That’s the question researchers aim to answer in a new, first-of-its-kind, clinical trial in North Texas By Bianca Castro • Published April 30, 2025 • Updated on April 30, 2025 at 10:52 pm

Yaacobi Peretz, S., Kessner, R., Bar, Y. et al. Body composition metrics as a determinant of trastuzumab deruxtecan related toxicity and response. npj Breast Cancer 11, 38 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41523-025-00754-7

by Jennifer H Hwang, DO; Neda Laiteerapong, MD; Elbert S. Huang, MD; David D. Kim, PhDJAMA Health Forum: 2025 Mar 7;6(3):e245586. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.5586. Published March 14, 2025

by Michael Monostra Fact Checked by Richard Smith from Endocrine Today/Healio NewsPublished April 25, 2025 According to findings from a microsimulation model, covering obesity medications under Medicare

American Heart Association by Laura Williamson, American Heart Association NewsPublished: January 14, 2025 The American Heart Association discusses healthspan, defining it as the number of years

Hinte LC, Castellano-Castillo D, Ghosh A, Melrose K, Gasser E, Noé F, Massier L, Dong H, Sun W, Hoffmann A, Wolfrum C, Rydén M, Mejhert

What You Should Know:  – PGxAI, a leader in AI-powered pharmacogenomics released a new report aimed at personalizing treatment regimens for patients taking semaglutide (commonly

Eli Lilly has met its goal of achieving semaglutide-like efficacy with an oral GLP-1 drug. The phase 3 study linked the oral GLP-1 drug orforglipron

Studies suggest types of fasting can lead to moderate weight loss and other health benefits in overweight and obese people, but only some doctors use it. Medscape Medical News

New Pharmacy Integration Aims to Streamline Access to FDA-Approved Treatments for Weight ManagementRelated Stocks: TDOC,

What are the effects of plant-based meats on premature puberty, childhood obesity, and hip fracture risk?
As noted in an editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association on plant-based meats, if you look only at the nutrition facts information for a conventional burger versus a Beyond Meat or Impossible Burger, as seen here and at 0:20 in my video Plant-Based Meat Substitutes Put to the Test, you wouldn’t necessarily be able to predict the health consequences without further studies.

We’ve had plant-based meats in the marketplace for more than a century, though, as you can see in this ad for “good eating” Protose, below and at 0:35 in my video. Dr. John Harvey Kellogg filed a patent for Protose, what he called “the modern vegetable meat,” in 1899.

Of course, products like tempeh and tofu have been eaten throughout Asia for centuries, but I think of those as separate foods in their own right, as opposed to products intentionally designed to mimic the taste and texture of meat. With such a rich history, harkening back to the days of pass-the-Proteena—another great ad here and at 1:06 in my video—you’d think there’d be some studies of consumers—and indeed, there are. 

Researchers have found, for example, that girls who eat meat may start their periods six months earlier than girls who don’t. Is the earlier menstruation because the meat-eating girls were eating a lot of protein and fat? No, because vegetarian girls who instead ate meat analogs, like veggie burgers and veggie dogs, were able to delay menstruation by nine months. Of course, it’s hard to tease out how much of that is just from avoiding meat, but compared with girls who ate meat a few times a week, those who ate meat a few times a day had a significantly earlier age of first menstruation. This may help explain why childhood meat consumption is linked to breast cancer later in life, since the earlier you start your period, the higher your lifetime risk. 
Now, obesity itself may contribute to the early onset of puberty in girls, so that could be another factor. Studies have suggested that “vegetarian children tend to be lighter and leaner than nonvegetarian children,” but veg kids aren’t smaller in general, though. Vegetarian boys and girls may measure to be about an inch taller than their classmates; they just aren’t as wide. So, the fact that girls who eat plant-based meats may be less likely to experience premature puberty may, in part, be because they were leaner.
Indeed, as shown here and at 2:48 in my video, childhood obesity research found that meat consumption seems to double the odds of schoolchildren becoming overweight, compared to plant-based meat. Now, whole plant food sources of protein, such as beans, do even better and are associated with halving the odds of kids becoming overweight.

This is why I consider plant-based meats like the Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat more of a useful stepping stone towards a healthier diet, rather than the endgame ideal. The same amount of protein in a bean burrito would be better in nearly every way, as you can see here and at 3:05 in my video. 

Similarly, in terms of hip fracture risk, in the Adventist Health Study–2, which followed tens of thousands of men and women for years, researchers found that daily intake of plant-based meats appeared to reduce the risk of hip fracture by nearly half, but daily intake of legumes—beans, split peas, chickpeas, and lentils—may drop the risk of hip fracture by even more—by nearly two-thirds.
This is the fourth in a nine-part series on plant-based meats. If you missed the first three, see the related posts below.
Stay tuned for: 

The Health Effects of Mycoprotein (Quorn) Products vs. BCAAs in Meat
What About the Heme in Impossible Burgers?
Does Heme Iron Cause Cancer?
Heme-Induced N-Nitroso Compounds and Fat Oxidation
Is Heme the Reason Meat Is Carcinogenic?

Billionaire Jeff Bezos has decided to use his newspaper to propagate an outdated story that Americans like to tell themselves: that economic freedom equals human freedom. The myth of meritocracy might be designed to inspire striving, but in a country with the greatest income inequality in the developed world, it does something more harmful. It threatens Americans’ health, gaslighting people to believe that unchecked capitalism delivers personal liberty, when decades of research show it shackles people to financial and emotional insecurity. Bezos announced on February 26 that The Washington Post’s opinion pages will be “writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets.” The paper will not publish any viewpoints opposing his priorities, he said, while adding, “Freedom is ethical—it minimizes coercion—and practical—it drives creativity, invention, and prosperity.” For an editorial section that long prided itself as a marketplace of ideas, and a newspaper historically dedicated to holding the powerful accountable, this edict by a union-busting business mogul engaged in a pay-to-play scheme with a president who disdains the Constitution is bad for journalism and democracy and, perhaps most personally, Americans’ mental health. I worked at The Washington Post from 2017 to December 2023, establishing the Opinion section’s first documentary film unit and pioneering a column about mental health and society. In 2021, I covered the January 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol as part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. When I learned of Bezos’s editorial edict, I talked to former colleagues and learned of “heartbreak,” confusion, and anger in the newsroom. I also reached out to Post leadership for a comment on what defines “personal liberties and free markets” and who would be the arbiter of who deserved this freedom. No response.What is happening inside the Post is, in some ways, a microcosm of the country. The “hierarchical, authoritarian nature of most workplaces”—often disguised by language about valuing people’s feedback—has been revealed, according to Seth Prins, assistant professor of epidemiology and sociomedical sciences at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. This forces people to confront the fact they don’t have much control under the current structure, which can be extremely stressful—and not just among D.C. journalists and government workers being targeted for cuts. This is bad for Americans’ physical health, mental health, finances. Anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and other stress-related disorders are all caused by precarious employment, overwork, unemployment, and lack of autonomy and control in the workplace. These problems are rife at another Bezos company: Amazon, the world’s second-largest employer. Corporate executives say they’re concerned about employee health and safety. The Center for Urban Economic Development notes, however, that the intensity, injuries, surveillance, burnout, and high worker-turnover rate at Amazon “should raise concerns about the potential long-term effects on wellbeing, medical costs, future employment and overall economic security.”The system Bezos is championing has enabled the rich to get richer faster and the working class to burn out more quickly. And the assignment he’s given The Washington Post opinion pages is to make his story look good. There is a dataset that gives it credence: Since the 2020 pandemic, the U.S. economy expanded at a solid pace, wages have grown, and more people are working. But if you widen the lens to look at health, well-being, and human flourishing—some people’s definition of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—the United States does “abysmally,” social epidemiologist Richard Wilkinson, a professor emeritus at the University of York in Britain, told me. “The costs of the way the society works are absolutely horrendous,” Wilkinson said in an interview. “We must, at some point, get people to address that.” Suicide and drug overdoses are leading causes of death in the U.S., where we’re strangled by an epidemic of loneliness—that heartbreaking mix of anxiety, depression, and fear that chips at our physical and mental health. The American mind—some might say spirit—is in crisis. Don’t blame Covid-19 alone. In the decade leading up to the pandemic, high school students’ persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness increased by about 40 percent.This isn’t an individual failing, and it can’t all be pinned on social media and cell phones, either. Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, his co-author of the book The Spirit Level, have found that in more unequal societies, kids do less well on math and literacy tests, teenage birth rates are higher, there’s more homicide, more people in prison, lower levels of trust and public engagement, and higher obesity rates.Wilkinson focuses on what psychologists refer to as social evaluative threat. It’s measurable. In experiments, people facing threats to their self-esteem or social status show sharp spikes in cortisol, while other tasks have little effect. “That’s what makes being lower down on the hierarchy so painful,” Wilkinson told me, noting that research shows people not only despise poverty, they despise themselves for being poor. Self-loathing and internalized shame can play out as violence and tension or conflict in the family, at work, and with authorities. The rich may be able to buy their way out of some angst, but they can’t escape the stress of being judged. Plus, income inequality and low trust can breed resentment, which can inspire violence—and the fear of it. After the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, several major health care executives reportedly increased personal security measures.“Whether you are quite resilient or vulnerable to all the social anxieties,” Wilkinson said, “everyone is more worried about others’ judgments of them in more unequal societies.”Censoring critiques of Bezos’s world-view, as is now the rule at Post opinions, doesn’t make the problems go away, though. Similarly, the Trump administration’s executive order to ban mentions of racism, inequality, and gender in scientific research will not erase them from our lives.One can understand why it is trying, however. The illusion of truth can be powerful and effective. Misinformation about the 2020 election and the Capitol attack propagated by right-wing media helped President Donald Trump win back the White House. And in a Pew Research Survey conducted before the election, just 30 percent of conservatives said economic inequality is a very big problem in their country, compared with 76 percent of liberals. When powerful elites control the information ecosystem, perception can feel like reality. But here’s the truth: Deregulation and tax breaks for the wealthy have enabled Bezos and his peers, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, to rack up $227 billion, $230 billion, and $359 billion in worth, respectively, according to Forbes. These oligarchs would like people to believe that if you’re innovative and hardworking, you can achieve their success too. At the same time, however, they oppose labor rights and data protections, consumer safety, and regulations—the measures that shield Americans from exploitation and promote social mobility. So while the wealth gap grows, the poor and working classes are slipping down or stuck on the rung their parents stood on. Free markets and personal liberties are excellent ideas that can complement each other, but only when society collectively decides that dignity, health, and well-being are included in the definition of freedom.“One of the major purposes of the ‘individual liberty’ language is to divide workers and make them think only of themselves,” Prins told me. “We know that actually we are stronger when we come together to demand what we want.” Americans want to do better and feel better. In 2022, 79 percent of Americans said they believe mental health is a public health emergency and needs more attention from lawmakers. And last year, a majority of Americans suggested they wanted the government to look out for people’s health and to regulate business to protect the public interest, according to a Pew Research Survey. But just 22 percent said they trust the government in Washington to do what is right. It’s hard to trust the government to help people feel better when our culture blames individuals for collective problems. Bezos’s ideological pivot at one of the world’s most influential newspapers reinforces a false narrative that economic freedom and human freedom are the same thing and that it’s up to the individual to achieve both. At a time when economic anxiety, loneliness, and distrust in institutions are deepening, the shift is not just misguided—it’s dangerous. We need media that advocate for well-being, not gaslight people into believing their suffering is liberty.

Paternal lifestyle and environmental exposures play a critical role in the offspring’s health. The present study established a paternal obesity model and demonstrated that elevated H3K27me3 levels in sperm persist through the 8-cell embryo stage. This epigenetic modification triggers transgenerational decrease of MANF, inducing ER stress and activating the GRP78-PERK-EIF2α-ATF4-CHOP axis, ultimately driving hepatic metabolic dysfunction and apoptosis in female offspring.

Abstract
Paternal lifestyle and environmental exposures can alter epigenetic changes in sperm and play a critical role in the offspring’s future health, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The present study established a model of paternal obesity and found that the increased levels of H3K27me3 in sperm persist into the 8-cell embryo stage, resulting in a transgenerational decrease of Manf, which causes endoplasmic reticulum stress and activates the GRP78-PERK-EIF2α-ATF4-CHOP axis. This consequently leads to impaired glucose metabolism and apoptosis in the liver of female offspring. Based on these findings, the F0 mice are treated with 3-deazaneplanocin A, an EZH2 inhibitor, which successfully prevented metabolic dysfunction in F0 mice of the high-fat diet (HFD) group. Meanwhile, intravenous injection of recombinant human MANF in F1 female offspring can successfully rescue the metabolic dysfunction in the HFD-F1 group. These results demonstrate that paternal obesity triggers transgenerational metabolic dysfunction through sperm H3K27me3-dependent epigenetic regulation. The present study also identifies the H3K27me3-MANF pathway as a potentially preventive and therapeutic strategy for diabetes, although further studies are needed to validate its clinical applicability.

Could you be losing bone strength without realising it? Dr Vonda Wright breaks down the importance of bone health and its impact on osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, and longevity

Dr Vonda Wright is an orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon and expert on active aging and mobility. She is the author of 44 research publications and of books such as, ‘Fitness After 40: Your Strong Body at 40, 50, 60, and Beyond’.

In this conversation, Dr Vonda and Steven discuss topics such as, the truth about creatine for women, the early signs of arthritis, how running doesn’t build muscle, and the secret cause of Alzheimer’s.

00:00 Intro
02:03 Vonda’s Mission to Help People Live a Longer, Stronger Life
03:59 How Much of Vonda’s Work Crosses Into the Cognitive Realm?
06:03 Training the Brain Like a Muscle
07:14 What Is Precision Longevity?
09:24 How Does the Body Change in Different Seasons of Life?
11:17 Why Do Men’s Bones Maintain Their Density Longer Than Women’s?
12:08 Is Loss of Bone Density Inevitable for Women?
13:51 Why Bone Health Is Crucial for Overall Health
19:47 How Do Bones Release Substances Into the Body?
21:52 What’s Making Your Bones Fragile?
25:39 Importance of Impact Sports for Bone Health
26:42 How to Care for Bone Health During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
27:47 What Is the Bone-Brain Axis?
29:20 What Is the Critical Decade for Bone Health?
34:04 What Is Osteoporosis?
35:31 How Many Americans Over 50 Have Osteopenia?
36:48 Early Warning Signs of Osteoporosis
37:44 Smoking vs. Bone Health
38:28 Is There a Link Between Alzheimer’s and Bone Health?
39:09 Alzheimer’s Disease in Vonda’s Family
40:57 Would Vonda Choose an Able Body or an Able Brain?
41:52 Prediabetes
46:12 Diet for Good Cognitive Performance
48:11 The Perfect Diet for Vonda
49:22 Ads
50:28 Strong Muscles and Bones as Keys to Longevity
50:48 You’re Never Too Old to Build Strength
53:28 Workout Strategies for Building Muscle
55:26 Higher or Lower Weights: What’s Best for Building Muscle?
56:46 Why Is Muscle Critical for Longevity?
59:50 Nutrients for Muscle Preservation
01:01:31 Why People Get Creatine Wrong
01:03:06 How to Find Motivation to Take Responsibility for Your Health
01:03:57 Vitamin D: Crucial for Bone Health
01:04:28 How to Prevent Injury While Running
01:11:45 Ads
01:13:52 Why Should People Avoid Obesity as They Age?
01:15:44 Strategies to Promote Motivation
01:18:32 Myths About Menopause
01:21:22 Link Between Menopause and Bone Density
01:22:40 The Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause
01:27:49 What Causes Arthritis?
01:29:09 Is HRT a Remedy for Musculoskeletal Symptoms of Menopause?
01:30:18 Why Is Back Pain on the Rise?
01:32:55 Back Pain Prevention
01:34:21 Study: Age-Related Decline in Performance Among Elite Senior Athletes
01:36:16 New Book: *Unbreakable*
01:38:42 Link Between Menopause, Diabetes, and Alzheimer’s
01:39:50 The Importance of Men Knowing About Menopause
01:41:36 How Do You Know When To Stop?

Follow Dr Vonda:
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You can purchase Dr Vonda’s book, ‘Fitness After 40: Your Strong Body at 40, 50, 60, and Beyond’, here: https://g2ul0.app.link/pldFkf4guRb

Research Document: https://stevenbartlett.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DOAC-Vonda-Wright-Independent-research-further-reading.pdf

My new book! ‘The 33 Laws Of Business & Life’ is out now – https://g2ul0.app.link/DOACBook

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“Taking action on obesity is a critical step in reducing the burden of other chronic non-communicable diseases, hence the call for a raise in the SSB tax – a pro-health levy – to N130 per litre and the proceeds ploughed into the healthcare sector.”

Rates of obesity and overweight are spiralling due to a “monumental societal failure” to tackle the problem, with more than half of adults and almost a third of children and young people set to be affected by 2050, according to a new study published in The Lancet. That represents more than 3.8 billion adults and 746 million children and adolescents. As we commemorate World Obesity Day, FRANCE 24’s Genie Godula welcomes Dr. Karen Coulman, Senior Research Fellow and Obesity Specialist Dietitian at the University of Bristol.
#Health #Obesity #WorldObesityDay

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We present this special focus issue on March 4th, coinciding with World Obesity Day 2025, to show our solidarity with the World Obesity Federation and advocate for increased awareness, prevention, and treatment of obesity. We embrace this year’s World Obesity Day theme, “Changing Systems,” which challenges us to broaden our perspective from viewing obesity as solely an individual issue and recognize the wider systemic factors that contribute to the rapidly escalating rates of obesity worldwide. As researchers and as editors we often take a narrow view, focusing on specific genes, molecules, or cell signaling pathways that impact metabolism and contribute to obesity. However, with this issue, we aim to expand that view, presenting papers that highlight how body systems cooperate to impact metabolic health and, more broadly, how environmental factors, including food systems, contribute to this complex disease. By understanding the systems that influence obesity on a broader level, we can hope to optimize current disease management and to uncover novel approaches to combat it.

Obesity is a growing public health issue that has recently been transformed through the advent of new medicines. However, our understanding of the pathways and mechanisms that regulate energy balance in mammals is still developing. Recent discoveries on this front include an exciting new finding that there exists a novel class of metabolites in humans and mice that can regulate obesity in rodents.

Rates of obesity and overweight are spiralling due to a “monumental societal failure” to tackle the problem, with more than half of adults and almost a third of children and… Reuters Health Information

Obesity rates are set to skyrocket, with one in six children and adolescents worldwide forecast to be obese by 2050, according to a new study. But with significant increases predicted within the next five years, the researchers stress urgent action now could turn the tide on the public health crisis.

On World Obesity Day, the public health doctor says while much is changing around drugs and weight loss, we cannot lose sight of the need for access to affordable, healthy foods.

Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are on the rise in children. Asthma, obesity and even certain childhood cancers now occur far more frequently than they did a few generations ago. According to a major study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) by the Consortium for Children’s Environmental Health, these diseases now rank among the leading causes of illness and death for young people.1

The study points out that environmental pollution and exposure to synthetic chemicals are widespread, suggesting that these chemicals, produced in huge quantities from fossil fuels, are key factors driving this increase.

Why Chronic Diseases in Children Are on the Rise

Chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, are often thought of as conditions that affect adults. However, the NEJM study explains that children today are developing NCDs at alarming rates.

These diseases are caused by a mix of factors, including genetics, lifestyle and environmental exposures. Synthetic chemicals appear to be a key part of this picture, especially since children face unique risks during early stages of growth.

One example the study highlights is the significant rise in childhood cancers, estimated at around 35% more cases than seen half a century ago.2 It also reports that male reproductive birth defects have doubled in frequency. These trends suggest that children’s bodies, which are still developing, are less capable of defending against chemicals found in everything from food packaging to household products.

Meanwhile, neurodevelopmental disorders affect around 1 in 6 children, and autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed in about 1 in 36 children.3 If you look at these numbers, it’s clear that what was once unusual is now becoming disturbingly common. The study contrasts this surge in child health problems with patterns in adults, where deaths and disabilities linked to certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases have decreased over time.

Better screening and treatments help explain the improvements in older populations. In children, however, environmental factors appear to be overshadowing any of the benefits that have helped adults. This gives you a clue that today’s generation of children are living in environments filled with new synthetic substances that pose unprecedented risks.

When a disease begins during childhood, it alters a child’s quality of life for decades, as many of these childhood-onset diseases carry into adulthood.

Synthetic Chemicals Are Everywhere

The NEJM paper notes that an estimated 350,000 manufactured chemicals, mixtures and plastics exist in global inventories.4 Many of these substances are derived from fossil fuels such as gas, oil and coal. Production of synthetic chemicals has grown 50-fold since 1950, is increasing by roughly 3% every year and is expected to triple by 2050.5

If you think about the sheer numbers, it’s no surprise that children come into contact with these chemicals everywhere — from plastic toys and bottles to upholstered furniture, carpeting and electronics. As noted by the authors, once these chemicals enter the market, they often spread into the air, water and soil.

Environmental pollution is now so widespread that even remote corners of the planet show signs of contamination. Because these pollutants travel long distances in air and water, you cannot assume that living far from industrial centers guarantees safety.

Moreover, these substances are found in everyday items like household cleaners, shampoos and lotions, and repeated exposure from multiple products adds up over time. Disturbingly, as noted in the NEJM paper, unlike pharmaceuticals, most synthetic chemicals are not required to prove they are safe before they are sold.6

Fewer than 20% have been tested for toxicity, and even fewer have been studied for their possible effects on infants and children.7 This lack of oversight leads to a situation where health impacts often only become clear once a generation of children has already been exposed. Because chemical production is profitable, the industry resists stricter regulations that could slow down or limit growth.

Further, government agencies often lack the authority or resources to require comprehensive premarketing testing.8 This leaves you in the dark about what’s in the products you buy. By the time scientists uncover harmful effects, many kids have already been exposed for years on end. Delaying action on childhood health can lead to serious issues — like asthma, developmental delays, or even cancer — emerging years after the damage is done.

The Evidence Behind Chemicals and Disease in Children

The NEJM paper illustrates that the link between chemicals and children’s health issues is not just based on theory. Researchers have tied several childhood diseases to specific synthetic chemicals over the years.

Some of the most striking evidence comes from well-documented events: the tragedy at Minamata, Japan, for example, where mercury-contaminated fish eaten by pregnant women led to severe neurologic damage in babies, or the cases of mothers taking diethylstilbestrol (DES) who remained healthy themselves while their daughters faced a higher risk of reproductive cancers.9

These episodes demonstrated that chemicals cross the placenta and cause serious harm to babies even if the mother appears fine. Another incident was the thalidomide disaster, where pregnant women in the 1950s and early 1960s took a sedative that caused severe limb defects in more than 10,000 infants worldwide. Thalidomide was a turning point in understanding that children and fetuses are especially sensitive to chemicals even at low or short-term exposures.10

These events helped shape the field of environmental pediatrics, giving researchers a framework to investigate how and why chemicals harm children during key windows of development. Today, scientists use prospective birth-cohort studies to measure chemical exposures in pregnant women and follow their children’s health for many years.

Such studies have revealed links between phthalates — found in plastics and personal care products — and male reproductive disorders, and between certain pesticides or flame retardants and lower IQ scores or neurodevelopmental issues.

When multiple studies in different locations find similar patterns, the evidence becomes hard to dismiss. In many cases, parents show no obvious harm, yet their children suffer health consequences linked to chemical exposures that occurred in the womb. Further, harms can appear at different times in life. Some birth defects or cancers show up early, but others, such as obesity, fertility problems or cardiovascular disease, arise years later.

The NEJM study underscores that this delayed effect makes it easy to miss the true cause. If your child develops asthma at age 7 or 8, it’s not obvious if a chemical exposure in infancy or even before birth played a role. This timing gap suggests that the full impact of today’s environment doesn’t become clear for decades, which is why stronger prevention efforts are so important.

Why Today’s Laws Are Failing Children

The NEJM paper also offers a sobering look at the limitations of current regulations. The federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in the U.S. was meant to protect the public and the environment from “unreasonable risks,” but experts say it has not lived up to that promise.

One major shortcoming is that companies producing new chemicals do not have to prove these substances are safe before putting them on the market. Instead, government regulators must prove a chemical is harmful, which is a slow and costly process.11

You might assume that once a hazard is known, authorities would step in quickly. However, very few chemicals have actually been banned or heavily restricted in the nearly 50 years since TSCA first became law. Many that were suspected of causing harm lingered for years while manufacturers disputed the science or withheld data under the banner of “trade secrets.”

As noted by the authors, chemical companies receive government subsidies and enjoy broad legal protections, giving them few incentives to reduce production or invest in safer alternatives.12

In the European Union, the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) framework promises more rigorous oversight. Unfortunately, REACH also falls short, the study highlights, in part because it allows industry-supplied data to serve as a basis for safety, with minimal quality checks from independent labs.13

Thus, while Europe has banned or restricted more chemicals than the U.S., the overall outcome remains similar: tens of thousands of substances in use with limited real-world testing and oversight. Most policies also consider chemicals one at a time, overlooking the fact that you and your children are exposed to a “soup” of chemicals every day. They also rarely account for children’s greater vulnerability.

Because children have smaller bodies and developing organ systems, a dose that’s harmless to an adult is often harmful to a child. If a hazardous chemical stays on the market for decades, it does a lot of damage before regulators step in. By then, an entire generation has grown up exposed to a substance that could cause learning problems, respiratory issues or even increase the risk of certain cancers.

Real-World Examples and Strategies for Reducing Exposure

You might have heard about leaded gasoline. For decades, lead was added to fuel to improve engine performance, leading to widespread contamination. By the 1970s, scientists realized that it had driven up blood lead levels in children across the U.S.

The paper points out that this exposure caused a measurable drop in average IQ scores among those born in that era. When lead was finally phased out of gasoline, children’s blood lead levels fell, and average IQ scores improved.14 This example shows that when harmful substances are removed from circulation, significant public health benefits often follow.

Although it’s difficult to eliminate all exposures, there are still meaningful steps to reduce your exposure at home. Plastics are a major culprit, so replace plastic containers and bottles with stainless steel or glass, especially for foods and beverages.

If you are repainting a room, look for low- or no-VOC paint, since volatile organic compounds irritate airways and have toxic effects. Further, reduce your reliance on harsh chemical cleaning products. Even simple moves, such as using fragrance-free detergents and soaps, reduce the amount of undisclosed chemicals in your and your child’s environment.

Beyond personal choices, advocate for bigger changes. The NEJM paper makes it clear that our laws need a major overhaul.15 Contact local representatives or support organizations that push for stricter limits on chemicals in consumer goods.

In addition, look for companies that are transparent about their product ingredients. Some businesses have begun engaging in what’s called chemical footprint reporting, which means they openly track and share information about the chemicals in their supply chains.

When you shop with these brands or ask for safer products, you send a message that child health is more important than corporate secrecy. Integrative medical professionals are another helpful resource.

If your child has asthma or a developmental concern, ask your holistic pediatrician if chemical exposures are playing a role and whether they have testing, referrals or advice on reducing exposures. Open communication with your child’s health care providers makes it easier to spot early issues before they become more serious problems.

Preserving the Next Generation’s Health Through Action and Awareness

The NEJM study shows that chemicals once considered harmless endanger your child’s growth and development, especially when regulations fall behind science. NCDs, ranging from asthma to cancer, are now major threats to children worldwide, and many of these diseases have been linked to synthetic substances that saturate daily life.

Although the chemical industry wields enormous influence and profits, you have the power to question the status quo and demand safer products and environments for your children.

As production of plastics and fossil fuel-derived chemicals continues to climb, know that solutions do exist. By backing stricter laws, encouraging transparency from manufacturers and making practical changes at home, you help shift priorities toward health rather than unchecked chemical growth.

The real-life success story of phasing out leaded gasoline shows what’s possible when science, policy and public will converge. When society decides children’s well-being matters more than convenience or corporate profits, everyone benefits.

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GLP-1 drugs may improve brain and heart health but could cause problems for the kidneys and pancreas, according to a new study. FreshSplash/Getty Images

Researchers report that GLP-1 drugs prescribed for weight loss, like Ozempic and Mounjaro, may improve cognition and lower dementia and cardiovascular disease risk.

However, they also found that GLP-1 drugs may lead to gastrointestinal, kidney, and pancreas issues.

The researchers recommend that doctors closely monitor their patients as these medications become more widely prescribed.

GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy, commonly prescribed for weight loss, may also benefit cognitive and behavioral health.

However, this popular class of drugs, which also includes Mounjaro and Zepbound, may cause health issues with the gastrointestinal system, kidneys, and pancreas.

That’s the conclusion of a new study published in the journal Nature Medicine, which examined the effects of GLP-1 drugs on 175 different health outcomes.

“Given the drugs’ newness and skyrocketing popularity, it is important to systematically examine their effects on all body systems — leaving no stone unturned — to understand what they do and what they don’t do,” said Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, the study’s senior author and a clinical epidemiologist and nephrologist who treats patients at the Washington University Medicine-affiliated John J. Cochran Veterans Hospital in St. Louis, in a statement.

GLP-1 drugs improve cognition, heart health

In their research, scientists at the Washington Universal School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System looked at the health records of 2 million veterans who were treated for diabetes from October 2017 through December 2023.

Some of the veterans took GLP-1 medications, while others were given more traditional drugs sold under brand names such as Jardiance, Glipizide, and Januvia.

The researchers said their goal was to determine the GLP-1 medications’ effects on the body’s organ systems.

The researchers reported there was widespread associations with the GLP-1 drugs and improvements to cognitive and behavioral health.

These benefits included reduced risks of seizures as well as a lower risk to addiction to substances such as alcohol, cannabis, stimulants, and opioids.

Researchers said that people taking the GLP-1 drugs also experienced decreased risks of suicidal ideation, self-harm, bulimia, and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.

The findings also showed a lower risk of neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“GLP-1RA drugs act on receptors that are expressed in brain areas involved in impulse control, reward and addiction — potentially explaining their effectiveness in curbing appetite and addiction disorders,” Al-Aly explained. “These drugs also reduce inflammation in the brain and result in weight loss; both these factors may improve brain health and explain the reduced risk of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.”

The study also confirmed past research findings detailing the drugs’ potential to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular concerns.

However, the researchers noted these benefits were a somewhat modest 10% to 20% reduction in most risks.

“This is an interesting analysis that is much needed given what the authors cited as drugs that are ‘skyrocketing in popularity,’” said Kristin Kirkpatrick, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic Department of Wellness & Preventive Medicine and president of KAK Consulting. Kirkpatrick wasn’t involved in the study.

“It provides a good assessment for individuals considering these drugs on what risks and benefits may occur, which can then prompt the right discussions with their healthcare providers related to potential individual benefits and risks,” she told Healthline.

Possible GI, kidney, and pancreatic risks of GLP-1s

The research also highlighted some potential downsides to the medications, including an increased risk of gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and in rare cases paralysis of the stomach

In addition, the researchers reported evidence that GLP-1 medications cause increased risks of pancreatitis and kidney conditions.

The researchers urged physicians to be vigilant for signs of pancreatitis and to monitor kidney function among people taking GLP-1 medications. Kidney problems can occur without symptoms until the condition is at an advanced stage with limited treatment options.

“GLP-1RA drugs can have broad health benefits,” Al-Aly stated. “However, they are not without risks. Our findings underscore the possibility for wider applications for these medications but also highlight important risks that should be carefully monitored in people taking these drugs.”

Kirkpatrick said the decision whether to take these medications really depends on the individual.

“I think the benefits vs. risk is really related to the patient. Some patients may find that benefits outweigh risks while others may feel that their personal health history is such that the risks may be too high to consider,” she said.

Sun Kim, MD, an associate professor of medicine at Stanford University in California, said the benefits of taking these weight-loss drugs probably outweigh the risks for most people. Kim wasn’t involved in the research.

“Many of the risks are known (GI disorders), and some potentially could have been prevented (hypotension),” she told Healthline. “It’s important to decrease blood pressure medications while losing weight on GLP-1 meds as weight loss can lower blood pressure, and GLP-1 meds may also have direct effects to lower blood pressure.”

Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, agreed that GLP-1 drugs are an effective treatment for most patients. Ali was likewise not involved in the research.

“I believe the benefits outweigh the risks,” he told Healthline. “Although gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, or constipation are common, they are manageable for the most part. More serious side effects like pancreatitis and kidney complications are very rare.”

What to know about GLP-1 drugs for weight loss

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound are all classified as GLP-1 drugs.

These medications, which are taken by injection, work by simulating naturally produced hormones that curb appetite and slow digestion. A healthy diet and exercise are usually recommended along with taking the drugs.

All these medications have been proven to be effective in helping people lose weight.

Ozempic and Wegovy contain the active ingredient semaglutide. Ozempic has been approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes while Wegovy has been approved to treat people with obesity and other weight management issues.

Mounjaro and Zepbound contain the active ingredient trizepatide. Mounjaro is approved to treat type 2 diabetes while Zepbound has been approved for weight management treatment.

These GLP-1 medications have also shown promise in studies in lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke, colon cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Experts say the use of these medications is likely to grow in the future.

“Based on the interest I see in my patients, I agree that popularity will probably only rise, especially If the data remains positive,” said Kirkpatrick.

“I think one thing that could be discussed more is the exit strategy. I say this because so many of my patients have found success with these drugs but now tell me that they are ‘terrified to get off of them.’ Truly, the plan for onboarding should include an effective strategy for weaning off the drug once the goals of the individual are met.”

Kim noted that about 40% of adults in the United States have obesity, so the need for GLP-1 medications is increasing.

“GLP-1 meds represent the first class of medications that offer effective weight-loss options for patients,” she said. “In addition, randomized clinical trials show that the GLP-1 meds are associated with significant benefits including decreasing risk for cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, sleep apnea, and arthritis. The future is bright for GLP-1 drugs.”

Ali agreed. “I think these drugs, which have already been around for some time, will likely find increasing applications, and newer drugs [that] target similar receptors are on the horizon,” he said. 

“There is a shift toward treating obesity as a long-term chronic disease, like hypertension or diabetes.  With that change, these medications will likely be used long term.”

Learn more about how to get GLP-1 medications like Zepbound and Mounjaro from vetted and trusted online sources here:

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

Where to Buy Ozempic Online

Where to Buy Ozempic Online

How to Get Wegovy for Weight Loss In Person and Online

How to Get a Wegovy Prescription Online

Takeaway

In a new study, researchers looked at the effects of GLP-1 medications across 175 different health outcomes.

They reported this class of drugs, widely prescribed for weight loss, may improve cognition and behavioral function and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia.

However, they found the medications may also cause health issues for the kidneys, pancreas, and gastrointestinal system.

Experts say doctors and patients should consider the benefits versus risks when deciding whether to take these drugs.

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