “Babies born via cesarean may have breathing issues. Babies swim in amniotic fluid, this fluid fills the lungs. With a vaginal birth, this fluid is ‘squeezed out’ as the baby transits the birth canal. With an operative delivery, this lung fluid isn’t expressed, and it takes a while for that process to occur. As such, the baby breathes rapidly in an attempt to clear this fluid from its lungs,” she explained. Is there a financial incentive to perform C-sections? NBER researchers suggest there may be a financial incentive for healthcare providers to perform C-sections, thus pushing more Black women into the OR for the procedure. “I don’t believe labor and delivery units prioritize keeping their operating rooms constantly occupied,” Simon said. “In my experience, labor and delivery staff do everything in their power to keep at least one OR open in case there is an emergency.”  Gaither was also cautious to ascribe to this theory. “I think there are many factors to consider when looking at the picture,” she said. “Is there a high preponderance of early prenatal care [and] pre-conceptual counseling, or are patients showing up late in gestation, effectively ‘crashing and burning’ with some disease process that might have had a better outcome if caught in earlier stages?” Gaither pointed out. “Is there a high utilization of reproductive technologies contributing to the population served? Reproductive technologies contribute to multiples (twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc.). These higher-order pregnancies increase the Cesarean section rate,” she noted. When looking at C-section rates within hospitals, Gaither said the following factors should be considered: Does the population being served have insurance? Is the population serviced in a rural or urban setting? What is the mindset of the physicians servicing the population? Are they likely to perform an operative delivery so they can make a social engagement in time? What is the financial status of the hospital/hospitals involved? What impact does the environment play in the health of the populace? What role do bias and racism play? Takeaway A concerning new report shows that unnecessary C-sections are 25% more common in Black women compared to white women. The researchers suggest that implicit racial bias could play a role, and there may be a “financial incentive” to fill operating rooms. Experts say the reasons for this alarming disparity are multifactorial. More research is needed to determine whether the high number of C-section rates persist in other states.

A new review of 300 prior studies has identified the three most effective treatments that can help people stop smoking. Dobrila Vignjevic/Getty Images A new review of more than 300 prior studies has identified the best tools to quit smoking. The research looked at a variety of medications and techniques, including nicotine replacement, medication, and therapy. Health experts say quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health. There has never been a better time to quit smoking tobacco. More products exist today to help people snuff out cigarettes for good, but with so many options available, identifying which are the most effective isn’t always easy. However, a comprehensive new review published this month in Society for the Study of Addiction has revealed the top three most effective means to quit. The Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group (CTAG) conducted this research, which included more than 300 prior studies on tobacco cessation products and 157,179 participants. “Using the strictest and most rigorous methods, the CTAG reviews represent the gold standard in medical evidence, which is why CTAG’s work is consistently used to inform guidelines and policies around the world,” Jonathan Livingstone-Banks, PhD,  a Lecturer and Senior researcher in evidence-based healthcare at the University of Oxford, and first author of the review, told Healthline. What are the top three most effective ways to quit smoking? Out of all the current options available, researchers identified three interventions that “emerged as the most effective treatments. They are: Varenicline (Chantix) – An oral prescription medication used alongside education and counseling to stop smoking. Cytisine – A plant-derived smoking cessation aid that has been used for decades in many European countries. Cytisine is not currently available in the USA, nor is it FDA-approved. E-cigarettes (with nicotine) – Evidence around e-cigarettes for smoking cessation remains somewhat controversial. The FDA has never approved an e-cigarette for this purpose. Nonetheless, the present review did find that e-cigarettes were effective at helping people quit. Varenicline and cytisine both belong to a class of drugs known as nicotine receptor partial agonists.  “By interacting with the part of the brain that nicotine normally affects, they help to reduce the withdrawal symptoms people experience when they stop smoking, like cravings and unpleasant mood changes,” said Livingstone-Banks. They also make smoking less pleasurable, disincentivizing smokers from using cigarettes. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), which includes products like nicotine gum, patches, lozenges, and pouches, is also effective. Researchers found that NRT was even more effective when a long-lasting product, like a patch, was paired with a fast-acting product, like gum. The oral antidepressant bupropion is also approved for smoking cessation. The Cochrane review found that this medication was helpful to quit smoking, but the evidence was not as robust as that for varenicline and cytisine. Behavioral support, which includes things like therapy and counseling, was also effective. As was incentivizing tobacco smokers with a financial reward. Are E-cigarettes more helpful or harmful? E-cigarettes have boomed in popularity over the past decade. However, numerous questions remain about their safety, their role in smoking cessation, and their appeal to teens and adolescents. The FDA has not approved any e-cigarette device for smoking cessation. Despite this, anecdotal reports and some research have indicated that nicotine-containing e-cigarettes may help people quit. Nevertheless, research on e-cigarettes is controversial, and other studies have found the opposite to be true. Parents and policymakers have also sounded the alarm about the appeal of e-cigarettes, particularly flavored products, to children and teens. The dilemma has led many to ask whether the devices do more harm than good.  But, without delving into the broad social and public health implications of e-cigarette usage, the evidence for e-cigarettes as tobacco-cessation devices is substantial, according to the review. “Our research has found that there is very strong evidence that e-cigarettes are an effective way to help people quit smoking tobacco… While e-cigarettes are unlikely to be completely safe, we can be confident that they are far safer than smoking tobacco,” said Livingstone-Banks. Hilary Tindle, MD, PhD, the Founding Director of ViTAL, the Vanderbilt Center for Tobacco, Addiction, and Lifestyle at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told Healthline that the research is ‘invaluable’ and that she will use this Cochrane Review (including e-cigarette evidence) to update Smoking Cessation guidelines for patients with cancer. “In terms of e-cig safety, short term safety is addressed in the review where the rates of adverse events do not differ in participants randomized to e-cigs vs. NRT. Additionally, biomarkers of harm are reduced after switching to e-cigs,” she said  “However, The long-term safety of e-cigs is unknown. Furthermore, e-cigs are aggressively marketed to entice young people to begin using nicotine-containing products, so beyond helping adults quit smoking, there are major public health considerations,” she added. Tindle wasn’t affiliated with the research. The health benefits of quitting smoking According to the American Lung Association, these are only a few of the positive health benefits you can experience when you stop smoking, and how quickly they can occur: Twenty minutes: heart rate and blood pressure drop. One day: your risk of heart attack is reduced. Three months: your lung function begins to improve. One year: your risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a person who smokes. Five years: your risk of mouth and throat cancer is half that of a person who smokes. Ten years: your risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a person who smokes. To start quitting, Tindle recommends making a concrete plan: “Set a target quit date, preferably within 2 weeks, and support your quit attempt with medication and counseling.  This combination of support — rather than relying on one or neither — is key and leads to higher success rates,” she said. Many people in the United States can access free counseling and medication through the hotline 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) and websites, including Smoke Free or the Mayo Clinic and Truth Initiative collaboration, BecomeAnEx.  “If someone does not succeed on the first quit attempt, keep trying. In the US, more than 50% of all people who ever smoked have now quit,” said Tindle. The bottom line There are many products and medications available to help you quit smoking, but it may be difficult to figure out which are the most effective. A new review, which included more than 300 prior studies, has identified the three most effective tools to quit smoking. The most effective smoking cessation tools include the medication varenicline (Chantix), the plant-derived cytisine (not available in the US), and nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do for your health.

Apple announced that pending FDA approval, recent versions of the company’s popular smartwatches will soon get features that can detect and track sleep apnea events. pocketlight/Getty Images Apple has announced a new sleep apnea detection feature on its Apple Watch 10. The detection algorithm is based on advanced machine learning. Data from the app can be given to your doctor to help start a conversation. Doctors say its availability will make it easier for sleep apnea to be detected early. It can also help people break through their resistance to seeing a doctor for a diagnosis. On September 9, 2024, Apple held a “Glowtime” event to announce the latest iterations of its popular Apple Watch, AirPods, and iPhone. The broadcast, hosted by Apple CEO Tim Cook, was meant to highlight the many ways these devices can accentuate the average person’s health and wellness goals. While outlets like CNET declared the Apple Watch 10’s big screen the most “dramatic” feature unveiled at the event, it’s the device’s new sleep apnea detection feature that has healthcare providers buzzing. The newest Apple Watch will have technology on board that will make it possible to notify the wearer if they appear to be having symptoms of the condition. What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea affects 39 million adults in the United States alone. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, sleep apnea occurs when a person’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, either due to a blocked airway or the brain’s failure to send the signal to breathe. Symptoms can include: Loud snoring Gasping for air Excessive daytime sleepiness Problems concentrating Dry mouth Headaches Decreased sex drive Waking at night to go to the bathroom Diagnosis and treatment, most often with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, is essential because sleep apnea can increase people’s risk for several health problems, including cancer, high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. How sleep apnea detection on the Apple Watch will work According to Apple, the Apple Watch 10 will provide a new metric called “Breathing Disturbances.” According to the company, the algorithm that provides this metric was developed using advanced machine learning and trained using an “extensive data set of clinical-grade sleep apnea tests.” Additionally, a clinical study was conducted to validate the algorithm and determine whether it could detect sleep apnea in people who had already been diagnosed with the disorder. This metric will be obtained by using the watch’s accelerometer to monitor any small wrist movements that occur due to interruptions in sleep. Every 30 days, the watch will analyze this data and notify the wearer if there are any signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea that need to be reported to their physician. In a similar way, the metric can also give people information about their overall sleep quality. The Health app will contain data that can be viewed at any point so people can get an idea of whether they have had disturbed breathing the night before or over a one-month, six-month, or one-year period. Additionally, Apple Watch users will be able to export all of the collected data as a PDF file that can be taken to a healthcare professional for evaluation. Apple states that it expects to receive marketing authorization from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and other health agencies worldwide soon. The watch will be available in over 150 countries and regions this month, including the United States, Japan, and the European Union. What doctors think about Apple’s sleep apnea detection Dr. Michael O. McKinney, a primary physician at Healthy Outlook in Jacksonville, Florida, says sleep apnea often goes unrecognized. Therefore, he feels that this new feature can “go a long way” in helping people get their sleep apnea diagnosed and treated. McKinney additionally pointed out that the sleep apnea detection feature can provide several benefits, including early detection, improved diagnosis, and ongoing monitoring. “The combination of sleep apnea detection with a consumer-level product like the Apple Watch means there is a greater improvement in the availability of health-tracking solutions to the masses,” he added, noting that it can help raise people’s awareness about sleep disorders and contribute to better prevention. McKinney cautioned, however, that while a sleep apnea detection feature can provide preliminary information, it cannot replace a visit to a medical professional. “The collected data of the watch will require information that will have to be fed to healthcare providers to check the diagnoses and adjust the treatment regimes adequately,” he explained. Dr. Daniel Glazer, who is a clinical psychologist and the co-founder of several health technology platforms, including UK Therapy Rooms, added that from a psychological point of view, it can help give people the nudge they need to get treated. “There’s often unfortunate psychological denial intertwined with sleep apnea’s impacts,” he explained. However, untreated sleep apnea can have impacts on your cognitive functioning, emotional regulation, and cardiovascular health. “Yet getting people to actually broach the subject and pursue testing is arduous, as snoring rarely feels like a crisis in the moment,” said Glazer. Glazer went on to add that devices like the Apple Watch can be “an icebreaking catalyst” in encouraging people to seek out the treatment they need. “No, the Apple Watch readings won’t magically prescribe a CPAP machine ready to go,” he said. “But by empowering insights into our nighttime patterns, it becomes that trusted data point compelling us to finally knock on the doctor’s door.” Takeaway On September 9, 2024, Apple announced several new health and wellness features for its Apple Watch, AirPods, and iPhone. Chief among these was its new sleep apnea detection feature, which has been clinically validated as being able to detect signs of this sleep disorder. Doctors say that while this feature cannot replace a visit to a doctor, it can help improve sleep apnea’s early detection and treatment. It may also help people break through any psychological resistance they have about seeing a doctor for an evaluation.

A new study suggests that regular exercise could improve how the body stores fat. The Good Brigade/Getty Images Researchers say that regular exercise could promote healthful changes to how the body stores fat. In a small study, people with overweight and obesity who exercised stored less damaging subcutaneous fat and less hormone-disrupting visceral fat.  The study builds on a body of research promoting the benefits of exercise regardless of weight, though more research is required.  Not all belly fat is created equal. Subcutaneous fat, the soft fat that sits under the skin, is generally seen as less harmful than visceral fat, which collects deeper in the abdominal cavity and surrounds internal organs like the liver and kidneys. Visceral fat can increase insulin resistance and raise diabetes risk.  Now, new research published on September 10 in Nature Metabolism suggests that regular long-term exercise could improve how the body stores fat. Researchers from the University of Michigan found that people with overweight and obesity who exercised regularly for at least two years had a greater capacity to store fat subcutaneously compared to a cohort with overweight and obesity who did not exercise.  This means exercisers could have a lower risk of accumulating more harmful visceral fat, regardless of weight gain.  “While abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (aSAT) and visceral fat contribute differently with overlaps to metabolic functions and balance, visceral fat is always more dangerous due to its hormonal activity, potential to cause dyslipidemia, and tendency to make clots,” Jagdish Khubchandani, PhD, a professor of public health at New Mexico State University, told Healthline. Khubchandani wasn’t involved in the study. Exercise improves fat storage, but more research is needed The study was small and only looked at 16 people who exercised compared to 16 people who didn’t, which may warrant further investigation. “This was a reasonably well-designed study, though total numbers are relatively small,” Mir Ali, MD, board certified bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, told Healthlline. “Though [the findings are] interesting, the significance of this change and why it matters is not well delineated. The authors surmise the change in subcutaneous fat may ‘contribute to preserved cardiometabolic health’ though the reason for this is not clear,” he continued. Lead study author Jeffrey Horowitz, PhD, a professor of movement science and director of the Substrate Metabolism Laboratory at the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology, agreed the findings are worthy of further study. “Although our study does not provide direct evidence to support this notion [of preserved cardiometabolic health], the general hypothesis is that is that if a person with obesity has an increased capacity to expand their subcutaneous adipose tissue to store their excess energy, less would be available to accumulate in tissues like their liver, heart, pancreas, etc., which is known to be very problematic in terms of metabolic health,” he told Healthline. “Subjects in our exercise group were also more insulin sensitive and had other more favorable health outcomes compared with our non-exercise group (despite being well-matched for fat mass and other important parameters) — this indirectly supports our hypothesis, but certainly is not conclusive,” Horowitz continued. Exercise is important for any weight loss program  The study adds to a large body of evidence affirming the benefits of regular exercise regardless of a person’s weight.  But some experts say the focus should be on losing weight, rather than improving how the body stores fat. “In general, for people who are overweight or obese, the goal is not promoting good versus bad fat storage but reducing fat stores in the body overall,” Ali said. “Reducing visceral fat and overall fat has many health benefits, including reducing the risk for adverse health conditions such as diabetes, cardiac disease, and hypertension. In addition to exercise, a diet low in carbohydrates and higher in protein and non-starchy vegetables is a good way to direct the body toward burning the fat stores,” he continued. Horowitz agreed but said the situation is more complex.  “Based on findings from studies from my lab and many others is that depending on the magnitude of fat loss, the improvements resulting from body fat loss are often profoundly more robust than improvements found after exercise training without weight loss,” he said.  However, those improvements are not always realistic for everyone. In the United States, where nearly three out of every four adults has overweight or obesity, lifestyle modifications must be practical. “Sustained weight loss is often very challenging — and our findings suggest that living a physically active lifestyle can lead to a more ‘healthy’ way to store the body fat we have — which is likely an additional contributor to the health benefits of exercise,” Horowitz said.  Most people can fit regular movement and exercise into their schedules, even just a few days a week or on weekends. Some exercise is better than no exercise at all. “The one thing that all of us can do without spending a lot of money is to manage stress, try to get adequate sleep, reduce technology use, walk daily and stay active, avoid isolation and loneliness, and stay optimistic,” Khubchandani said. Takeaway According to research, exercise changes how the body stores fat. Results from the small study showed regular exercise led to healthier subcutaneous fat and reduced the likelihood of storing harmful visceral fat.  For people with overweight and obesity, losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight remains important for overall health. Still, regular exercise is often helpful, as this new study shows. While more research is needed to confirm the overall cardiometabolic effects of these findings, the study adds to existing evidence showing the health benefits of exercise.

Hollywood legend James Earl Jones, known for his iconic roles in The Lion King and Star Wars, managed living with type 2 diabetes for over 20 years before his death at 93. Jemal Countess/Getty Images James Earl Jones, known for roles in Field of Dreams, The Lion King, and Star Wars, died at the age of 93. Jones was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in his mid-60s, a condition he continued to manage in his later years. Although known for his deep, commanding voice, Jones overcame a severe stutter, which he had through much of his early life. James Earl Jones — known for his roles in The Lion King and Field of Dreams, and as the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise — has died. He was 93. A cause of death was not immediately released. Jones, who developed type 2 diabetes later in life, overcame a severe stutter in childhood to become an award-winning actor known for his deep, commanding voice. Jones was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes in his 60s In a 2016 interview on the Rachael Ray Show, Jones revealed that he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the mid-1990s while attending a diet and exercise center. At the time, he was in his 60s, an age at which many older adults are frequently diagnosed with this condition. “Diabetes and other age-related diseases like obesity and abnormal cholesterol are more prevalent as we get older,” said Noa Tal, MD, an endocrinologist of the Pituitary Disorders Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, Calif. Jones told Ray in the interview that his condition was discovered by accident. “I fell asleep on a bench in the middle of the gymnasium one day,” Jones explained. “And a doctor who was there said, ‘That’s not normal,’ and he encouraged me to go get checked out.” A laboratory test revealed that Jones had type 2 diabetes. This kind of delayed diagnosis is not uncommon. “Unfortunately, [type 2 diabetes] does go under the radar sometimes,” said Tal. In 2021, 38.1 million American adults had diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than one-fifth of these people had undiagnosed diabetes. The rate of diagnosed diabetes is highest among American Indian or Alaska Native adults, followed by Black adults, Hispanic adults, and Asian adults, CDC data shows. White adults have the lowest rate of diabetes. Regular screening, such as during routine doctor’s appointments, can catch diabetes early. She recommends that everyone ask their primary care physician to screen them for diabetes at age 40 or age 35 if they have other health conditions such as high blood pressure. “Depending on a person’s ethnicity or any [other health conditions] a patient has, screening can be either yearly or every three years,” Tal said. How Jones learned to manage living with type 2 diabetes Jones told Healthline’s Diabetes Mine in a 2016 interview that, after his diagnosis, there were “tough changes, like not having my favorite strawberry shortcake.”  Depending on the severity of the diabetes, some people may be able to control their blood glucose level with changes in lifestyle, said Tal, such as healthy diet and regular physical exercise. Others may need an oral or injectable medication like metformin, Ozempic or insulin, she said. Jones had a doctor who suggested he try Invokana. This medication works by eliminating excess glucose through the urine. “I’ve found that [Invokana] was very helpful in balancing my blood sugar,” he told Diabetes Mine. Diabetes can sometimes be a lot for patients to manage. In addition to the treatment burden and needing to take care of yourself, there is also an increased risk of complications due to diabetes, especially when it is uncontrolled. These complications may include heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, nerve damage and foot ulcers. “When diabetes is not well controlled, it can impact the entire patient,” said Tal. “It affects basically any system in the body.” How a strong support system can help a person manage type 2 diabetes One thing that Jones learned by managing his diabetes is that “it comes down to being in tune with your body, and I’m sure the body tells us things long before we’re aware of what’s happening,” he told Diabetes Mine. “Since then, it’s become my job to be more aware of what my body is telling me.” He also said his wife and son helped him stay “in line” with his healthy eating. “[My son] would count the cookies in the kitchen, and he could smell it on my breath if I snuck some,” he told Diabetes Mine. “They’ve both helped keep me in line.” “I realized when I was diagnosed with diabetes, my whole family became diabetics,” he explained. “Not that they suffer the same things that I do, but they understand, and we have to work as a family in living with diabetes. They became my support group, as well as my doctors.” Tal said a strong support system can help people with diabetes successfully manage their condition. “If I have patients with diabetes who have some issues with memory or if their treatment regimen is complex, I always ask if there is any family support or other social support,” she said. How Jones overcame a severe stutter Although Jones is well-known for his voice work, he revealed in a 1986 interview that a severe stutter largely kept him from talking throughout much of his early life. “I was mute from first grade through freshman year in high school,” he said, “Mute because I just gave up on talking.” Jones explained to Charlie Rose in 1993 that he learned to speak clearly through reading his own poetry and the poetry of others, even before he had become an actor. It was his high school English teacher, Donald Crouch, who helped Jones find a way to express himself verbally. “Donald said, ‘Jim, this poem is so good I don’t believe you wrote it.’ Accused me of plagiarism. ‘And the only way you can prove it is to get up in front of the class and recite it from memory,'” Jones recalled in the interview. When he stood up and recited the poem word for word, they were both shocked, he said. Jones went on to work in the film industry and on stage for many years. In spite of that, his stutter “is always there,” he told Rose. “It’s there right now.” “Stutterers often seem like they are ponderous and deep thinkers,” he went on to explain. “We’re not. We’re simply looking for the word we can say without tripping on it.” Throughout his career, he continued to struggle with alliteration, and would go through scripts and ask screenwriters to take out any, such as multiple words in a row beginning with vowels, he told Rose. In the 1986 interview, when asked if he minds talking about his stutter, Jones said he doesn’t.  “It’s just another example of, you find yourself with a weak muscle and you exercise it. And sometimes that becomes your strong muscle,” he said.  Takeaway James Earl Jones, known for his roles in The Lion King, Field of Dreams, and as the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars, died at the age of 93. No cause of death was immediately given. The actor revealed in a 2016 interview that he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the mid-1990s, after he fell asleep in the middle of the day at a diet and exercise center. His family and doctors helped him manage this condition throughout his later years. As a child and teenager, Jones had a stutter severe enough to keep him from speaking from first grade through freshman year of high school. He credited a high school English teacher for helping him overcome his stutter by encouraging him to read his own poetry out loud.

Eli Lilly’s once-weekly insulin injection is as effective as daily shots for managing blood sugar in diabetes, new data shows. Scott Olson/Getty Images New research offers an alternative to daily insulin shots for the 8 million people in the United States with type 2 diabetes. Eli Lilly’s once-weekly insulin injection is just as effective as daily insulin shots for managing A1C levels in diabetes, according to the latest results from two phase 3 clinical trials. Experts say a weekly injection could make life easier for people who administer insulin on a daily basis. The race between drug manufacturers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to develop a once-weekly insulin shot continues. On September 5, officials at Eli Lilly announced the latest results of two phase 3 clinical trials — QWINT-1 and QWINT-3 — involving a new insulin injection that would allow people with type 2 diabetes to take insulin once a week instead of daily. These results have not yet been published yet in a peer-reviewed journal. Still, the new data builds on prior results released in May about the effectiveness of the company’s once-weekly shot during the QWINT-2 and QWINT-4 clinical trials. Those results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Lilly announced on Tuesday. They’re are also being presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting 2024 this week in Spain. During the phase 3 trials, scientists studied the effectiveness of Lilly’s once-weekly insulin efsitora alfa (efsitora) in adults with type 2 diabetes taking insulin for the first time. They compared their progress with people who require daily insulin injections. Eli Lilly officials said their product was effective in controlling A1C levels in all four clinical trials. “Once weekly insulins, like efsitora, have the potential to transform diabetes care as we know it,” said Jeff Emmick, MD, senior vice president of product development at Eli Lilly, in statement last week. “Many patients are reluctant to start insulin because of the burden it places on them. With a simple fixed-dose regimen, once-weekly efsitora could make it easier for people with diabetes to start and manage insulin therapy, while reducing the impact it has on their day-to-day lives,” Emmick continued. How effective is Lilly’s once-weekly insulin shot? The goal of both the QWINT-1 and QWINT-3 studies were to show equal efficacy to the currently approved insulin products. In the QWINT-1 phase 3 clinical trial, 796 participants were randomly selected to receive either the weekly efsitora injection or a daily injection of insulin glargine for 52 weeks. At the end of the trial period, researchers reported that A1C levels on average were reduced by 1.31% in the efsitora cohort compared to 1.27% in the insulin glargine group. People taking efsitora ended the study with an average A1C level of 6.92% compared to an average of 6.96% for those taking insulin glargine. In the QWINT-3 clinical trial, 986 participants have been randomly selected to receive either the weekly efsitora injection or a daily injection of insulin degludec. At the 26-week mark of this 78-week trial, researchers reported that participants using efsitora had an average reduction of 0.86% in their A1C levels compared to 0.75% for the insulin degludec cohort. People taking efsitora had an average A1C level of 6.93% at 26 weeks compared to 7.03% for the degludec group. “Based on all the available information about the new once weekly insulin, the results consistently show the similar degree of reduction in hemoglobin A1C level to the currently available insulins and even in patients who were new to insulin, without increasing in risk of severe hypoglycemia, defined as blood glucose less than 54 mg/dl,” Marina Basina, MD, a clinical professor of endocrinology, gerontology, and metabolism at Stanford University, told Healthline. Once-weekly injection could improve diabetes management Noa Tal, MD, an endocrinologist at the Pituitary Disorders Center at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in California, said the clinical trials offer hope for people with type 2 diabetes. “The QWINT studies represent a significant advancement in diabetes management, particularly with the development of a weekly insulin injection,” Tal told Healthline. “This long-acting formulation could help address adherence issues associated with daily insulin regimens, offering a more convenient option for patients.” Tal added that more than 8 million people in the United States with type 2 diabetes need insulin therapy, so a new weekly injection could make a major difference. “A product like this weekly injection could have a profound impact,” Tal said. “It could simplify diabetes management for those struggling with compliance or who are currently not using insulin due to the burden of daily injections. By reducing the frequency of injections, this weekly insulin might enhance patient adherence, improve overall glucose control, and potentially lead to better long-term health outcomes,” she noted. Basina agreed with the importance of the clinical trials. “The more tools we have available in the treatment of diabetes, the better it is,” she said.  Basina noted an important advantage of a once-weekly shot of long-acting insulin could benefit people also taking GLP-1 receptor agonists once a week, streamlining the frequency of their injections or making travel easier. “Another important point is that in patients who have been on insulin for a prolonged period of time and developed scar tissue from long-term insulin injections, it will allow less frequent insulin injections and sparing some of the injection sites,” Basina added. Are there disadvantages to once-weekly shots? Lilly competitor Novo Nordisk is also in the process of developing a weekly insulin injection. However, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel stated in May that it appears the benefits of the company’s insulin icodec lack sufficient clinical data and do not clearly outweigh the risks of the product, which may cause low blood sugar. Novo Nordisk officials have said they are evaluating the FDA panel’s decision. Basina cautioned that once-weekly insulin injections may not be convenient for everyone. “It does not provide flexibility for patients who have variable day-to-day schedules with being more physically active on some days than other day. This insulin might increase the risk of low blood sugars on more physically active days,” she noted. “There is also a concern for patients who may need urgent surgical procedure for which we usually recommend taking half of the long-acting insulin dose on the night before the procedure which will be not possible with weekly insulin administration,” Basina added. Health risks of type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a chronic medical condition that causes a build-up of glucose, also known as blood sugar, in the bloodstream. This happens because a person’s body can’t react to insulin effectively or doesn’t produce enough of it. About 38 million people in the United States have diabetes. More than 90% of them have the type 2 variety. About 25% of people with type 2 diabetes need to take insulin. That requires them to administer injections every day, much like people with type 1 diabetes. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include: constant hunger excessive thirst lack of energy frequent urination blurry vision Symptoms can become more severe as the disease progresses. Type 2 diabetes that is not properly managed can lead to serious complications, such as: cardiovascular disease nerve damage poor circulation eye damage hearing impairment People who don’t need insulin for type 2 diabetes can manage and sometimes reverse their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Maintaining a healthy weight is considered one of the most important ways to avoid or manage type 2 diabetes. For people who don’t need insulin, medications such as metformin can be prescribed to help manage their condition. Why is insulin important? Insulin is a hormone created by the pancreas that helps move glucose from a person’s bloodstream to their cells. The body then uses the insulin in the cells for energy. Insulin also helps store glucose in the liver and helps control how the body metabolizes carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Insulin helps keep blood sugars in a healthy range and ensures a person’s body is provided with sufficient energy. The most common results of insulin insufficiency are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. They are several different types of insulin therapy available. They are: rapid acting short acting intermediate acting long acting Medical professionals prescribe an insulin treatment that works best for a particular individual. Sometimes a combination therapy involving insulin injections and non-insulin oral medications are used. Tal said people with diabetes need to be vigilant in managing their condition. “For individuals with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, focusing on lifestyle changes is essential,” Tal said. This includes: maintaining a healthy diet exercising regularly monitoring blood glucose levels “Early intervention and adherence to prescribed medications are also critical for effective management of the condition. Staying informed about new treatment options and discussing them with healthcare providers can help in making well-informed decisions regarding disease management,” Tal continued. “Regular check-ups and personalized care plans tailored to individual needs contribute to better overall management and improved health outcomes. For patients using insulin, it is particularly important to be aware of hypoglycemic symptoms and to have strategies in place to prevent and address them,” she concluded. Basina had similar advice: “Healthy lifestyle, diet, and exercise are all extremely important for prediabetes individuals to prevent conversion into clinical insulin,” she said. “For individuals with type 2 diabetes, take care of diabetes from the start. It is easier to prevent the complications than treat them if they develop.” Takeaway Eli Lilly says phase 3 clinical trials indicate that its new weekly insulin injections were as effective as daily injections in managing A1C levels in people with type 2 diabetes. About 8 million people in the United States with type 2 diabetes need to take insulin on a regular basis. Experts say a weekly injection could make managing the disease easier for people with the condition and improve their overall quality of life.

The FDA will now require all mammography reports to include whether a person has breast density, which is a breast cancer risk factor. Johnny Greig/Getty Images The FDA’s new breast density rule will now require all mammography reports to include whether a person has dense breasts. Breast density is considered a risk factor for breast cancer and can make it difficult to detect signs of cancer. Dietary and lifestyle modifications may help reduce breast density, but more importantly, they help lower a person’s risk of developing breast cancer. Mammograms are the gold standard for breast cancer detection starting around age 40.  Breast density can raise breast cancer risk and make it more difficult to detect cancer. Still, many people are unaware of this important risk factor, even if they regularly receive mammograms. On September 10, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule that will require breast density to be included in mammography reports. This amendment to the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) states that all mammogram facilities should include information about breast density in all patient mammography reports and results letters. “Breast density not only has to do with intrinsic risk but the ability to detect cancer on a mammogram,” Richard Reitherman, MD, PhD, board certified radiologist and medical director of breast imaging at MemorialCare Breast Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, told Healthline. “Because the normal stromal tissue is white and cancer is white, the denser the breast, the more difficult it is to detect the cancer. This is termed ”masking,” Reitherman explained.   According to the National Cancer Institute, breast density is extremely common. Around half of all females ages 40 and older who receive mammograms are found to have dense breasts. If that includes you, here’s what you need to know. What does it mean to have dense breasts? Reitherman explained there are two primary components in breast tissue: Glandular tissue — the physiologically functioning component of the breast responsible for lactation.  Stroma — the fat and support tissue composed of mostly collagen. Breast density refers to the amount of fibroglandular tissue in the female breast compared to fatty tissue. When there is more fibroglandular tissue, there is more breast density.  “Breast density characterizes the relative amounts of fat, glandular, and stromal tissue in a mammogram,” Reitherman explained.  When a mammogram demonstrates that 50% or more of breast volume is white, there is breast density. If the white components are less than 50%, the breasts are considered non-dense, Reitherman said.  The FDA’s new Federal Breast Density Requirements for mammography reports classify breast density into one of four categories: “The breasts are almost entirely fatty.”  “There are scattered areas of fibroglandular density.”  “The breasts are heterogeneously dense, which may obscure small masses.”  “The breasts are extremely dense, which lowers the sensitivity of mammography.” “The levels of density are characterized based on the composition of fat and dense breast tissue, Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, double board certified OB/GYN and maternal fetal medicine specialist and director of Perinatal Services/Maternal Fetal Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx, told Healthline.  “Heterogeneous dense [means] that most of the breast tissue is dense, but some areas are fatty. Extremely dense [means] most of the tissue is dense, with little fatty tissue,” Gaither explained. What causes breast density?  Gaither said various factors may contribute to dense breast tissue, such as: Diet: A diet high in fat, sugar and red meat may increase the risk of breast density. Body mass index (BMI): Females with lower BMI tend to have higher breast density. Pregnancy and nursing: breast density is higher during nursing and pregnancy, but is favorable in women who have had children compared to women who have not. Certain medications: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may increase breast density.  Age: Younger women tend to have higher breast density. Genetics: Breast density is often inherited. Are dense breasts more prone to breast cancer? People with more breast density have more fibroglandular tissue in their breasts, which raises their breast cancer risk.  “The glandular tissue this is where breast cancer initially develops,” Reitherman said.  “There is a complex interaction between the glandular and stromal tissue which regulates this initial tumor development and its ability to spread. The higher the proportion of stromal tissue, which is white on the mammogram, relative to fat which is black, the higher the risk of breast cancer,” he explained. Reitherman noted the link between breast density and breast cancer risk is an actively pursued area of research that has “yielded many complex biochemical insights.”  These insights include the structural proteins, enzymes, and genetic components of breast density and how they may play a role in breast cancer development. What additional screening is needed for dense breasts? If your mammography report indicates you have dense breast tissue, you may require further diagnostics, especially if you have other risk factors for breast cancer, such as a family history.  Additional tests to screen for breast cancer to improve the “masking” effect that breast density can have on mammography results may include:  3D mammogram: X-rays that take images of breasts from various angles. Breast MRI: A magnetic field and radio waves that generate 3D images of the breast. Breast ultrasound: — Sound waves that conduct breast imaging. Contrast-enhanced mammogram — Contrast material that helps highlight areas of concern. Molecular breast imaging — A radioactive tracer and special camera that image the breast tissue. “MRI is by far and away the most sensitive imaging technique to detect breast cancer in women with dense breasts,” Reitherman said. “Ultrasound has been also proven to improve detection of breast cancers in women with dense breasts.” Of course, these tests may come with additional costs.  “It is clear that out-of-pocket expenses serve as a definite deterrent for patients to access these additional screening modalities,” Reitherman noted.  “However, if a woman has a lifetime risk that is 20% or greater, most insurance companies will cover annual breast MRI in addition to mammography,” he said. Should you worry about dense breast tissue? There are currently no clinical guidelines to reduce breast density and no clear evidence that reducing breast density will reduce cancer risk.  Still, some studies have shown that certain factors may help decrease breast density, such as:  vitamin D supplementation  limiting caffeine intake  But breast density isn’t the only factor influencing breast cancer risk.  “Breast cancer risk appears to be a multifactorial paradigm predicated on an interplay of multiple factors inclusive of Genetics, environment, diet,” Gaither said. If you have dense breasts, there are steps you can take to help lower your risk of developing breast cancer.  “Breast cancer is one of the most lifestyle-responsive cancers. From a preventive standpoint, it is estimated that one-third of all breast cancers could be prevented,” said Ora Karp Gordon, MD, board certified medical geneticist, Regional Medical Director of Clinical Genetics and Genomics for Providence Southern California, and Professor of Genetics at Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA. Gordon and Gaither recommended the following: Eat a healthy, balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Limit added sugar and processed foods. Exercise regularly (aim for 150 minutes a week of aerobic exercise). Avoid alcohol. Quit smoking.   Receive regular mammograms. Know your family history of breast cancer and assess your risk with genetic testing for the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes.  Limit hormone replacement therapy after menopause. “Decisions on the use of and duration of hormone replacement therapy should always be individualized based on a woman’s risk for breast cancer and her quality of life and clinical symptoms, rather than a ‘prescribe for all’ approach that was common years ago,” Gordon noted. Takeaway Mammography results will now include breast density as part of assessing a person’s breast cancer risk. Having dense breasts can make it difficult to detect signs of breast cancer and is also considered a risk factor. Dietary and lifestyle modifications help lower a person’s risk of developing breast cancer.

A woman is suing the maker of Ozempic, claiming severe side effects from the weight loss drug resulted in the death of a portion of her large intestine. Jens Kalaene/Picture Alliance via Getty Images A woman is suing the maker of Ozempic after she says severe side effects led to the removal of her colon. She claims she was not warned that this was a potential side effect of the drug. However, drug maker Novo Nordisk states that the information is on the product label. Experts say GLP-1 drugs can sometimes slow the gastrointestinal tract too much. If patients experience severe side effects, it is urgent that they see a doctor. According to reporting from CBS News, a woman named Juanita Gantt is suing Novo Nordisk, the maker of the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic and the weight loss drug Wegovy, over severe side effects that she says she was not adequately warned about. The 62-year-old woman was prescribed both of these medications due to her diabetes risk and the fact that she was having difficulty losing weight. After several months of her using the medications and “feeling fine,” Gantt’s husband suddenly found her lying on the floor unconscious. Upon seeking medical care, she learned that a portion of her large intestine had died, necessitating its surgical removal. She additionally says she went into cardiac arrest while recovering from the surgery. Gantt states that she must now use an ileostomy bag attached to her abdomen to collect waste and remove it from her body because she no longer has a colon. “I had no warning that this was even a possibility,” she told CBS News. However, Novo Nordisk told the news outlet that the side effects experienced by Gantt are known and are present on the product label. It was not stated how much financial compensation she was seeking from the drug manufacturer. How Ozempic side effects may lead to colon death Dr. John Lowe, a physician at Restore Care specializing in weight loss, said that GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy aid in weight loss because they slow the emptying of the stomach. “This, however, is surprising,” he added, “because sometimes this slow stomach emptying may be associated with some complications like gastroparesis or even bowel obstruction.” With gastroparesis, the stomach’s movement slows too much or completely stops, interfering with the body’s ability to properly digest food. “When digestion is impaired, as it was in this case, areas of the colon may not receive enough oxygen-rich blood, leading to tissue death and subsequent removal,” said Lowe. Lowe went on to explain that Gantt had ischemic colitis, meaning that the artery supplying blood to the colon burst, leading to the death of the tissue. “This proved to be very extensive, and as a result, a part of her colon had to be surgically resected,” he said. Lowe added that she also went into cardiac arrest not long after surgery, which further complicated her recovery. “Although ischemic colitis on its own is very rare, it can also be a complication that may prove to be more fatal if left untreated or if its causes do not get addressed promptly,” he stated. Early warning signs of severe Ozempic side effects Dr. Michael Lahey, a physician with My Weight Loss Partner, agreed that this type of side effect is rare. However, when it does occur it can be severe and cause the type of serious issues faced by Gantt. According to Lahey, early warning signs of severe side effects from Ozempic can include: Cramp-like, constant, severe, or ongoing pain in the stomach or belly area Severe nausea or vomiting Noticeable changes in bowel movements, for example, constipation or loose stools Unusual weight loss or difficulty in taking food “[I]f these symptoms occur and are persistent or worsening, [it] could be due to serious complications,” he said. When to seek medical attention for Ozempic side effects “Severe or continuous abdominal pain along with vomiting, dehydration, or black/bloody stools are all reasons why a person should visit their doctor immediately,” said Lowe. Ignoring these symptoms and not getting prompt medical assistance could lead to ischemic colitis, he noted. “However, all patients on any type of medication, including Ozempic, must be on the lookout for abnormalities in their digestive system because side effects may worsen very rapidly,” said Lowe. “This aggressive way of treatment can, however, help prevent the progression of some of the complications,” he said, “such as necrosis and the necessity for more complicated management such as colon removal.” Takeaway A woman is suing Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, for an undisclosed amount of money after experiencing severe side effects from these drugs that she says she was not properly warned about. She ended up needing to have her colon removed and now uses an ileostomy bag. Experts say Ozempic and Wegovy help with weight loss by slowing stomach emptying. However, blockage can occur if it slows too much, which can cut off blood flow to the intestines leading to potential tissue death. Pain, nausea, vomiting, changes in bowel movements (diarrhea or constipation), unusual weight loss, or problems taking in food are all warning signs of a problem. Without prompt care, the intestinal tissue can die. However, a quick response can prevent more severe complications.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, has completed her chemotherapy treatment for cancer and is planning to return to public life gradually as she recovers. Jane Barlow/WPA Pool/Getty Images Catherine, Princess of Wales, announced she has completed her chemotherapy treatment for cancer. The public learned in March that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy. Though she said her road to recovery will be long, she plans to gradually return to public life in the coming months. Catherine, Princess of Wales (Kate Middleton) has announced that she has completed her course of chemotherapy.  In a recorded press release on Monday afternoon, she expressed relief and a new appreciation of life. What we know about Kate Middleton’s cancer journey so far Following abdominal surgery in 2024, surgeons removed some tissue from Catherine’s abdomen, which was later tested and found to be malignant.  “The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown,” she said in the recent video. The Palace has not announced what form of cancer Catherine is living with, but she began chemotherapy in late February. Chemotherapy can cause challenging side effects Healthline contacted Dr. Susanna Greer, chief scientific officer of the V Foundation, to ask about the general side effects of chemotherapy. She explained that chemotherapy is a “powerful tool” and that, while it can have “challenging side effects, treatments and supportive care have come a long way. Doctors can often manage or minimize many of the side effects.” “Every patient’s experience with chemotherapy is unique,” she said, but these are some of the most common side effects: fatigue hair loss nausea and vomiting loss of appetite mouth sores diarrhea or constipation increased risk of infections Greer also told Healthline that “chemotherapy can cause cognitive changes. You may have heard of ‘chemo brain;’ some chemo patients describe experiencing memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and a feeling of mental fogginess during or after chemotherapy.”  “Although I have finished chemotherapy,” Catherine said in her recent video, “my path to healing and full recovery is long, and I must continue to take each day as it comes.” She also said she is “looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months ” when she can. How cancer screenings and early diagnosis can improve outcomes “Regular screenings and paying attention to your body’s signals can lead to early diagnosis, which often means more treatment options and better outcomes,” Greer said. “Many cancers, when caught early, are highly treatable, and survival rates have improved significantly over the years.” While the specific type of cancer Catherine has is still not known to the public, Greer explained that, for most abdominal cancers, “routine screening is only recommended for high-risk individuals. For colorectal cancer, routine screening for average-risk individuals is crucial for early detection.” For colorectal cancer, she told Healthline that “screening typically starts at age 45 for individuals at average risk. Screening includes colonoscopy (typical recommendation is every 10 years), fecal occult blood test (annually), or sigmoidoscopy (every 5-10 years).” Individuals with a family history of the disease or other risk factors may start screening earlier. Healthline also contacted Dr. Anton Bilchik, a surgical oncologist, chief of medicine, and director of the Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Program at Providence Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA. He explained that the younger screening age for colorectal cancer is due to “the unexplained, rapid increase among young patients.” Dr. Wael Harb, a board-certified hematologist and medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in Orange County, CA, outlined the following other cancers of the abdomen and their screening recommendations: Pancreatic cancer: No routine screening is recommended for the general population. However, those at high risk, for instance those with a family history or genetic predispositions, may undergo imaging tests. Liver cancer: Individuals with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis are recommended for regular screening. Ovarian cancer: Screening is not routinely recommended for women at average risk, unless they have certain genetic mutations or a family history. Gastric (stomach) cancer: Routine screening is not typically recommended in the United States, other than in high-risk populations. Cervical cancer: Screening typically starts at age 21 with a Pap test every 3 years. From age 30–65, a combination of Pap test and HPV testing is recommended every 5 years. Early cancer warning signs Although they vary depending on the type and location of cancer, Warb said the following symptoms may be early warning signs: Unexplained weight loss: Especially if it’s significant — 10 pounds or more — and not linked to changes in diet or exercise. Persistent pain or discomfort: Particularly in the abdomen or back, which can be related to cancers affecting organs in these areas. Changes in bowel or bladder habits: Such as diarrhea, constipation, or changes in stool consistency and frequency. Unexplained bleeding: Blood in the stool or urine could indicate gastrointestinal or urinary tract cancers. Lumps or swelling: Any new or growing lump should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Fatigue: Severe and persistent fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest. Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin or eyes, which can indicate liver or pancreatic cancer. “Any persistent unexpected symptoms should be worked up and discussed with your doctor,” added Bilchik. What to do if you think you may have cancer “If you are worried you might have cancer, first know it is completely natural to feel anxious, but the most important thing is not to let fear stop you from acting. The first step is to talk to your healthcare provider.” Based on your symptoms, they can advise you on whether further testing is needed. Often, she told us, worrying symptoms are caused by something less serious. “Starting with a calm and honest conversation with your doctor can provide reassurance and help you figure out the next steps,” Greer continued. “Taking action, even if it feels scary, is the best way to regain control and make sure any potential issues are caught early, when they are most treatable.” “It’s important to share the message that many people not only survive cancer but thrive after it,” Greer added.

TikTok’s viral “blackout challenge” (also known as the “choking challenge” can lead to permanent brain damage or death in under five minutes. Sneksy/Getty Images The viral “blackout challenge” (also known as the “choking challenge) is responsible for at least one death this year. The challenge, which is being shared on various social media platforms, encourages viewers to asphyxiate themselves until they lose consciousness. Asphyxiation is incredibly dangerous and can lead to permanent brain damage and death in less than five minutes. Following the death of her son, a mom is warning others about the “blackout challenge” (also known as the “choking challenge”), a dangerous viral trend that’s being shared on social media platforms like TikTok. In an editorial for Huffpost, Joann Bogard describes the tragedy of losing her son Mason in 2019. Like other kids his age, he’d shown an interest in social media “challenges.” Challenge videos encourage social media users to copy an activity from social media and then perform it themselves, posting the video for all to see. Many can be relatively innocuous, but some are far more dangerous. The “blackout challenge,” which encourages individuals to asphyxiate themselves to the point of losing consciousness, falls into the latter. It is extremely dangerous. Mason lost his life after attempting the challenge and accidentally choking himself to death. Now Bogard is helping other parents to become better educated about social media and online trends. “What worries me most today is that what happened to Mason and our family can happen to anyone — and has happened to others. Families are desperately seeking answers on how to protect their children online,” she wrote for Huffpost. What is the “blackout challenge?” The “blackout challenge,” or “choking challenge,” is an online challenge proliferated through social media apps such as TikTok that encourages viewers to asphyxiate themselves until they lose consciousness. The loss of consciousness is believed to be associated with a “high” or feeling of euphoria. Challenge videos may be particularly appealing to teens and adolescents. Unlike other dangerous trends that have come and gone over the years, such as the Tide pod challenge, variations of challenges related to asphyxiation tend to crop up every couple of years. “This is a trend that seems to come of age with each progressive generation,” said Mary Beth Howard, MD, MSC, a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. “It’s very dangerous to begin with, and the other issue at hand is that we have social media and these very powerful algorithms that are propagating these very dangerous behaviors,” she said. Benjamin Morse, BA, a Visiting Lecturer in New Media and social media expert at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, told Healthline, “These trends take off, and they accelerate at such a speed that something tragic can happen before a parent is even aware of what their kids are watching.” The dangers of asphyxiation Asphyxiation is extremely dangerous and can quickly lead to brain damage and death. There is also the added risk that an individual may take part in the “blackout challenge” by themself, without any form of supervision, greatly increasing the danger. “When you deprive the brain of oxygen and you go unconscious, that’s it, you’re not able to stop the event,” said Marla Levine, MD, an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Director of Emergency Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “You have a brief period of time where you can then reestablish blood supply or oxygen to your brain to prevent cerebral death,” she said. Asphyxiation leads to a condition known as cerebral hypoxia, literally depriving the brain of oxygen. The brain can be deprived of oxygen with as little as 4.4 pounds of pressure and can cause loss of consciousness in just ten seconds. When hypoxia begins, permanent brain damage can occur within just four minutes. Brain death can occur within five minutes of hypoxia. “We’re not talking about a long period of time here,” said Levine. There are also no hard rules for how asphyxiation may affect one individual to the next. “Everyone’s response to these challenges is variable. So someone could pass out within seconds, someone may take closer to a minute,” said Howard. That variability makes the challenge even more dangerous since an individual may lose consciousness much faster than they anticipate. Other dangers from asphyxiation include: Damaging the larynx, tissue, and blood vessels of the neck. Heart attack and cardiac arrest Aspiration (vomit in the airways) If an individual is asphyxiating and has lost consciousness, immediately contact emergency services such as 911. How to talk with adolescents about social media trends Speaking to a child about social media and dangerous online challenges may not be easy, but prevention should be a top priority for all parents. How parents, companies, and lawmakers monitor and regulate social media can be a thorny issue. While some advocate for greater responsibility and censorship from social media companies themselves, Morse recommends a more pragmatic approach. “Waiting for the platforms to do the work is not going to happen,” he said. Instead, he recommends parents actively engage with the platforms and apps that their children are using and set appropriate boundaries. “If your kids are on TikTok, you need to be on TikTok. I know that’s not a fun answer for parents, but you need to understand what your kids are doing,” he told Healthline. “It’s so incredibly important that parents are vigilant in having conversations with their children and vigilant about what they’re consuming in social media,” said Levine. The bottom line A dangerous social media trend known as the “choking challenge,” which encourages viewers to asphyxiate themselves until they lose consciousness, has resulted in at least one death. Asphyxiation can result in brain damage and death in as little as four minutes. Parents are encouraged to have open and informed conversations with their children about social media to help set safe boundaries.

Health experts say three of the most popular viral sleep hacks this year won’t do much to help you get a better night’s Zzzz. Milko/Getty Images Many Americans turn to social media for sleep advice. A survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that more than 30% of Americans have tried one of this year’s viral sleep trends. Experts share the ins and outs of these sleep trends and what you can do to get better sleep. The battle to get good sleep seems constant. So much so that many Americans turn to social media for advice on the latest sleep trends. According to a 2024 survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), 37% of Americans have tried at least one of this year’s trending sleep practices, with 55% of Gen Z survey respondents leading the way. “I try not to discourage people from feeling active and empowered through the use of online resources to find community, ideas for solutions, and better understanding of their lived experience,” Dr. Anne Marie Morse, Geisinger sleep medicine physician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, told Healthline. “Unfortunately, like with a dress, makeup, or your name, it may look glorious on someone else, but it may not fit just right on you.” Sleep experts break down the implications of top sleep hacks trending on social media. Bed rotting “Bed rotting” refers to staying in bed for extended periods of time to boost rest, often to the point of neglecting responsibilities and social interactions, with the hopes of improving restoration. According to the AASM survey, this has been adopted by nearly a quarter (24%) of Gen Z. “While spending time in bed can be beneficial for rest and recovery, too much time spent in bed can have negative effects on mental and physical health,” said Morse. While she encourages the occasional relaxation and restoration efforts, she said protracted periods of time spent lying in bed for any other reason than sleep or sex may jeopardize the health of your sleep, and with that, your medical and mental health could be at risk too. Sound like an overreaction? Morse said it’s not. “Your mind can be conditioned to associate things that aren’t meant to be together. So, if you retreat to your bed to ‘rot’ away your anxiety, bad day, recent breakup, or other daily challenge, lying in bed can start to make you revisit these negative emotions and lead to difficulties falling and staying asleep,” she said. Spending a lot of awake time in bed makes people associate the bed with being awake, “making the bed less of a ‘protected’ place for good quality sleep,” Jade Wu, PhD, sleep medicine psychologist and Sleep Advisor at Mattress Firm, told Healthline. In extreme cases, and for those who may have other medical risk factors, prolonged inactivity from lying in bed can lead to issues like muscle atrophy, decreased cardiovascular fitness, and increased risk of obesity, added Morse. Sedentariness generally doesn’t make people feel better and can have a negative impact on mood, sleep, and metabolic health, said Wu. “Sometimes when we’ve been over-doing it, it can help to give ourselves a chance to rest, though generally, I would reserve that for situations where you’ve truly been doing intensive exercise, working overtime, or going through something extraordinarily taxing,” she said. “I wouldn’t make a general habit of it just for the sake of avoiding starting the day.” Try this instead: if you’re overwhelmed with work or life, rather than staying in bed for prolonged periods of time to refresh, Wu suggested finding a quiet change of scene in nature, practicing mindful meditation or yoga, or reading a book. Drinking a magnesium “sleepy girl mocktail” Nearly 9% of survey respondents have tried drinking magnesium to help with sleep. The “sleepy girl mocktail” trending on social media is made of a half-cup of pure tart cherry juice, a tablespoon of magnesium powder, and sparkling water. Drinking magnesium or taking magnesium supplements is generally safe when done within recommended guidelines, said Morse. Magnesium is a mineral that is important for multiple body functions, especially neurologic functioning, which affects sleep. However, research on the impact of magnesium supplements on sleep has not yielded consistent results, but some data shows higher dosing may improve sleep quality. “The limitations of the research are typically related to the type of magnesium studied and small groups of participants, which raises questions on the ability to apply this information,” said Morse. For instance, a 2023 systematic literature review made a connection to magnesium status and sleep quality in observational studies and a small study from 2012 reported that people who took a daily dose of 500 mg of magnesium for eight weeks indicated that they had fewer subjective insomnia symptoms than people who received the placebo. However, large-scale randomized control trials have not shown a specific correlation between supplementing with magnesium and improvements in sleep quality. Morse said that if you’re going to try magnesium to enhance sleep, take note that magnesium formulations are used medically for stomach issues like constipation, indigestion, and heartburn and can cause loose stools or diarrhea. Try this instead: Talk with your doctor about magnesium before trying it or about other supplements or medications that may be more effective and tailored to your sleep issues. Sleeping in 90-minute increments Of those who took the AASM survey, 9% said they tested the effectiveness of sleeping in 90-minute increments. The idea of sleeping in 90-minute increments is based on the concept of the sleep cycle, which lasts about 90 to 120 minutes for adults and 50-to-60-minute cycles during early childhood. Each night, the brain goes through multiple sleep cycles, each lasting 90 to 120 minutes, and the cycles consist of different stages of sleep: REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and non-REM (NREM) sleep, explained Morse. “Unfortunately, the idea misses out on the fact that each cycle can vary,” said Morse. “While the 90-minute increment idea can be attractive to some who are trying to get a better handle on achieving their best night’s sleep, it will likely miss the mark. When you prioritize a full night of restful sleep, you’re more likely to feel refreshed and energized, regardless of whether you wake up at the end of a specific cycle.” For those trying to take a daytime nap, Wu said to aim for around 30 minutes and avoid going over one hour because longer naps can negatively impact nighttime sleep. Also, there is evidence linking longer napping to higher risks for heart disease in the long run. “If you are sleeping at night, there is no reason to purposefully interrupt sleep at the 90-minute mark,” said Wu. Extraordinary circumstances are an exception, like a soldier on a mission, an ultramarathoner who is running for 24-plus hours, or someone experiencing jet lag. “Then it’s okay to nap for any amount of time that is needed to catch up on sleep that the body needs, including a 90-minute nap if that’s what’s feasible,” said Wu. “But there is nothing special about 90-minute cycles that warrants trying to sleep in these increments.” Try this instead: Instead of sleeping in 90-minute increments, Morse recommended focusing on getting into a regular sleep schedule and shooting for seven to nine hours of sleep a night, which is likely to bring a higher return on investment. Helpful sleep habits to consider While there are many attractive sleep “hacks” on social media, they are enticing because they don’t require a lot of effort. “But if good sleep health were as simple as taking a supplement or staying in bed all day, we wouldn’t have so many millions of people with sleep problems in the U.S.,” said Wu. If you’re at a loss for ways to get better quality sleep, consider the following strategies: Don’t force anything related to sleep. Instead, Morse said to uncover what is causing the resistance. “The challenge here is that there are over 70 types of sleep disorders, plus innumerable medical and psychiatric disorders that can contribute to difficulties sleeping,” she said. “Forcing someone to be in bed can actually worsen these issues.” Getting lots of bright light exposure during the day, ideally by being physically active outdoors can help boost sleep quality. Set a consistent sleep schedule. Going to bed and waking up at the same time, or within an hour of that time, every day helps regulate your body’s internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up naturally. Practice good sleep hygiene. Try to create a relaxing bedtime routine by making your bedroom quiet, keeping the room at a comfortable, cool temperature, and limiting exposure to bright light in the evenings, said Morse. Discuss hacks you’re interested in with your doctor. Sharing solutions you find online with your doctor is a good first step. “Sometimes what we find is that the solution you want to discuss actually helps you and your [doctor] uncover what the real problem is. And, now they are able to tailor treatment to your specific situation,” said Morse.

Queen guitarist Brian May revealed he recently had a minor stroke that left him unable to use his left arm for a period of time. Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images Brian May, guitarist for the rock band Queen, revealed he recently experienced a minor stroke. Although he is now recovering and in good health, he briefly lost the ability to use his left hand, leaving him unable to play guitar. A stroke, no matter the severity, is always a medical emergency. Individuals should know the warning signs of a stroke and seek medical attention. Brian May, guitarist for the legendary rock group Queen, revealed this week that he experienced a “minor stroke.”  In a video posted on his personal Instagram account, May explained that the incident required medical attention and briefly left him unable to use his left arm. Fortunately, the rocker is back in good health and, importantly, playing guitar again. “Good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days and I say this because it was in some doubt,” he said in the video.  “All of a sudden, out of the blue, I didn’t have any control over this arm,” May recounted. The incident is an important reminder that strokes can vary drastically in severity and presentation of symptoms. But don’t let the term “minor stroke” mislead you: strokes are a serious medical issue. Even minor strokes, if left untreated, can lead to serious health outcomes and death. Here’s what you need to know. What is a minor stroke? A stroke refers to when areas of the brain are not receiving blood flow, which can result in damage to brain tissue. A minor stroke is a non-scientific term that a doctor may use to describe the general severity of a stroke. However, the term doesn’t make specific reference to the type (ischemic or hemorrhagic) or etiology (cause) of the stroke. “There’s no specific definition of minor stroke. A minor stroke for one person might be much more significant for somebody else. Presumably, the way it’s being used here is that it’s a stroke that hasn’t led to significant or lasting neurologic deficits,” Neil Schwartz, MD, PhD, a Clinical Professor of Neurology at Stanford Medicine, told Healthline. A minor stroke shouldn’t be confused with a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is often described as a “ministroke” or “warning stroke.” A TIA causes stroke-like symptoms, such as limb weakness and drooping face, but resolves on its own without damage to the brain. It is called a “warning stroke” because it may be an early sign of a stroke. “The difference between a TIA and a minor stroke is that with a TIA, the symptoms go away, and the person recovers before there’s any actual injury to the brain. In other words, the lack of blood flow that is contributing to the problem resolves before there’s any permanent damage to the brain,” Mitchell Elkind, MD, MS, the Chief Clinical Science Officer of the American Heart Association, told Healthline. “A minor stroke, conversely, is when there may actually be a permanent injury to a small part of the brain, leaving a little scar, but the person’s brain reorganizes, and they’re able to recover from it very quickly,” added Elkind. Recognizing signs of a stroke Both TIA and stroke are serious medical conditions. A TIA may resolve on its own, but because it manifests with similar symptoms to a stroke, there is no way of knowing the severity without seeking medical attention.  A minor stroke may also become a major one without treatment. So, if you are experiencing symptoms of a stroke, always seek aid. Brian May’s experience of a sudden lack of control over his left arm is one of the classic symptoms of a stroke. “We often just see one side of the body or the other affected,” said Schwartz. “We typically see a loss of function, such as weakness or numbness, and facial droop. Those are kind of the classic stroke symptoms,” he added. The hallmark stroke warning signs can be identified through the acronym FAST: Face: Part of the face is drooping or numb. The individual may not be able to smile or may have an uneven smile. Arm: An arm is weak, numb, or lacking coordination. The individual may not be able to raise their arm, or it may drift downward. Speech: An individual has difficulty speaking or slurred speech. Time: A stroke is a medical emergency. If any of these symptoms are present, call 911 immediately. Note the time that the symptoms first appeared. Other symptoms of stroke include: Confusion Difficulty walking Severe headache Numbness Trouble seeing Elkind points out that, unlike a heart attack, individuals experiencing a stroke may not experience any pain.  “Strokes often don’t cause any pain. So, people sometimes get misled because they think of a heart attack and think they should have pain. The brain doesn’t have any sensation itself, so it doesn’t feel pain, it just stops functioning,” he said. What to do after a minor stroke What a doctor prescribes for a patient following a stroke will differ based on the severity of the stroke, as well as other health and lifestyle factors. Brian May says that his doctors “grounded” him, advising him to stay off of airplanes, avoid driving, and keep his heart rate down. However, this advice isn’t generalizable to everyone who has experienced a stroke. Instead, patients should work with their doctors to develop a personalized recovery plan. Following a stroke, a doctor will order a diagnostic workup, likely including a brain MRI, to determine the cause and extent of the stroke. Depending on the findings, they may prescribe drugs, such as anticoagulants. A patient’s specific lifestyle and health factors are also key to recovery. During recovery, a doctor will want to address stroke comorbidities such as diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure.  Patients may also need to modify lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise, and smoking following a stroke. “Depending on what the doctors think the specific cause is, they may make specific recommendations about rest, additional testing, or even surgery to the neck,” said Elkind. The bottom line Brian May, the guitarist for legendary rock group Queen, recently experienced what his doctors described as a “minor stroke.” During the incident, May lost the ability to use his left hand. He now appears to be in good health and has regained the use of his hand.  The severity of a stroke may vary from person to person, but individuals are always urged to know the signs of a stroke and to seek medical attention.

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may help reduce risks from severe COVID-19 for people living with overweight or obesity. Dima Berlini/Getty Images A new study has found that taking semaglutide (Ozempic) was linked with less severe COVID-19. People were also less likely to die from any cause while using this drug. Semaglutide does not appear to directly affect COVID-19, however. Experts say the accompanying weight loss helps make you healthier in general. Even with semaglutide, you still need to take precautions like vaccines and masking. According to a study published online on August 30, 2024, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, people using 2.4-milligram semaglutide were less likely to have severe cases of COVID-19 when using this drug. They were also less likely to die from any cause, cardiovascular or otherwise. The study authors further noted that the reduced rate of non-cardiovascular deaths was mainly due to fewer people dying from infections. Semaglutide is available under the brand names Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss. However, while Wegovy is available in the 2.4-milligram dose, Ozempic tops out at 2 milligrams. How semaglutide use may affect COVID-19 risks The authors state that people with overweight and obesity are at greater risk for dying, both from cardiovascular disease and other causes. Their goal was to see if semaglutide might help prevent these deaths, looking at both cardiovascular deaths and deaths from other causes, including deaths from COVID-19. The researchers randomly selected over 17,000 individuals to participate. Participants were ages 45 and up with a body mass index (BMI) that established them as living with either overweight or obesity. The study participants also had been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease but not diabetes. Over a period of 3.3 years, these people received weekly injections of either semaglutide or a placebo. During this time, any deaths that occurred were recorded based on the cause of death. They found that 833 people died during the course of the study, with 58% of these being related to cardiovascular disease, while the remainder were due to other causes. After analyzing the data, the researchers reached the conclusion that there were fewer deaths from any cause in the group that was treated with semaglutide. Another salient finding was that, while semaglutide did not reduce the rates of COVID-19, those who contracted the virus had fewer adverse events related to the disease. Learn more about how to get GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy from vetted and trusted online sources here: How to Get Ozempic: Everything You Need to Know Where to Buy Ozempic Online How to Get Wegovy for Weight Loss In Person and Online How to Get a Wegovy Prescription Online How to Get Zepbound: What We Know So Far Where to Buy Zepbound Online How to Get Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Where to Buy Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Online How semaglutide might help reduce COVID-19 severity Dr. Ramit Singh Sambyal, a General Physician associated with ClinicSpots who was not involved in the study, said that GLP-1 receptor agonists, like semaglutide, were originally designed to treat diabetes. However, they can improve overall metabolic health by making it easier for people to lose weight, he said. “When we think about this in the context of COVID-19, there’s a fascinating link: obesity is a known risk factor for severe outcomes from the virus,” Sambyal explained. “So, anything that helps reduce obesity-related issues might also lower the risks if you get infected.” Sambyal went on to explain that obesity isn’t just about added weight. “[I]t also put a lot of stress on the body, including chronic inflammation, which makes it harder for your immune system to fight off infections like COVID-19,” he said. Losing weight with semaglutide allows your body to function better, said Sambyal. “Blood pressure drops, blood sugar becomes easier to control, and inflammation decreases,” he said. “This makes you healthier overall and less vulnerable to severe complications if you contract COVID-19.” Sambyal additionally emphasized that drugs like semaglutide do not appear to have any direct effect on the COVID-19 virus, although ongoing research is investigating whether GLP-1 drugs could impact it. “So, while they can make you healthier and possibly less likely to suffer severe outcomes, they’re not a miracle cure for COVID-19,” he concluded. Why you should still take precautions against COVID-19 Dr. Michael Lahey, a physician with My Weight Loss Partner, added to Sambyal’s thoughts by noting that while drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy can aid with treating obesity and obesity-related diseases, they do not free you from taking precautions against COVID-19. “These drugs are intended for controlling certain illnesses and must be regarded only as useful adjuncts to a particular disease control program,” he explained. If you have obesity or accompanying diseases that put you at higher risk for COVID-19 complications — such as cancer, chronic kidney, liver, lung, or heart disease; diabetes; or a compromised immune system — you still need to follow measures such as vaccination, physical distancing, and masking to protect yourself, according to Lahey. “These medications, when taken, truly lower the risk of severe COVID-19, but they do not eliminate the need for every preventive measure,” he stated. Sambyal added that it’s important to think of these drugs as “a piece of a bigger puzzle.” “Yes, they can help reduce your risk by improving your overall health, but they don’t prevent the virus from infecting you,” he said. Vaccines help train your immune system to fight off the virus. Taking additional precautions can help keep you from getting the virus in the first place, said Sambyal. Takeaway A new study has found that people using semaglutide experienced less severe cases of COVID-19. Additionally, they were less likely to die from any cause during the study. Experts say this is because weight loss makes you healthier overall, reducing your risk for COVID-19 complications. Even if you are using drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy, you still need to take precautions against COVID-19 — such as vaccinations, physical distancing, and masking — to reduce your risk.

Extreme hunger is common after people stop taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound. katleho Seisa/Getty Images GLP-1 drugs mimic hormones that help people block food noise and tune into hunger cues. When people cease the use of these medications, they may experience extreme hunger. There are ways to manage this hunger, including focusing on specific types of foods and deprioritizing others, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications. While drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound can help people lose significant weight, individuals who stop using the medications often regain many of the pounds they shed. It’s a phenomenon commonly referred to as Ozempic rebound. In fact, one clinical trial extension from 2022 indicated that people who ceased 2.4 mg weekly doses of semaglutide (Wegovy) regained about two-thirds of their weight within one year. One reason people often quickly regain weight is that extreme hunger and food noise blunted by the GLP-1 drugs can return and, in many cases, feel more intense.  “GLP-1 medications suppress the appetite,” says Dr. Mir Ali, a board certified bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center. “However, when stopped, the appetite returns and there is likely some dysregulation in the appetite hormones, so the appetite can come back even stronger.” While these medications are designed for long-term use, access, costs, and side effects may not make that possible for everyone. However, health experts who specialize in treating obesity say that the following seven tips can help people manage extreme hunger after they stop taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and maintain the weight they’ve lost. Portion control Balance is important. “The plate method divides your plate into three categories,” says Dr. Michael L. Glickman, a triple board certified family and obesity medicine physician who founded Revolution Medicine.  Glickman says these categories are: Non-starchy vegetables: Half of the plate and ideally consumed first Protein: One-quarter of the plate Carbohydrates: One-quarter of the plate Some products — and even your own body – can serve as a portion guide. “There is dinnerware available that can help regulate portions,” Ali says. “Your hands are also a rough guide to portions.” What fits in the palm of your hand is often an approximate portion size, Ali says. Ali says you can ask for half of a portion or box half of a meal before eating when dining out. Eat foods that make you feel full longer A 2015 review indicated that foods high in fiber and protein were satisfying. Dr. Christopher McGowan, who is triple board certified in internal medicine, obesity medicine, and gastroenterology, says these foods should be a priority, especially after ceasing the use of a GLP-1 drug. “GLP-1 medications work by curbing appetite through the brain and slowing stomach emptying, leading to prolonged fullness,” says McGowan, who is also the co-founder of True You Weight Loss. “After stopping a GLP-1 medication, the stomach will rapidly return to its baseline emptying rate, meaning you will feel less satisfied after meals. This sudden feeling of rapid emptying and reduced satiety can be counteracted by focusing on satiating, slow-to-digest foods.” Additionally, Glickman notes that fiber can help regulate blood sugar, helping to suppress appetite and keep insulin levels in check. McGowan suggests foods like: Lean meats Beans Legumes Grains Vegetables Avoid highly processed, high-sugar foods foods The quality of food also matters.  “Avoid foods high in sugar and carbohydrates that cause spikes in insulin,” Glickman says. “Elevated insulin thwarts weight loss and can cause a ‘crash,’ prompting the search for more food high in sugar and carbs.” Learn more about how to get GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound from vetted and trusted online sources here: How to Get Ozempic: Everything You Need to Know Where to Buy Ozempic Online How to Get Wegovy for Weight Loss In Person and Online How to Get a Wegovy Prescription Online How to Get Zepbound: What We Know So Far Where to Buy Zepbound Online How to Get Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Where to Buy Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Online Think ahead Processed foods often have longer shelf lives, fewer storage requirements, and are generally more convenient. Glickman says having nourishing, satisfying foods, like ready-to-eat fruits and veggies, within reach can counteract the desire to opt for highly processed, sugary foods when you’re hungry. “Keep the fridge stocked with well-rounded meals — investing, at times, in premade meals through a delivery service,” Glickman says. “Ideally, this helps reduce grazing/snacking in between meals and on the aforementioned processed foods.” A 2017 study suggested that people who engaged in meal planning had improved diet variety and quality and body weight. Eat slowly and mindfully Making time for meals — and eating with intention — might also help with satisfaction. “Eat mindfully with awareness and intention,” Ali says. “Savor the texture, smell, and taste of food. This may allow your body to be satisfied with less food.” Mindful eating also slows down the process of food consumption, which could be to a person’s benefit. “Often, people continue to eat beyond when they are full because they have not allowed enough time for the receptors in the stomach to signal the brain that it is full,” Ali says. “Eating slowly gives time to sense your stomach is full.” Exercise  Diet and exercise are two lifestyle pillars of weight management. The two might be intertwined, too.  “Exercise sends natural signals that may counteract extreme hunger,” Ali says. “The goal with exercise is being consistent.” Ali recommends shooting for 30 minutes of physical activity daily, five days a week. That puts people at 150 minutes per week. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. McGowan agrees that exercise is essential and adds that resistance training is also beneficial, which the AHA suggests doing at least twice weekly. Research from 2023 indicated that people who exercised regularly had better appetite sensitivity, which could assist with long-term caloric intake.  A 2022 animal study that involved putting mice on treadmills suggested that strenuous exercise could reduce hunger, at least for a couple of hours post-workout.  Find support While lifestyle modifications and self-help might assist people in managing extreme hunger, you might need or want more support.  “Working with a professional, registered dietitian, including weight monitoring, can be critical,” says Dr. Seth Kipnis, the medical director of bariatric and robotic surgery at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Additionally, Kipnis notes that the National Institutes of Health website has a wealth of information related to weight management people might find useful. He also notes that it’s important to keep in touch with your medical team to rule out any other underlying conditions that might be contributing to extreme hunger (and following treatment plans for any conditions you have). Takeaway When people stop taking GLP-1 medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound, they often experience feelings of extreme hunger, which can be challenging to manage and can contribute to weight gain. However, health experts say there are strategies that can help reduce extreme hunger and maintain weight after quitting a GLP-1 drug. These include regular exercise, portion control, and eating in a slow, intentional manner.

Does mobile phone use increase the risk of brain cancer? Existing research suggests there is no link. Willie B. Thomas/Getty Images A new review of previous research concludes that radiation from cellphones is not likely to increase a person’s risk of brain cancer. Their findings align with studies from the past decade that state that the incidence of brain cancers has not increased despite a large increase in the use of mobile devices. Experts say the causes of brain cancer are still somewhat of a mystery, but it appears wireless technology is not a risk factor. There were concerns once that mobile phones could increase a person’s risk of brain cancer because the devices were held close to the head for extended periods of time. Those fears seem to have been laid to rest by recent research. The latest evidence comes from a research review commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) and recently published in Environment International. Researchers examined 63 studies completed between 1994 and 2022, including participants in 22 countries. Eleven investigators from nine countries assessed these studies. The researchers looked at the effects of radio frequencies from mobile phones, base stations, transmitters, and occupational exposure. They focused on cancers in the brains of adults and children as well as cancer of the pituitary gland and salivary glands. The risk of leukemia was also examined. The researchers reported that despite the large increase in the use of wireless technology in the past two decades, there has not been a corresponding increase in brain cancer. They added the risk assessment includes people who frequently have long phone calls and those who have used mobile devices for more than a decade. In particular, the researchers said: There is “moderate certainty evidence” that radiation from mobile phone use close to the head “likely does not increase the risk” of several nervous systems cancers or childhood brain tumors. There is “low certainty evidence” that radiation from cordless phone use near the head “may not increase the risk” of glioma, meningioma, or acoustic neuroma. There is “moderate certainty evidence” that whole-body radiation from fixed-site transmitters such as broadcasting antennas or base stations “likely does not increase” the risk of childhood leukemia. There is “low certainty evidence” that this type of radiation “may not increase” the risk of childhood brain tumors. There is “low certainty evidence” that occupational radiation exposure “may not increase” the risk of brain cancers. Wael Harb, MD, a hematologist and medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in California, says he’s impressed with the findings. “I find this review to be comprehensive and methodologically sound, adding confidence to the growing body of evidence that RF-EMF exposure from mobile phones is not linked to an increased risk of brain tumors like glioma and meningioma,” Harb told Healthline. “The authors carefully evaluated multiple studies and accounted for potential biases and confounders, making their conclusions more robust. Overall, it aligns with prior findings and provides further reassurance that typical mobile phone use is unlikely to pose a significant cancer risk.” Naveed Wagle, MD, a neuro-oncologist at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California, and an associate professor of translational neurosciences at Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, agrees this latest review is compelling. “Much of the data [in the past] has been very small studies and limited tumor types,” Wagle told Healthline. “This study allows for the pooling of these studies to give more robust statistical significance. The lack of [increased] tumor risk see in this data set is further reassurance that radio frequency is not a major risk factor.” Shifting view on cellphones and cancer risk As of 2013, radiation from mobile phones is classified as “possibly carcinogenic,” or class 2B, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and that classification hasn’t been reassessed since. An IARC advisory group is recommending that the classification be re-evaluated as soon as possible. The latest research review is in line with several past studies, including one from back in 2011, that have stated that radiation from mobile phone use does not increase the risk of brain cancer. “The consensus among experts has shifted over time,” Harb explained. “Early studies raised concerns about the potential carcinogenic effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF), leading to the classification of mobile phone use as possibly carcinogenic by the IARC. However, more recent and comprehensive research, including this WHO-led review, has found little to no evidence supporting a significant link between RF-EMF exposure and brain cancer. Most experts now agree that the body of evidence suggests no consistent association between mobile phone use and increased risk of brain cancer, particularly given the lack of rise in brain cancer incidence despite the global surge in mobile phone use.” What to know about radiation and mobile phones The National Cancer Institute has a fact sheet on cellphones and cancer risk. In it, they explain that mobile devices emit radiofrequency radiation. The radio waves from a cellphone are considered low-frequency and low-energy. The institute says this low-level type of radiation isn’t capable of damaging DNA and increasing the risk of cancer. In contrast, x-ray machines, radon, and cosmic rays release ionizing radiation that is considered high frequency and high energy. This type of radiation can damage DNA, potentially causing changes to genes that may increase the risk of cancer. The institute notes that the incidence rates of brain cancer and other central nervous system cancers have remained relatively stable as the use of mobile phones has increased dramatically. “Based on the current evidence, there is little reason for concern regarding frequent mobile phone use or living near radio transmission towers,” Harb said. “Multiple large studies have found no consistent link between RF-EMF exposure and brain cancer risk. For those who are still cautious, simple measures like using hands-free devices or limiting prolonged phone calls can be adopted, though they are likely unnecessary. The important thing is to stay informed as new research emerges, but right now the risk appears to be minimal.” What are the risk factors for brain cancer? The causes of brain cancer still are mostly a mystery to those in the medical field. “For most brain cancers, we still do not fully understand the causes,” said Harb. “Some known risk factors include genetic predispositions, family history of brain tumors, and exposure to ionizing radiation (such as radiation therapy for other cancers). Age is also a factor, as brain cancer tends to occur more frequently in older adults. Additionally, inherited conditions like neurofibromatosis can increase risk. While environmental factors, such as exposure to certain chemicals, have been suggested as potential contributors, the evidence is inconclusive.” Wagle agrees the causes of brain cancer are elusive. “Most brain tumors are sporadic, meaning not due to a clear cause,” he said. “We still do not fully understand the risk factors that lead to tumor formation.  A small but significant portion are due to genetic predisposition.  This is typically a family history of a specific tumor type.  Another rare but established risk factor is radiation exposure, such as nuclear fallout, radiation therapy.”  Erqi Pollom, MD, an associate professor of radiation oncology at Stanford University in California, points to some potential factors. “There is no definitive evidence that mobile devices are associated with an increased risk of developing cancer,” Pollom told Healthline. “Known risk factors for developing brain cancer include exposure to ionizing radiation [such as from x-rays], having certain genetic disorders, and being immunocompromised. However, some people may develop brain cancer without having any of these known risk factors.” Takeaway Experts say the risk factors and causes of brain cancer remain a mystery to medical professionals. A new review of previous research concludes that the use of mobile phones is not likely to be a cause of brain tumors or other nervous system cancers. Researchers say there has not been a corresponding increase in brain cancers as the use of cellphones and other electronic gadgets has dramatically increased.