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A healthy Nordic diet may help you to live longer, but liver benefits remain unclear
In general, people who eat a healthy diet give themselves a significantly better chance of avoiding some major diseases than those who don't. The Nordic diet, also known as a northern version of the Mediterranean ...
Greek recipe developer shares her 2 favorite Mediterranean diet recipes
Maria Koutsogiannis spends hours every week making, eating, and thinking about the diet of some of the world's longest-living people.
The Science Behind Why Dietary Changes Rarely Stick
Learning new eating habits isn’t simple. Our pre-existing feelings around food—whether it’s a distaste for olives or a love of pastries—could make it harder to learn new eating habits, according to new research from Yale School of Medicine.
Fibermaxxing is trending. Here’s what the science says
Fiber is the new protein. Here's what dietitians say about fiber, health and the "fibermaxxing" social media trend.
Better together: How to pair protein and fiber
Learn how to pair protein and fiber for more satisfying meals. A dietitian shares simple protein-and-fiber food combinations to try.
Here’s a ranking of Modesto actor Timothy Olyphant’s best TV shows. Do you agree?
Take our poll at the end of the story to add your voice to the list.
Why Fermented Foods Are Important for Maintaining a Healthy Gut
Maintaining a healthy gut is a vital way to lower risks of illnesses like heart disease and dementia. Gastrointestinal health expert Dr. Trisha Pasricha joins the 3rd Hour of TODAY to share tips to improve gut health, including eating more fiber, diversifying fruits and vegetables in meals, and introducing fermented foods into your diet.
6 High-Fiber Fall Foods for Better Gut Health, Recommended by a GI Doctor
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, a gastroenterologist shares her favorite fall produce packed with dietary fiber to support gut health.
At 81, he’s the most-cited nutrition expert. Here’s what he eats in a day.
Walter Willett’s research has changed the way Americans eat, revealing how diet and other lifestyle choices can shape your risk of chronic illnesses.
RWJBarnabas Health Opens Sixth Food Farmacy and First in Southern Region
On September 8, 2026, RWJBarnabas Health opened the system’s sixth Food Farmacy at Monmouth Medical Center to provide patients with nutritious foods and individualized nutrition counseling from registered dietitians to support long-term health and well-being.
NJ Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard Washington Leads Cooking Class at Harvest
New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard E. Washington joined RWJBarnabas Health at Harvest: A Farm to Community Center where we joined a wonderful group of seniors for an interactive cooking class. Commissioner Washington and registered dietitian Alyssa chopped and mixed Rainbow Grain Bowls using colorful, nutritious, local Jersey-grown ingredients.
Dietitian highlights dairy's role in student-athlete health
The role of dairy in a well-balanced diet. Emily Lyday, a registered dietitian with St. Vincent Sports Performance, says proper student nutrition helps support healthy brain and bone development. “Often times dairy comes in as a side, as an addition to their meal, just to help support it a little bit more to get some […]
WHO endorses lifestyle changes over GLP-1 drugs in child obesity fight
The World Health Organization on Wednesday recommended diet, exercise and counseling over popular weight-loss drugs in its first global guidelines addressing rising obesity among younger children.
8 Fermented Foods To Add to Your Diet
Fermented foods like pickles and kimchi can help keep your gut health. An expert shares which foods are worth adding to your meals.
Marfan Foundation Convenes Global Scientists in Barcelona to Advance Research on Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, VEDS and Related Conditions
The Marfan Foundation brings scientists from 23 countries to Barcelona to share research that may lead to new treatments and better quality of life for people with Marfan, Loeys-Dietz and VEDS.
5 odd wellness trends people have sworn by
Bodog reports on five bizarre wellness trends, including the tapeworm diet and radium wellness, highlighting their high costs and health risks.
Here’s Exactly How Often to Eat Fish to Support Brain Health, According to a Dietitian
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, a dietitian shares how to get the brain-boosting benefits from eating fish regularly.
Research Shows These 10 Diets Are Linked to Healthier Aging
A new study found that many different diets can slow biological aging.
Obesity Startup Ilant Health Bets Its Revenue On Better Patient Outcomes
Founder Elina Onitskansky's Ilant Health has raised over $22 million to pair weight loss drugs with dietitians, behavioral health and peer support.
Scientists uncover a clue that could hint at why we regain weight after diets
A chemical mechanism may cause weight regain by creating a “memory” of obesity in fat cells, a study suggests.
RosCept Capsules Introduces Ros Cept Multi-Ingredient Dietary Supplement for Brain Health, Memory and Concentration
RosCept dietary supplement features Magnesium Beta Hydroxybutyrate, Calcium Beta Hydroxybutyrate, and Sodium Beta Hydroxybutyrate in a focused BHB formulation.Wilmington, DE, Oct. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RosCept has announced the introduction of RosCept, a multi-ingredient dietary supplement formulated with three mineral beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) compounds: Magnesium Beta Hydroxybutyrate, Calcium Beta Hydroxybutyrate, and Sodium Beta Hydroxybutyrate. Official Website: https://roscept.shop/
Coffee-Rich Diet May Be Linked to Better Breast Cancer Outcomes, But Experts Urge Caution
A new study is again drawing attention to a popular morning beverage: coffee. Researchers found that women with breast cancer who consumed higher amounts of polyphenols, naturally occurring plant compounds abundant in coffee and many plant-based foods, experienced lower rates of breast cancer-related death over a long-term follow-up period.
Diet analysis links higher pulse intake to lower heart disease and diabetes risk
New research from two William & Mary students has found that the risk of heart attack could be significantly lowered with one simple dietary change: increasing the intake of pulses. But what is a pulse? ...
The One Fall Food Dietitians Recommend for Brain, Heart, and Gut Health
There are many different varieties of this beloved (and healthy) fall fruit.
How Brazilian Scientists Are Revealing The Hidden Threats Facing Sharks
Along Brazil’s coast, the EcoShark project is studying sharks from multiple angles, from satellite tracking and genetics to contaminants, diet and health.
Is It Healthy to Eat Nuts Every Day? Yes, If You Avoid These 3 Things, Dietitians Say
Nuts are rich in healthy fats and plant protein. Here’s the healthiest way to enjoy nuts every day, according to dietitians.
Is there any candy for diabetics?
People with diabetes can still eat candy, but the type and amount of candy – and how it fits into their larger diet – matters.
Exclusive | How Tanya Zuckerbrot lost her $40M diet empire to one troll, and the six year fight for justice
New Journal Section Puts Epigenetics on Trial: Ethics, Society and Science Collide
Epigenetics has spent the past two decades promising to rewrite the rules of biology. The idea that chemical tags sitting on top of DNA can switch genes on and off, that these tags can be shaped by diet, stress, pollution and poverty, and that some of them might even be passed
VB Health Launches Public Seven-Part Supplement Quality Standard
DENVER, Oct. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VB Health, a Denver-based dietary supplement company co-founded by a U.S.-licensed physician, launched...
VB Health Launches Public Seven-Part Supplement Quality Standard
New company-wide standard, effective across the VB Health portfolio, establishes requirements for research, clinically relevant dosing, formula transparency, sourcing, U.S. manufacturing and every-batch testingDENVER, Oct. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VB Health, a Denver-based dietary supplement company co-founded by a U.S.-licensed physician, launched the VB Health Supplement Quality Standard today, a new public seven-part framework that establishes company-wide requirements for how its supplem
How your gut microbiome may affect your health
Researcher and dietitian Karen Corbin explains how the trillions of microbes in your gut may influence health and how simple food swaps can increase fiber intake.
Two generations of Army dietitians celebrate selection for Army Baylor program
FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — The U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, joined by Soldiers, families and distinguished guests, celebrated the selection of...
The Best Late-Night Drink to Support Healthy Aging, According to Dietitians
When you think “late-night drink,” think cows, not cocktails.
6 Drinks for Better Joint Health, According to a Dietitian
Joint health is essential for staying active without pain. These seven drinks provide anti-inflammatory nutrients that may help keep your joints working well.
Guidance for eating a heart healthy diet | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
For heart health, eating a healthy, balanced overall diet that is easy to maintain long-term is key, according to Harvard Chan's Frank Hu.
Ph.D. Recipient Dr. Sun Young Park Publishes on Gut Health Advertisement on TikTok
While earning her Ph.D. in Communication Theory and Research from Florida State University’s (FSU) School of Communication, Dr. Sun Young Park collaborated with Drs. Jaejin Lee and Braidyn Lazenby in her publication, “Gut health goes viral: analyzing influencer advertising for dietary supplements on TikTok”. This research examined how TikTok creators discuss gut health and promote…
Letter to the editor: No longer science fiction
To the editor, As a teenager in the 1960s, I subsisted on a diet of science fiction and fantasy, for which I was often chastised by my elders. “Why are you filling your head with that …
Progress On Nutrition Has Stalled But Accountability And Integration Can Accelerate Impact
Progress towards global nutrition targets is too slow, and rising food prices threaten to put healthy diets even further out of reach for many, according to
This diet may slow brain aging by 2.5 years
People who followed the MIND diet more closely showed slower brain shrinkage and less grey matter loss over time, with the strongest differences equivalent to about 2.5 years of delayed brain aging. Berries and poultry were linked with healthier brain changes, while sweets and fried fast foods were associated with greater tissue loss.
Experts say a heart-healthy diet is more about consistency than chasing trends
A new ACC scientific statement looks at how eating well can help with the prevention and management of CVD. Plant-based foods as well as healthy fats and proteins are recommended over foods high in refined starches, added sugars and unhealthy fats.
Overall dietary patterns matter more for heart health than nutrients
A healthy, balanced dietary pattern, rather than one focused on individual nutrients or foods is key to maintaining heart health, according to a Scientific Statement issued by the American College of Cardiology and published in JACC, its flagship journal.
Heart health guidance shifts focus from individual nutrients to overall diet quality
A healthy, balanced dietary pattern, rather than one focused on individual nutrients or foods, is key to maintaining heart health, according to a scientific statement issued by the American College of ...
Scientists find strong links between bad diet and depression
A University of California team has called for large-scale tests to confirm a connection between a junk food habit and vulnerability to depression after 20 patients reported improved symptoms such as ...
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Is So Full Of Stuff That Isn't Major Battles That It's Putting Me To Sleep
I enjoy this game, but everything between major battles is snooze-inducing
Scientists discover how excess dietary salt drives 'lean MASH'
Fatty liver disease is commonly associated with obesity, yet a growing number of people with normal body weight develop a severe form of the condition.
Dietitian wins top science communicator award
A dietitian and researcher investigating the impact of plastics in our diet on health outcomes has won FameLab Australia 2026
Caribbean Diet: Traditional Foods, Nutrition, and Cardiometabolic Health
Traditional and neo-traditional Caribbean food patterns emphasize locally produced plant foods, roots, legumes, fruits, and seafood, with observational evidence linking these patterns to more favorable cardiometabolic profiles. Nutrition transition, import dependence, changing food practices, and structural pressures are reshaping these diets, highlighting the potential value of culturally relevant and locally resilient food systems.
These Are The Five Best Foods For Your Colon, According to Dietitians
These everyday picks help support your gut in a variety of ways.
New UMSOM Research Shows Promising Results for Health Care Professionals Using Ketogenic Diet Therapy to Treat Mental Illness
Specialized high-fat, low carbohydrate diets, known as ketogenic metabolic therapy, are showing promising therapeutic benefits for certain mental illnesses in emerging research. Now, a new study from researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (MPRC) shows that an immersive training program can improve health care provider confidence in using a ketogenic dietary treatment plan for their patients.
WHO recognizes healthy, innovative cities across the Western Pacific Region
Nine Healthy City champions from across the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region received special recognition at an awarding ceremony during the 11th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities in Sydney, Australia.The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has presented the Healthy Cities Recognition Awards every two years since 2004 to celebrate innovative and impactful city-led initiatives that improve the health and well-being of urban populations.Eight cities received awards for their best practices, and one National Forum received the WHO Regional Director’s Special Award in recognition of its long-standing leadership in advancing the Healthy Cities movement.Awardees were selected through a rigorous evaluation process and recognized for demonstrating measurable, innovative and sustainable approaches to health challenges faced by cities.Remarking on the significance of the awards, Dr Huong Tran, Director of the Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control at the Regional Office, said that, “There is no single blueprint for a healthy city. What works in one context may need to be adapted to another. But by sharing our experiences, including what worked, what was challenging, and what we learnt along the way, we can help one another move faster and further.”Award-winning cities and initiativesThis year's awards recognize outstanding city-led initiatives that have demonstrated measurable impact, innovation and sustainability in advancing health initiatives for urban populations.Baguio City (Philippines) – Data for equity: informing action, improving healthDr Donnabel Tubera-Panes, City Epidemiologist – Medical Officer IV of the Health Services Office accepted the award on behalf of Baguio City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisBaguio City was recognized for developing a pioneering Livability Index that provides village-level data across all 128 barangays (villages), enabling evidence-based planning and more equitable allocation of resources. By integrating community participation and institutionalizing the index within city planning and budgeting processes, the city has demonstrated how data can drive action to reduce health and social inequities.Eunpyeong-gu (Seoul, Republic of Korea) – Communities living in vulnerable situations: advancing health equity through community engagementVice Mayor Honourable Ahn Hyoung Jun accepted the award on behalf of Eunpyeong-gu. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisEunpyeong-gu was recognized for its inclusive health equity programme supporting vulnerable populations, including isolated older adults and LGBTQI+ communities. Through peer-led community networks, social cooperatives and inclusive service design, the district has strengthened access to care, promoted social inclusion and advanced community ownership of health initiatives.Madiun City (Indonesia) – Adapting and mitigating climate-related crises: building heat resilience and preventing flood-related health risksMs Yuni Dwi Purwani, Secretary General of the National Forum for Indonesian Healthy Cities/Regencies, accepted the award on behalf of Madiun City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisMadiun City was recognized for its SUPERMIE (Sustainable Public Environmental Management Initiative) – a community-based environmental governance model that addresses urban flooding, climate resilience and environmental sustainability. The initiative contributed to reductions in flood-prone areas, greenhouse gas emissions, diarrhoeal disease and dengue fever, while at the same time improving food security through neighbourhood food gardens. The programme has already been replicated in 15 cities and regencies across Indonesia.Macao Special Administrative Region (China) – Protecting communities from tobacco and alcohol-related harms: tackling commercial drivers of riskDr LO Iek Long, Director of the Health Bureau, Macao SAR, China accepted the award on behalf of Macao. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisMacao SAR was recognized for implementing a comprehensive and integrated approach to tobacco and alcohol control. Through legislation, monitoring systems, enforcement, public awareness campaigns and multisectoral partnerships, the programme has strengthened protection against major risk factors for noncommunicable diseases and established a model that is highly transferable to other urban settings.Phnom Penh Capital City (Cambodia) – Safe, active and health-enabling transport: advancing health and reducing inequities in urban mobilityH.E. Khoung Sreng, Governor of Phnom Penh Capital City accepted the award on behalf of Phnom Penh Capital City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisPhnom Penh received the award for its Safe School Zone Project, which combines infrastructure improvements, speed management, enforcement, education and stakeholder engagement to protect children and communities. The initiative has demonstrated measurable reductions in crashes and vehicle speeds while providing a scalable model for safer urban mobility across the country.Quezon City (Philippines) – Transforming food environments: addressing policy, market and urban design drivers of health and nutritionMs Jirah Asa M. Sideco, Chief of the Nutrition Section of the Quezon City Health Department accepted the award on behalf of Quezon City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisQuezon City was recognized for its public food procurement policy that promotes healthier diets through government-run institutions and feeding programmes. Supported by strong policy frameworks and monitoring systems, the initiative improves access to nutritious food for vulnerable populations while serving as a benchmark for other local governments.Samarinda City (Indonesia) – Preventing violence and promoting gender equality: transforming urban systems, norms and spaces Mrs Rinda Wahyuni, Chairperson of Samarinda Healthy City Forum accepted the award on behalf of Samarinda City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisSamarinda City was recognized for its multisectoral approach to preventing violence and advancing gender equality. Responding to local evidence on violence against women and children, the city has positioned violence prevention as a public health priority, bringing together health services, schools, social welfare institutions, law enforcement, civil society and community leaders to strengthen prevention, reporting, survivor-centred support and legal protection. Through inclusive policies, community engagement and sustainable city financing, Samarinda has developed a locally owned and scalable model for creating safer, more equitable and inclusive urban communities.Singapore – Age-friendly cities: transforming systems to bridge generations for a healthier tomorrowDr Tan Weng Mooi, Director, Integrated Health Promotion, accepted the award on behalf of Singapore. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisSingapore received recognition for its Healthy Precinct Framework, which translates national healthy ageing priorities into neighbourhood-level action. The initiative integrates preventive care, social support, service coordination and age-friendly environments while actively engaging older persons, caregivers and community organizations. Its expansion across multiple precincts demonstrates its scalability and long-term sustainability.WHO Regional Director’s Special AwardNational Forum for Indonesian Healthy Cities/Regencies (Indonesia)Ms Yuni Dwi Purwani, Secretary General of the National Forum for Indonesian Healthy Cities/Regencies, accepted the award on behalf of the National Forum. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisThe WHO Regional Director's Special Award was presented to the National Forum for Indonesian Healthy Cities/Regencies (FKKSI) in recognition of its long-standing leadership in advancing the Healthy Cities movement across Indonesia. As a national platform bringing together local governments, communities, academia and civil society, FKKSI has played a critical role in promoting collaboration, capacity-building, knowledge exchange and advocacy. Its efforts have strengthened and institutionalized healthy urban development nationwide and established a model for multisectoral engagement in the Region. Healthy Cities for allThe 2026 Healthy Cities Recognition Awards highlight how cities can lead transformative action on health by addressing climate change, inequity, ageing, nutrition, mobility, social inclusion, violence prevention and the commercial determinants of health. The recognized initiatives demonstrate that local governments, communities and partners can work together to create healthier, safer and more resilient urban environments for everyone. As urban populations continue to grow across the Western Pacific Region, WHO remains committed to supporting cities in advancing health, equity and sustainable development through the Healthy Cities approach and the Alliance for Healthy Cities. ###Note to editorsSince 2004, the WHO Healthy Cities Recognition Awards have provided a platform for cities to share innovative and effective approaches to improving health and well-being. The awards recognize achievements in areas including climate resilience, healthy ageing, health equity, gender equality, tobacco and alcohol control, urban mobility, nutrition and data-driven governance. In 2026, more than 150 submissions were received from cities and local governments across the Western Pacific Region. The titles and affiliations of awardees are presented as they were at the time the photo was taken.______________For more information, or to arrange media interviews, contact: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific: wprocom@who.int
Losing the Same Weight Didn’t Produce the Same Health Benefits
Among several diets tested in a clinical trial, a ketogenic diet produced the greatest improvements in liver and metabolic health. Losing the same amount of weight does not necessarily produce the same metabolic benefits. In a randomized clinical trial, three very different diets helped adults with obesity lose about 10% of their starting weight, but
Is It Healthy to Eat Avocado Every Day? Dietitians Explain
Yes, this fruit is high in fat, but dietitians say that doesn’t mean you should avoid it.
How to construct the optimal diet for brain health
Dr. Patricia Egwuatu, a family physician for Kaiser Permanente, explains how eating certain foods can lead to a healthier body and brain.
Is Tinned Fish Healthy? A Dietitian Settles the Debate
Plus, whether it stacks up nutritionally against fresh fish.
Fiber is both diet fad and fixture for good health
A doctor explains why there is no one‑size‑fits‑all way to increase your intake
Dietitian reveals easy ways to eat more whole grains amid new heart health findings
South Carolina-based registered dietitian Lauren Manaker discusses research linking four to six daily servings of whole grains with improvements in several cardiovascular markers and explains simple ways to increase intake.
Can you be healthy if you eat ultra-processed foods? I asked a dietitian
UPFs are linked to a range of health problems. But no-one seems to be able to agree why.
This simple diet change could slow your biological age in just four weeks, study suggests
A simple change to the balance of your diet could reduce your biological age in just four weeks, according to a new study
Meal deliveries can save money and improve health. Will they survive Medicaid cuts?
Some states deliver meals to Medicaid patients that address their dietary needs. Evidence shows it aids recovery and saves healthcare costs, but federal budget cuts may lead some states to cancel it.
6 Supplements You Probably Don’t Need to Take
The supplements you should take depend on your health, diet and medications. Here’s why some popular picks may not be necessary.
This Matters More for Healthy Aging Than Following Any Specific ‘Longevity Diet,’ Scientists Say
Here’s what to keep in mind if you’re looking for a specific healthy aging diet.
Mississippi Department of Health to host maternal and infant health conference
The conference will also break down the newly released dietary guidelines for Americans and what they mean for pregnancy, postpartum and breastfeeding.
Eat This, Age Slower: The Diet Habits Science Now Urges You to Try - Futura-Sciences
Can What You Eat Really Slow Down Cellular Aging? For years, scientists have observed that people who eat a balanced diet tend to live longer and healthier lives. But how exactly do the foods we eat affect the aging of our cells? Until recently, the detailed mechanics remained a vast...
This Everyday Habit Can Cost You 5 Healthy Years, and It Isn't Smoking or Skipping the Gym
We all know that poor choices about diet and exercise can shave years off your life. But so can this less known lifestyle factor.
How Healthy Are Persimmons?
Persimmons come in many varieties, all with several healthy nutrients. A dietitian explains their benefits and what you may expect when you eat one.
CDC’s latest youth behavior report offers a narrower look at teen health
The 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey report focuses on five areas — diet, physical activity, sleep, digital behavior, and mental health and suicide risk — while largely leaving out national findings on substance use, sexual behavior, violence and disparities among student groups that were prominent in previous reports.
Rising prescription and supplement use poses health risks for seniors
Older Americans are increasingly taking multiple prescription medications and dietary supplements. Although the prevalence of potentially major drug-drug interactions has declined slightly, more than 1 in 5 older adults are potentially at risk, according to a USC-led study published September 24 in JAMA.
Burgers Have Meat and Vegetables. Why Aren’t They Considered Healthy? A Dietitian Explains
Registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade reveals the ingredients and cooking styles that give this beloved dish such a bad rap.
Is It Healthy to Eat Avocado Every Day? This Is the No. 1 Thing to Keep in Mind, Dietitian Says
Avocado is full of healthy fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Fiber is both diet fad and fixture for good health – a doctor explains why there is no one-size-fits-all way to increase your intake
Americans aren’t getting enough fiber in their diets. Luckily, there is a plethora of ways you can increase your daily dose of fiber without upsetting your stomach or breaking the bank.
CDC survey finds mental health and suicide risk among U.S. teens has improved
The CDC's latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey highlights students' diets, sleep and nutrition, which are priorities for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Command (Hockey) Performance
The Kraken’s newly created sports performance group has added a third strength and conditioning coach plus a full-time dietitian for wider, deeper scope aimed at more wins on the ice
From paleo to intermittent fasting: are any diets actually good for us?
As diet trends proliferate on social media, it can be hard to work out which are backed by science and which should be ignored. From paleo to keto, raw food to intermittent fasting, each attracts a tribe of ardent followers. Now Daniel Lieberman, professor of biological sciences at Harvard University, has written a book to try to cut through the noise. In Fed Up, he uses his background as an evolutionary anthropologist to scrutinise the evidence, turning himself into a guinea pig in the process and trying various diets. In this podcast, he tells Ian Sample which one has remained part of his routine
Virtual SUD support platform Nosis launches to address lifestyle, diet needs
Nosis, a platform supporting substance use disorder (SUD) recovery, is launching from stealth in all 50 states. | The virtual startup leverages labs with health coaches and dietitians to address the biological and metabolic health needs of individuals in recovery.
What CDC's new teen health survey shows, and what it skips
Teen suicide risk hit a 10-year low in 2025. Guns, sexual violence, and self-harm. Where are the 2025 data on transgender teens? Missing data changes public health policy. Teen suicide risk hit a 10-year low in 2025. CDC asked more than 10,000 high school students over 100 questions in spring 2025. Yesterday, it published a report covering a fraction of them. The report focsed on five areas: diet, physical activity, sleep, digital behaviors, and mental health, reflecting the priorities of the Make America Healthy Again movement. There was good news. Fewer teens seriously considered suicide in 2025 than in any survey year since 2015: 14%, down from 20% in 2023. Sadness fell. Underlying Conditions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Sports participation, which dipped to 49% in 2021, is back to its 2015 level of 58%. Daily PE fell from 27% to 20% in two years, while fewer students eat breakfast daily than a decade ago. Guns, sexual violence, and self-harm. The questionnaire is public, and it goes well beyond those five areas. Students answered questions about sexual violence, self-harm, and whether they got help when they felt sad or anxious. They said how quickly they could get a loaded gun. They reported whether food ran out at home and whether they felt close to people at school. There were questions about sexual identity, including whether they were transgender. The report did not publish any of the answers students gave to those questions. CDC posts the raw survey data online, so anyone can see what the report left out. The report doesn’t cover the health of sexual minority students. Among students who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, questioning, or another non-straight identity, persistent sadness fell from 66% to 57% between 2023 and 2025. Serious thoughts of suicide fell from 41% to 30%. Those drops were bigger than the ones among straight students, although the gap remains wide: 28% of straight students reported persistent sadness, about half the rate of LGBQ+ students. About 1 in 7 girls reported sexual violence in the past year. One in 6 students hurt themselves on purpose. Among students who needed help for sadness or anxiety, half rarely or never got it. And among students who had seriously considered suicide, 43% said they could get a loaded gun without an adult’s permission. One protective factor rose sharply. In 2023, 55% of students said they felt close to people at their school; in 2025, 63% did. CDC’s earlier research ties that kind of connection to better mental health. Where are the 2025 data on transgender teens? In 2023, CDC's national survey asked high school students, for the first time, whether they were transgender. Their answers are the only nationally representative data on transgender teens, and their mental health is by far the worst of any demographic. That year, 71% of transgender students reported persistent sadness, 54% seriously considered suicide, and 26% attempted it, compared with 38%, 18%, and 8% of cisgender students. But we don’t have 2025 data. The timing matters because students took the survey in spring 2025, as federal policy toward transgender youth shifted. On January 28th, an executive order directed agencies to end federal support for gender-affirming care for people under 19, and several hospitals paused that care within days. In February, the CDC said it would no longer process transgender identity data. Later in 2025, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, and HHS ended the 988 Lifeline’s dedicated line for LGBTQ+ youth. Researchers disagree about how much state policy shapes trans teens’ mental health. A 2024 Trevor Project study estimated that anti-trans laws increased suicide attempts among trans and nonbinary youth. Critics dispute its methods and its estimates. The 2025 survey could have added national evidence to that fight. CDC collected the data but hasn’t publicly released it. Missing data changes public health policy. Surveillance works as a feedback loop. It can show officials whether their policies help or hurt. The CDC didn’t provide data on the students most exposed to transgender policy shifts. The report kept measures that frame health as personal choice, like fruit, breakfast, and sports. It left out measures that track policy, like gun access, mental healthcare, food at home, and school climate, all of which respond to what legislators and agencies decide. HHS did not respond to questions that I sent on September 21st.
Is 50 the new 60?
Subscribe TL;DR: Younger generations are showing signs of worse health compared to earlier-born cohorts at the same age This backward “drift” is showing up both in mortality risk and chronic disease Worsening trends in obesity and diabetes are the most consistent signals Taking the long view, we’ve made astonishing gains in health and life expectancy in the last century. Global average life expectancy has more than doubled from 32 years in 1900 to 73 years in 2024. (But don’t forget, there were still old people when life expectancy was 32). As people lived longer, they also generally lived healthier along the way. It turns out that avoiding things that can kill you early, like malnutrition and lots of childhood infections, also keeps you healthier later in life. In a classic 2004 paper, Finch and Crimmins proposed that cohorts of children who benefited from fewer early life infections had less lifetime exposure to inflammation and cardiovascular disease later in life, accelerating mortality improvements at older ages. Poor nutrition in the womb has also been linked to a higher risk of later chronic disease. The upshot is that improvements in childhood health can pay dividends many decades later. The combination of better living conditions (nutrition, sanitation) and medical advances (antibiotics, vaccines, blood pressure meds, etc) meant that people’s healthy lifespan generally expanded, even as they lived longer. Aging researchers call this best-case scenario “compression of morbidity”—meaning we delay the onset of disease and disability even faster than the years of life we are adding. During my 20+ year research career, we could generally bank on the idea that younger generations would not only live longer but also keep getting healthier along the way. “60 is the new 50” as they say… Enter “Generational Health Drift” Sadly, this expectation of steady progress may be changing. You’ve probably heard that US life expectancy gains have slowed to a crawl in the past couple of decades. Mortality improvements are also slowing (though less dramatically) in many other high-income countries (you can read more about that in a review paper I wrote here). Mortality is a very blunt health measure, but it is often a good barometer for the broader population health trends happening underneath. And we are now seeing that younger generations may be in worse health at similar ages compared to earlier born cohorts. My collaborator Prof. George Ploubidis at University College London coined this worsening health in more recently born cohorts “generational health drift.” “Generational health drift” is bad news on multiple fronts. Most obviously, we don’t want our health progress to go backward. But the timing is also bad, since our populations are aging. In demographic terms, “population aging” means that the proportion of the population at older ages (i.e >65 years) is increasing. Fun demography fact: Current population aging is not due to the recent declines in the birth rates making the news, but declines in fertility decades ago, after the “baby boom.” As baby boomers reach older ages, the smaller cohorts behind them mean the percentage of older adults will increase. For example, the share of the population age 65 and older in the US increased from 12.4% in 2004 to 18.0% in 2024. This story of population aging was written long ago. Many worry that population aging will put pressure on health care and pension systems. But if people reach older ages in better health than in years past, those fiscal pressures would be less dire than projected. Healthy older people can also continue to contribute to society in many valuable ways, including paid work, caregiving, community service….even high political office 🤷. On the flip side, if younger generations reach retirement age in worse health and with more disabling conditions, this could magnify the societal challenge of population aging. Evidence for worsening generational health A recent paper that I LOVED in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. Leah Abrams and colleagues examined which birth cohorts (aka generations) were behind worsening US mortality. Behold the Lexis diagram (cue swooning demographers). Calendar time is on the x-axis, age on the y-axis. Birth cohorts can be followed over time as they age on the diagonal lines moving up and to the right. This figure plots the year-on-year % change in all-cause mortality at a given age. Green shading indicates mortality improvements over time, white is stagnation, and gray shading indicates worsening mortality. Following the diagonal line for those born in 1950, you can see a noticeable shift from green to gray that follows this cohort for most of their lives. This gray shading shows generally worsening mortality for the 1950 to 1959 birth cohorts compared to their predecessors across all ages. Concerningly for my GenX and elder millennial peeps, there was also a deterioration in mortality for birth cohorts born in the 1970s and 1980s, visible as dark gray areas at ages 30 to 45 during the 2010s. While some of these mortality changes reflect specific shocks such as the opioid epidemic, most deaths still occur from major causes of death such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. For cancer, the gray in the top left corner of the figure below reflects the legacies of smoking for older cohorts, followed by a period of green with improvements in cancer mortality as smoking rates declined. But the white/gray shading in the bottom right corner highlights a stagnation and reversal of the cancer trends, with cohorts born around 1970 to 1985 experiencing worsening cancer mortality. This deterioration was most noticeable for colon cancer mortality, possibly linked to obesity or dietary factors. Not just dying more, but less healthy along the way. A recent paper by Dr. Laura Gimeno of University College London (of which I am a co-author), found evidence that more recently born cohorts in Great Britain have stagnating or worsening health. A stylized picture of what“generational health drift” might look like: The review paper found: Rates of childhood overweight and obesity were highest among Gen Z. Rates of diabetes in the 40s almost doubled from 3.1% among the Baby Boomers to 5.9% in Generation X. Gen Z reported higher rates of poor mental health in adolescence compared to earlier-born groups. These UK results are consistent with studies showing worsening health across generations in the US as well. A 2021 US study found that more recently born cohorts had worse biological markers (like blood pressure and blood sugar) than earlier generations at the same age. A separate 2022 study of Americans aged 50 and over found that more recently born generations had a higher number of chronic diseases, with younger age of disease onset. A 2024 Lancet paper found that in the US, women born in 1945 had 33% obesity prevalence at age 50, rising to 48.2% for women born in 1970 turning 50. So what’s going on, and can we turn it around? We don’t have a definitive answer for what’s causing the deteriorating health of younger cohorts, but circumstantial evidence points to worsening trends in obesity and diabetes in both the US and UK. Remember that cohort trends reflect lagged effects of early environments, and younger generations have faced both earlier onset and more severe obesity across their lifetimes. Despite these very concerning trends, the future is not set in stone. We’ve reversed poor generational health trends before: drops in smoking are a major reason cancer and heart disease deaths fell so dramatically in recent decades. GLP-1 drugs may finally turn the tide against rising rates of obesity and diabetes, though it is still early days. But things could also get worse…for example from a return to higher levels of childhood infectious diseases that can have a lasting impact on health. See for example: [ ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) [ Don’t You Forget About Me(asles): The Virus That Erases Immune Memory ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) Jenn Dowd, PhD · March 24, 2025 [ Read full story ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) Even as an optimist, emerging data on the “generational health drift” has my full attention. For most of my research career, we took it for granted that each generation would be healthier than the last. But if present trends continue, **50 could be the new 60….**and Gen Z celebrities will soon look older than Paul Rudd :). Stay well, Jenn Share the Health! If you found this post useful, please share it with a friend. Share
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Culturally Relevant Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Care Strategies
(Feature Impact) Driven by rising rates of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other risk factors, cardiovascular disease has surpassed cancer as the leading cause of death among Hispanic adults in the United States. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('fixed-big-ad-top-asset'); }); Hispanic people represent nearly 1 in 5 of the U.S. population and are the nation’s largest ethnic minority group, yet many continue to face barriers to achieving heart health and accessing high-quality healthcare. A new scientific statement published in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal, “Circulation,” revealed how social, economic, cultural and environmental factors contribute to persistent disparities in cardiovascular health, calling for culturally tailored prevention strategies, equitable access to care and greater representation of Hispanic populations in cardiovascular research.“Hispanic populations in the U.S. are incredibly diverse even within their own communities with differences in genetic ancestry, language, cultural traditions and social experiences that can significantly influence cardiovascular health,” said Johanna Contreras, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, director of the Division of Heart Failure and medical director of the Hispanic Heart Center within the Mount Sinai Health System. “Yet Hispanic people remain underrepresented overall in the research that guides prevention and treatment strategies… Without better representation and more detailed data, we risk overlooking important differences that can help us improve care and save lives.”Hispanic Cardiovascular Health by the NumbersCardiovascular risk factors – obesity (nearly 46%), type 2 diabetes (15.5%) and high blood pressure (approximately 44%) – are prevalent among Hispanic adults and often emerge at younger ages and occur more frequently among Hispanic adults compared with white adults.According to the report, only about 1 in 5 Hispanic adults achieves ideal cardiovascular health as defined by the American Heart Association’s original Life’s Simple 7 metrics. Updated analyses using the Life’s Essential 8 framework demonstrated persistent disparities for heart and brain health, as well as suboptimal dietary quality, sleep patterns and levels of physical activity.Social and Economic Barriers MatterBiology alone does not explain cardiovascular health disparities. The environments where people live, work and age, along with social and economic challenges, impact heart health. In fact, approximately 17% of Hispanics live below the federal poverty threshold, compared with 8.2% of white adults. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('fixed-big-ad-middle-asset'); }); “Many Hispanic adults face obstacles that extend far beyond the doctor’s office,” Contreras said. “Limited health insurance coverage, language differences, food insecurity, environmental exposures and concerns related to immigration status can make it more difficult to prevent disease, manage chronic conditions and receive timely treatment.”Contreras emphasized the cultural values and practices of Hispanic people also influence how they perceive their health and healthcare options.“Family plays a central role in many Hispanic communities and can be an extraordinary source of strength, support and resilience,” Contreras said. “At the same time, family members are often called upon to translate medical information, navigate health systems and help make healthcare decisions for loved ones. Those responsibilities can shape how health information is understood and acted upon.”An Action Plan for Improving Hispanic HealthThere are practical opportunities to achieve equitable cardiovascular health and reduce disparities through community engagement, culturally responsive care, inclusive research and policies that address the underlying drivers of health.“Reducing cardiovascular disease among Hispanic populations demands action at every level,” Contreras said, “from improving access to culturally responsive care and expanding research participation to addressing the social and environmental conditions that shape health.”By addressing both medical risk factors and the social conditions that shape health, experts believe there is an important opportunity to reduce disparities and help more people live longer, healthier lives. Learn more at Heart.org.Photo courtesy of Shutterstock googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('fixed-big-ad-bottom-asset'); });
Culturally Relevant Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Care Strategies
(Feature Impact) Driven by rising rates of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other risk factors, cardiovascular disease has surpassed cancer as the leading cause of death among Hispanic adults in the United States.Hispanic people represent nearly 1 in 5 of the U.S. population and are the nation’s largest ethnic minority group, yet many continue to face barriers to achieving heart health and accessing high-quality healthcare. A new scientific statement published in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal, “Circulation,” revealed how social, economic, cultural and environmental factors contribute to persistent disparities in cardiovascular health, calling for culturally tailored prevention strategies, equitable access to care and greater representation of Hispanic populations in cardiovascular research.“Hispanic populations in the U.S. are incredibly diverse even within their own communities with differences in genetic ancestry, language, cultural traditions and social experiences that can significantly influence cardiovascular health,” said Johanna Contreras, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, director of the Division of Heart Failure and medical director of the Hispanic Heart Center within the Mount Sinai Health System. “Yet Hispanic people remain underrepresented overall in the research that guides prevention and treatment strategies… Without better representation and more detailed data, we risk overlooking important differences that can help us improve care and save lives.”Hispanic Cardiovascular Health by the NumbersCardiovascular risk factors – obesity (nearly 46%), type 2 diabetes (15.5%) and high blood pressure (approximately 44%) – are prevalent among Hispanic adults and often emerge at younger ages and occur more frequently among Hispanic adults compared with white adults.According to the report, only about 1 in 5 Hispanic adults achieves ideal cardiovascular health as defined by the American Heart Association’s original Life’s Simple 7 metrics. Updated analyses using the Life’s Essential 8 framework demonstrated persistent disparities for heart and brain health, as well as suboptimal dietary quality, sleep patterns and levels of physical activity.Social and Economic Barriers MatterBiology alone does not explain cardiovascular health disparities. The environments where people live, work and age, along with social and economic challenges, impact heart health. In fact, approximately 17% of Hispanics live below the federal poverty threshold, compared with 8.2% of white adults.#placement_976606_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid976606 = window.pid976606 || rnd;var plc976606 = window.plc976606 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=976606;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid976606+';place='+(plc976606++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');“Many Hispanic adults face obstacles that extend far beyond the doctor’s office,” Contreras said. “Limited health insurance coverage, language differences, food insecurity, environmental exposures and concerns related to immigration status can make it more difficult to prevent disease, manage chronic conditions and receive timely treatment.”Contreras emphasized the cultural values and practices of Hispanic people also influence how they perceive their health and healthcare options.“Family plays a central role in many Hispanic communities and can be an extraordinary source of strength, support and resilience,” Contreras said. “At the same time, family members are often called upon to translate medical information, navigate health systems and help make healthcare decisions for loved ones. Those responsibilities can shape how health information is understood and acted upon.”An Action Plan for Improving Hispanic HealthThere are practical opportunities to achieve equitable cardiovascular health and reduce disparities through community engagement, culturally responsive care, inclusive research and policies that address the underlying drivers of health.“Reducing cardiovascular disease among Hispanic populations demands action at every level,” Contreras said, “from improving access to culturally responsive care and expanding research participation to addressing the social and environmental conditions that shape health.”By addressing both medical risk factors and the social conditions that shape health, experts believe there is an important opportunity to reduce disparities and help more people live longer, healthier lives. Learn more at Heart.org.Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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