Not all pounds you gain carry the same weight. Being overweight can lead to a host of health problems, like chronic diseases and even premature death, especially in older age. But not all excess weight yields the same risk, according to new research, as pounds packed on earlier in our lives may be the most … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I’m an ophthalmologist, a physician who specializes in medical and surgical eye care, and I’m hoping you can help me debunk a common myth about eye health. Many assume eye disease happens only to older adults. While age does increase the risk of developing certain vision-threatening diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma … Read more
Just think, we may have never gotten the “Oh, oh, oh, Ozempic!” jingle stuck in our heads if it wasn’t for a creepy, bottom-dwelling fish. Dr. Joel Habener of Massachusetts General Hospital unexpectedly discovered GLP-1 in the 1980s while analyzing the pancreatic genes in anglerfish. Habener’s team identified the precursor to GLP-1, a hormone that regulates … Read more
G whiz! The latest experimental GLP-1 from Eli Lilly isn’t just a diabetes drug — it also facilitates weight loss. Known as “triple-G,” injectable retatrutide levies a triple whammy on the GLP-1, GIP and glucagon hormones, whereas most other drugs on the market only mimic one or two of those hormones. Eli Lilly’s new retatrutide drug … Read more
It’s known as a “mini” stroke — but a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is no small thing. Though it typically lasts only a few minutes, this temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain can be an early sign that a full-blown, potentially disabling stroke is on the horizon. “A TIA can be a blessing … Read more
The weight-loss world is on the brink of a major shake-up. Pharmaceutical companies in India will get the green light this weekend to start selling generic versions of Ozempic and Wegovy, with several other countries set to follow in the months ahead. The move is expected to unleash a wave of cheaper alternatives, dramatically widening … Read more
It’s not just beauty rest — sleep duration and quality are some of the most powerful indicators of metabolic health. And a new study may have pinpointed exactly how much sleep it takes to keep Type 2 diabetes at bay. Research has long linked sleep duration and insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. Now, experts … Read more
A paw-sible path to a longer life? About 43% of US households — especially those run by millennials — own a pooch. Research has long suggested that there are numerous physical and mental benefits to having a furry friend around. A canine pal could even mean living longer, thanks to its effects on heart health, … Read more
Don’t call it ChatEMT. OpenAI last month introduced ChatGPT Health, a dedicated space in ChatGPT that allows users to ask health questions, analyze their medical records and connect to wellness apps. Now, weeks after its launch, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai are raising concerns that the AI tool often fails to … Read more
That “fridge cigarette” might be accelerating your cognitive decline. A new study out of Brazil determined that popular sweetening agents in items like Diet Coke could cause the brain to age 62% faster than brains with less exposure. And the numbers are even more startling for younger people and those with diabetes. Over eight years, … Read more
Living at high altitudes may lower the risk of diabetes, and scientists believe they have finally figured out why. A new study from the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco examined how red blood cells behave in low-oxygen environments. The findings, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, reveal that at high elevations, red blood cells begin absorbing … Read more
Menopause symptoms can be a lot to shoulder — hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats and weight gain are just a few. There’s also a lesser-known side effect of menopause. Frozen shoulder, medically known as adhesive capsulitis, occurs when the shoulder capsule thickens and tightens, causing significant pain and difficulties moving the arm or even … Read more
Red meat has long been blamed for raising blood sugar and diabetes risk, while chicken is widely seen as the healthier option — but a new study challenges that age-old advice. Researchers at the Indiana University School of Public Health–Bloomington and the Illinois Institute of Technology put a common dietary recommendation for people with prediabetes to the … Read more
Heart disease and stroke deaths are falling in the US — but there’s a quiet health threat that’s spreading fast and putting millions at risk. In fact, the problem has grown so widespread that the condition landed its own chapter in the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update, released Wednesday. The … Read more
It’s shooting its shot at stardom. Adding power-packed foods to your daily diet can seriously boost your health, from promoting a balanced gut to providing disease-fighting antioxidants. While no single food can provide all the health and nutritional benefits we need, items like fermented foods, blueberries, avocados and nuts have long been powerhouse staples of … Read more
You’ve likely heard of diabetes, a chronic condition that affects how the body regulates blood sugar. But are you familiar with prediabetes? Prediabetes is a state of elevated blood sugar that falls below the threshold of Type 2 diabetes. It’s becoming increasingly common: More than 1 in 3 US adults has prediabetes, and most aren’t … Read more
Sweet salvation? Scientists at Tufts University have discovered a way to produce a safe dupe for sucrose, AKA table sugar. Better yet, the sweet stuff has significantly fewer calories, minimal impact on blood sugar, and may even have potential benefits for oral and gut health. Unlike artificial sweeteners, tagatose is a naturally occurring sugar found … Read more
That’s some serious star power! Shortly after his baffling Pizza Hut commercial dropped, ex-NFL star Tom Brady was named chief wellness officer of eMed, a digital health platform for GLP-1 drugs and more. The seven-time Super Bowl champion, 48, joins the ranks of superstar athletes promoting the blockbuster weight loss and diabetes meds, a head-scratching … Read more
An often-overlooked part of the body may reveal important clues about overall health. Researchers from the University of Westminster in the U.K. discovered that the shape of the gluteus maximus muscle in the buttocks changes with age, gender, lifestyle and frailty, as well as certain conditions like osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes. Using advanced MRI scans that … Read more
The diabetes playbook just got a major update. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) officially recognized a fifth form of the disease this year, a landmark step that comes more than 70 years after it was first identified. The move aims to shine a light on a long-overlooked condition that affects millions worldwide — but the … Read more