Category: Health

• A recent study found an association between alcohol consumption and 20 different health outcomes.
• The findings show that any amount of alcohol may increase the risk for various cancers.
• The researchers noted that the effects of alcohol can vary based on factors like sex, age, drinking patterns, and other behavioral risk factors.
• The study found that there is no evidence to support sex-specific thresholds on alcohol guidelines.

It’s well-established that consuming alcohol can have negative effects on overall health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that moderate drinking may have health risks, while the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that no amount of alcohol is safe.

A new study found that any alcohol consumption can raise the risk for major cancers, including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

The findings, published on June 1 in Nature Health, show associations between alcohol use and several additional health outcomes, including other forms of cancer.

The researchers noted that while there are limitations to the study, the results present a clearer picture of the risks associated with alcohol consumption to help inform personalized decisions about alcohol use.

“This is not surprising and illustrates the many mechanisms through which alcohol, especially when consumed in large amounts, is toxic to our bodies,” said Ketan Thanki, MD, board certified colorectal surgeon with the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA. Thanki wasn’t involved in the study.

Even moderate alcohol consumption may increase the risk for certain health conditions, especially cancers.

The study analyzed 843 cohort and case-control studies published through 2023 using the Burden of Proof meta-analytic framework.

The researchers aimed to systematically re-evaluate the relationship between alcohol consumption and 20 health outcomes. These included 10 types of cancer:

It also included four cardiovascular diseases:

The study included six other conditions as well:

Alcohol raised the risk of five health outcomes by 15–50%, including:

• lip and oral cavity cancer
• laryngeal cancer
• cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases
• pancreatitis
• colon and rectal cancer

The strongest association was between alcohol consumption and pharyngeal cancer, with a 105% increased risk.

Any amount of alcohol consumption appeared to increase the risk for pharyngeal cancer more than the other health conditions that were considered.

Nine outcomes met the criteria for an increased risk of developing a health condition by 0–15% or, in some cases, a decrease in risk by 0–13%. These included:

• esophageal cancer
• breast cancer
• Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
• atrial fibrillation and flutter
• type 2 diabetes
• liver cancer
• pancreatic cancer
• lower respiratory infections
• prostate cancer

There were five health outcomes that showed weak or inconsistent evidence: stomach cancer, hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, tuberculosis, and ischemic heart disease.

The researchers found some evidence that the risk of type 2 diabetes actually decreased with low consumption of alcohol and increased with higher consumption.

However, this is not to say that you should start drinking alcohol if you currently don’t.

“While I readily recognize the role that alcohol consumption plays in the human experience, when anyone asks me about safe alcohol consumption, I always begin by saying that abstinence is the safest and truest bet,” Matt Glowiak, PhD, licensed counselor and chief addiction specialist with Recovered, told Healthline. Glowiak was not involved in the study.

“If one is going to drink, it is within their legal right if of age. However, they must make themselves fully aware of the health implications, which extend greatly beyond any warning label posted directly on beverage labels,” he said.

While current CDC guidelines define moderate drinking as 2 drinks per day for males and 1 drink per day for females, the WHO states that no safe amount of alcohol is safe for health.

However, the conflicting public health messaging around alcohol consumption may sow confusion around how much is considered safe, which is why many experts say that abstinence is best.

If you do wish to enjoy alcohol in moderation, Glowiak offered some parameters. “There are other proposed recommendations that speak to a 2-2-2 rule or 3-2-1 rule,” he told Healthline.

“For example, the 2-2-2 rule indicates no more than 2 drinks per occasion, no more than 2 days in a row, with no more than 2 days per week of consumption. Essentially, the 2-2-2 rule equates to no more than 4 drinks per week, which is actually a more conservative recommendation than the CDC,” Glowiak said.

The current study showed that even moderate alcohol consumption may increase the risk for nine cancers. This reinforces the well-established carcinogenic effects of alcohol.

However, the researchers also noted that current evidence does not support sex-specific thresholds for defining moderate drinking.

Thanki agreed and stated, “While the current literature does suggest that moderate drinking is better for you than heavy drinking, it is hard to make sex-based claims as to what constitutes moderate in each sex based on the current data.”

While it showed some evidence that low alcohol consumption may decrease the risk of certain conditions, like type 2 diabetes, these outcomes are largely observational and may be subject to bias.

“Heavy consumption, whether regular or episodic, is going to increase your risk of developing a multitude of disease processes,” said Thanki.

“In an ideal world, we probably should be avoiding alcohol consumption altogether, especially when we are young and unlikely to reap the benefits the elderly see from low-moderate alcohol consumption. In the setting of our cultural expectations, though, that is unlikely to happen, so keep your consumption low to moderate and avoid high alcohol content (ABV) drinks to minimize direct injury to the GI tract,” he told Healthline.

• A new study found that females using GLP-1 drugs had about a 30% lower risk of developing breast cancer.
• The effect may be related to the metabolic improvements associated with this class of medications.
• More research is needed before GLP-1 drugs can be recommended for breast cancer prevention.
• Experts say that regular screening and a healthy lifestyle remain important preventive measures.

A new study from the University of Pennsylvania has found that women who take GLP-1 medications are about 30% less likely to develop breast cancer.

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. GLP-1 medications were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, but are also widely prescribed for weight loss.

The new research raises hope that GLP-1 drugs could serve as a strategy for breast cancer prevention, especially among higher-risk females with overweight and obesity.

The findings come at a moment when scientists are exploring the use of GLP-1 drugs to treat other conditions beyond type 2 diabetes and obesity, such as sleep apnea and addiction.

The research team conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records from the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which includes both academic and community medical sites across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

During this process, they identified 217,624 females who underwent breast imaging between January 1, 2022, and June 30, 2025. The study focused on 111,646 females ages 45 to 80 who were overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25) and had documented breast imaging outcomes.

Among these participants, 15,264 (13.7%) had been prescribed GLP-1 medications prior to their imaging exam, while 96,382 (86.3%) had no record of GLP-1 use.

To ensure a fair comparison and reduce bias, the researchers performed a one-to-one case-control matching.

Each woman taking GLP-1 drugs was matched with a woman not taking the drugs, based on factors such as age, race, ethnicity, BMI, breast density, and diabetes status. This matching process helped control for variables that could independently influence breast cancer risk, independent of GLP-1 use.

The primary outcome measured was the diagnosis of new breast cancer during the study period.

Statistical modeling was used to analyze the association between GLP-1 exposure and breast cancer incidence.

The researchers’ analysis found a significant association between GLP-1 use and reduced breast cancer risk.

Females taking GLP-1 medications had about 35% lower odds of developing breast cancer compared to those who did not use these drugs in the full cohort.

In the matched cohort, which controlled for potential confounding factors, GLP-1 use was associated with a 30.5% reduction in breast cancer incidence.

Specifically, among the 15,264 females on GLP-1 drugs, 1.62% were diagnosed with breast cancer during the study, compared to 2.47% of the 96,382 females who did not use GLP-1 medications. This translated into an absolute risk reduction of about 0.69%.

The protective effect of GLP-1 medications was consistent across racial groups, including Black and white females, and was independent of diabetes status, age, BMI, and breast density.

The researchers believe several mechanisms could explain these findings.

GLP-1 drugs not only promote weight loss, which is known to reduce breast cancer risk, but they also reduce systemic inflammation, a known contributor to cancer development.

Laboratory studies have also shown that GLP-1 agonists may directly inhibit cancer cell growth and alter metabolic pathways essential to tumor survival.

While the study was observational and cannot prove causation, its large sample size and rigorous matching lend weight to the results.

However, the researchers emphasized that prospective clinical trials are necessary to definitively determine whether GLP-1 medications can prevent breast cancer and to understand the underlying biological mechanisms.

This study opens the door to exploring GLP-1 drugs as a potentially safer alternative to existing breast cancer preventive medications, which often have significant side effects.

Given the widespread use of GLP-1 medications for weight management and diabetes, the findings could have significant public health implications.

Monique Gary, DO, a breast surgical oncologist at St. Luke’s University Health Network who wasn’t part of the research team but did attend the conference, said that GLP-1 could be exerting this effect because multiple factors influence breast cancer risk.

“GLP-1s may be influencing breast cancer risk indirectly by improving some of the metabolic factors we know matter, including weight, insulin resistance, inflammation, and the hormonal environment,” she told Healthline.

Gary further noted that adipose tissue is metabolically active and can affect estrogen production and inflammatory signaling, both of which are involved in breast cancer biology.

At the same time, she said it’s important to note that what was seen was simply a statistical association.

“It does not prove that GLP-1s prevent breast cancer, and these medications are not FDA-approved for cancer prevention or cancer treatment,” Gary explained.

Nevertheless, these findings are important, she said, because they reinforce that breast cancer prevention involves looking at “the full risk picture” rather than just one factor.

“GLP-1s may become part of a larger prevention conversation for some patients in the future,” said Gary, “but they are not a replacement for screening, risk assessment, or individualized medical guidance.”

While GLP-1s may play a future role in breast cancer prevention, Mia Kazanjian, MD, a board certified radiologist and director of Women’s Imaging at Norwalk Radiology Consultants, said there are several steps women can take right now to help reduce their risk. Kazanjian wasn’t involved in the study.

Breast cancer screening is an important part of this process, she told Healthline. Females should generally get annual mammograms, along with an ultrasound if they have dense breast tissue.

“Societies recommend starting at age 40 if average risk, though I recommend a baseline at 35 yo as I practice in CT, which has the highest rate of early onset breast cancer in the U.S.,” said Kazanjian.

She added that females may wish to consider a breast cancer risk assessment using the Tyrer-Cuzick Model by the age of 25, or even sooner if they’re at high risk.

The value of breast cancer risk assessment made headlines in 2024 when actor Olivia Munn shared that it led to her early breast cancer diagnosis.

Additionally, Kazanjian suggested embracing a healthy lifestyle as a part of your prevention plan.

“About 30 minutes of moderate activity a day is ideal,” said Kazanjian. “This can be divided into smaller chunks of time for busy people.”

Kazanjian also suggested following a plant-based diet with lean protein. “Avoid ultra-processed foods,” she added.

Finally, Kazanjian said it’s important to avoid cigarettes and alcohol. “Any amount [of alcohol] increases risk of breast cancer,” she warned.

• A new study found that 90–120 minutes of strength training each week could help promote longevity.
• Around 1.5 to 2 hours of weekly strength training lowered the risk of death from cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and death from any cause.
• The findings add to the known health benefits of strength training, including bone health, improved balance, and weight management.

Strength training is heralded as a valuable aspect of an exercise regimen and regular physical activity.

Strength and resistance training offer myriad benefits, including improving bone strength and balance, and helping with weight management.

A new study found that aiming for 90-120 minutes of strength training each week may help lower your risk of death.

This means for most people, around 1.5 to 2 hours per week is sufficient for overall health and longevity.

“It is important to engage in aerobic exercise that increases the heart rate. This new study finds [that] another important aspect of exercise is strength training, including free weights, weight machines, and body weight exercises,” said Clarinda Hougen, MD, a primary care sports medicine specialist at Cedars-Sinai Orthopedics in Los Angeles. Hougen wasn’t involved in the study.

“By training and growing your muscle mass, you can improve your metabolic health and help reduce cardiovascular risk,” Hougen told Healthline.

The researchers for this study drew on 30 years of data from three large groups of study participants:

These totaled 147,374 participants, of whom 31,540 were males, and 115,834 were females. The average age at the beginning of the study was 54.

Participants were questioned every 2 years about the time they spent on strength training and aerobic exercise each week for up to 30 years.

Aerobic exercise included:

• brisk walking
• running or jogging
• swimming
• cycling
• tennis and squash,
• strenuous outdoor work
• stair climbing

Strength training included exercises using weights or body weight, such as push-ups, lunges, and squats.

During the course of the study, 35,798 participants died. A higher weekly and long-term level of strength training was associated with a lower risk of death.

The researchers found that 90–119 minutes per week of strength training was associated with a 13% lower risk of death from any cause. No further benefits were seen above 120 minutes per week.

The researchers found that 90–120 minutes of weekly strength training was associated with a 19% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

The same amount of strength training also lowered the risk of death from neurological disease by 27%.

A lower risk of cancer was only seen at lower levels of strength training. A 9% lower risk was observed at 1–29 minutes per week, and an 12% lower risk at 30–59 minutes per week.

As this is an observational study, no firm conclusions of cause and effect can be drawn. The researchers also acknowledge the study’s limitations.

These limitations include the self-reported nature of the data, the exclusion of strength-training activities such as calisthenics and Pilates, and the lack of information on the duration of each exercise session or the intensity of strength training, any of which might have influenced the findings.

However, the findings still show an association between regular strength training and mortality rates and overall health.

“This particular study reported an optimal range of 90–120 minutes per week, although benefits may be seen with lower targets. This adds to a growing body of already established evidence touting these benefits,” said Mary Greene, MD, board certified cardiologist with Manhattan Cardiology in NYC. Greene wasn’t involved in the study.

This study focuses on the mortality benefits of strength training. But there are various other benefits of this type of exercise as well.

Greene told Healthline some of the other benefits of strength training include:

• cardiovascular benefits, such as lowered blood pressure, improved cholesterol, improved endothelial function (blood flow, inflammation control, and cardiovascular health)
• metabolic health, such as a decrease in type 2 diabetes risk and improved insulin sensitivity
• musculoskeletal health, such as increased bone density, reduction of osteoporosis risk, reduced osteoarthritis, and prevention of functional limitations
• mental health and sleep benefits
• body composition, such as increased lean mass

“When planning to start a new exercise regimen, it can be useful to first consult with your doctor if you have any health concerns that may need to be addressed first,” said Hougen.

“You should also try to find exercises or activities that you will enjoy, as this will make it more likely that you will stick with the routine. Finally, you should plan to ease into the routine gradually, setting smaller goals initially that can improve your confidence to eventually get to higher activity levels.”

• A new medication performed remarkably well in a phase 3 clinical trial for treating pancreatic cancer.
• The drug daraxonrasib reduced the risk of death by nearly half, as well as shrank tumors in people who were given the drug.
• Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers, and early detection is the key to treating the disease.

A new type of medication is showing promise in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer.

In a phase 3 clinical trial, the drug daraxonrasib significantly improved survival rates of participants with pancreatic cancer who had previously been treated with chemotherapy.

The researchers found that daraxonrasib reduced the overall risk of death by 60% compared with people with advanced pancreatic cancer who were treated with chemotherapy.

The medication also helped shrink or eliminate tumors among participants in the trial.

Officials at Revolution Medicines, the manufacturer of daraxonrasib, said the clinical trial results are a major breakthrough in pancreatic cancer treatment.

“These results represent a potentially transformative advance for patients and underscore daraxonrasib’s potential to redefine the treatment landscape,” said Mark Goldsmith, MD, the chief executive officer and chairman of Revolution Medicines, in a statement.

Participants were given doses of between 10 milligrams (mg) and 400 mg of daraxonrasib orally once a day, with 300 mg selected as the phase 3 dose.

The researchers focused on 168 participants who had been previously treated with chemotherapy.

The researchers reported that participants using daraxonrasib had an average survival rate of 13 months from diagnosis to death compared to 6 months for participants treated with standard chemotherapy.

In people with a known RAS mutation called G12, tumors remained ⁠under control for a median of about 7 months among participants on daraxonrasib compared to about 3 months for those treated with chemotherapy.

The percentage of patients whose cancer shrank or disappeared was about 33% in patients with the G12 mutation compared to about 12% for people given chemotherapy. Overall, about 31% of trial participants saw their tumors shrink or disappear compared with 11% who received chemotherapy.

Experts not involved in the trial are very encouraged by the findings.

“This is an extraordinarily hopeful moment for the pancreatic cancer field,” said Diane Simeone, MD, the director of the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, as well as the founder and chief scientific advisor of the Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Consortium (PRECEDE), in a statement shared with Healthline.

“Pancreatic cancer patients have had far too few effective treatment options,” she added. “The progress around daraxonrasib shows what is possible when long-term scientific investment, academic discovery, and industry innovation come together,” Simeone continued.

Christina Annunziata, MD, senior vice president of Extramural Discovery Science at the American Cancer Society (ACS), was also buoyed by the research.

“These results are extremely promising since this drug doubled overall survival for patients with relapsed pancreatic cancer,” she told Healthline.

Daraxonrasib is the first in a new class of drugs called RAS(ON) inhibitors that target variants of the RAS gene that drive cancer growth.

Side effects were reported in 96% of participants who received doses of 300 mg or less. Those included:

Side effects were grade 3 or higher in about a third of participants.

Annunziata, however, noted that “the side effects were lower compared to standard chemotherapy typically used in this second-line treatment setting.”

However, she had concerns about access to the new medication. “The only concern will be the availability of this drug to people who need it. This will depend on the cost and level of insurance coverage,” Annunziata said.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that 68,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and roughly 53,000 will die from the disease.

Pancreatic cancer affects the pancreas, an organ that plays an essential role in digestion by producing enzymes that the body needs to digest fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. The pancreas is located behind the stomach, which can make detection and diagnosis of cancer difficult.

SEER data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) show that around 3% of people whose cancer has spread from the pancreas to distant organs have a 5-year survival rate. About 80% of patients are diagnosed in the advanced or metastatic stage.

The average lifetime risk for pancreatic cancer is about 1 in 56 in males and about 1 in 60 in females.

Pancreatic cancer often doesn’t produce symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. Symptoms at later stages may include:

• loss of appetite
• unintentional weight loss
• abdominal pain that may radiate to the back
• fatigue, weakness
• jaundice
• nausea and vomiting

The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that there are risk factors for pancreatic cancer that you can lower by adopting certain lifestyle behaviors. These include:

• tobacco use
• excess body weight
• exposure to workplace chemicals

They also note there are risk factors that cannot be modified.

One of them is age. The ACS states that almost all pancreatic cancer patients are older than 45. About two-thirds are at least 65 years old. The average age at diagnosis is 70.

Males are slightly more likely than females to develop pancreatic cancer, partly due to higher smoking rates and other factors.

African-Americans are also slightly more likely to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer than other groups. The ACS states this may be due to factors such as diabetes, smoking, and excess body weight.

There are various treatments that are used to fight pancreatic cancer, including:

• surgery in which portions of the pancreas are removed
• radiation therapy
• chemotherapy
• targeted therapy
• immunotherapy

“New treatments can help patients live longer, but we have the greatest opportunity to change the trajectory of this disease when pancreatic cancer is found earlier, before it has spread,” Simeone said.

Annunziata listed various reasons why pancreatic cancer is so difficult to treat:

• it’s often discovered in its later stages
• dense connective tissue around the cancer decreases the effectiveness of chemotherapy and immunotherapy
• pancreatic cancer cells have gene mutations that make them grow quickly and evade chemotherapy

Early detection of pancreatic cancer can help improve survival rates.

There are a variety of tests used for pancreatic cancer screening, such as:

• CT or MRI scans of the pancreas
• an endoscopic ultrasound
• a biopsy of tissue from the pancreas
• blood tests to check for biomarkers

Annunziata said what makes screening for pancreatic cancer problematic is the lack of early stage symptoms.

“There is currently no screening method for pancreatic cancer in the general population,” she said. “People with a strong family history of pancreatic cancer, or known hereditary syndromes like BRCA [breast cancer gene] or Lynch [syndrome], should talk with their doctor about regular screening with endoscopic ultrasound or MRI.”

Annunziata said the best defense is to adopt a lifestyle that decreases the possibility of pancreatic cancer developing.

“People can reduce their risk by avoiding factors known to be associated with pancreatic cancer: don’t smoke or use tobacco products, maintain a healthy weight and diet, pursue regular exercise, and limit alcohol intake,” she said.

• Anne Hathaway recently shared about the early onset cataract that left her legally blind in one eye for 10 years.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 17.2% of Americans ages 40 and older have a cataract in one or both eyes.
• Cataracts generally begin to occur in people over 40, but they can and often do occur in people younger than this.

Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning actor Anne Hathaway recently spoke out about the early onset cataract that left her nearly legally blind for 10 years.

“I was half blind for 10 years — age 30 to 40,” Hathaway told the New York Times’ Popcast in an earlier interview. “I had an early onset cataract, and it affected my vision so much that I was basically legally blind out of my left eye.”

Hathaway said she underwent surgery to fix her cataract. “I didn’t realize how bad it had gotten until I could finally see the full spectrum,” she told the Popcast.

Cataracts are common among middle-aged and older adults. They affect approximately 94 million people globally and are one of the leading causes of vision impairment.

“Everyone will develop at some point in their lifetime, and while they typically begin forming between ages 40 and 50, we do see cases that develop earlier, often referred to as early onset cataracts,” said Ashley Brissette, MD, an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon specializing in cataract surgery in New York City.

Healthline spoke with Brissette to learn more about early onset cataracts and how they’re treated.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Brissette: Cataracts can progress to significantly impact vision if left untreated. As the lens becomes more clouded, patients may experience blurred or cloudy vision, difficulty seeing at night, and faded colors.

The old thinking was to wait until cataracts became advanced before removing them surgically, but a more modern approach is to remove them as soon as they affect your vision and quality of life.

We have excellent options for lens implants that are placed inside the eye after cataract surgery. These lenses can provide a range of vision to limit the need for glasses after surgery.

The important thing to know is that this kind of vision loss is treatable with modern cataract surgery.

Brissette: In the early stages, some patients can manage with stronger lighting or updated glasses. But when cataracts begin to interfere with daily life, surgery is the standard, highly effective, and safe treatment. And it can help you see better with less dependence on glasses.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States.

What’s really exciting today is how much the procedure has evolved. We are not just removing the cataract. We are replacing it with an intraocular lens that can correct vision.

With advanced technologies, including some of the latest presbyopia correcting options, I am seeing patients achieve a range of vision that can significantly reduce their need for glasses. In many cases, patients are not just getting back the vision they had before their cataract. They are actually seeing better than they did before it developed.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that cataracts are just something you have to live with, but that is not true.

Cataracts are highly treatable, and addressing them can make a meaningful difference not just in vision, but in overall quality of life, from maintaining independence to reducing risks like falls and even reducing the risk of dementia.

The key takeaway is to stay proactive. The earlier we evaluate changes in vision, the more options we have to deliver the best possible outcomes.

• A growing body of evidence suggests that a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) measurement is a better indicator of obesity and health than body mass index (BMI).
• New research suggests that BMI measurements may be significantly underestimating the number of U.S. adults with obesity, which can lead to other chronic diseases.
• Experts say obesity misdiagnoses may be preventing people from getting the treatments that they need.

New research suggests that body mass index (BMI) may be drastically underestimating the number of people in the United States with obesity.

Around a quarter of people considered to have a healthy BMI measurement may actually meet the standard of having obesity, which raises the risk of various chronic health conditions.

Researchers say that half of those classified as “overweight” based on their BMI should be reclassified as having obesity. The findings were published on June 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The authors said that measurements of abdominal fat may be better indicators of obesity. They noted that people who are misdiagnosed based on BMI may not be getting the medical intervention they need or qualify for pharmacologic or surgical treatments for obesity.

In addition, physicians may not flag these patients as needing lifestyle modifications that could improve their health.

“Many people assume that if their BMI says they are not obese, they don’t have to worry about the many health problems linked to obesity,” said Brian P. Lee, MD, a hepatologist and liver transplant specialist with Keck Medicine and principal investigator of the study, said in a statement.

“Our findings show that millions of Americans may already have obesity-related health impacts and may be missing needed health interventions.”

They concluded that 26% of people with a “normal” BMI and 50% of people with an “overweight” BMI actually qualified as having obesity.

“BMI is problematic because it does not specifically measure body fat and instead reflects total body weight, which includes muscle and bone,” Lee said in a statement.

“So, a muscular person can have a very high BMI but not have excess fat, while someone without much muscle can have a normal BMI but have excess fat causing health problems.”

David Cutler, MD, a family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California, who wasn’t involved in the study, said that, based on BMI, some professional athletes might be classified as overweight or obese when, in reality, they are in peak shape.

“All you have to do is watch a football game to see that,” he told Healthline.

Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon, bariatric medicine specialist, and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California, said that while BMI alone isn’t the most accurate measure of obesity, there are reasons for its use. Ali wasn’t involved in the study.

“I agree that BMI is not the ideal indicator of obesity and that measuring the waist-to-hip ratio offers certain advantages,” he told Healthline. “However, BMI remains the most widely used measure by providers and insurance companies because it is easier to calculate, whereas waist-to-hip measurements can vary.”

In recent years, research has suggested that the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) may be a more accurate measure of overweight and obesity.

For instance, a 2023 study found that WHR measurements had the strongest association with all-cause mortality risk regardless of a person’s BMI. The authors suggested that body fat distribution, rather than body weight, should be considered in clinical recommendations.

Cutler said he favored waist-to-hip ratio measurements over BMI. “BMI measures weight. The others measure fat. They’re two different things,” Cutler said.

Ali noted that WHR, DEXA scans, and body roundness can more accurately determine whether a person has obesity. “However, these methods have not been widely adopted due to drawbacks like cost and complexity,” he said.

“While BMI fails to account for body composition — potentially categorizing muscular individuals as overweight — it will likely remain the standard until a more effective, simple calculation is established,” Ali continued.

Dan Azagury, MD, an associate professor of surgery at Stanford University and the medical director at the Stanford Lifestyle and Weight Management Clinic, shared similar thoughts. Azagury wasn’t involved in the study.

“BMI is a useful and widely used screening tool for obesity because it is simple and easy to apply,” he told Healthline.

“However, it is not perfect for several reasons. Most importantly, BMI is not designed to assess the health impact of obesity. As a result, two patients with the same BMI may experience very different health effects. In this regard, the waist-to-hip ratio is a better measure, as it more accurately reflects metabolically active fat, which tends to accumulate inside the abdomen rather than around the hips,” Azagury continued.

Cutler said that a critical issue with relying solely on BMI is that people who are overweight may not be getting the information they need on diet, exercise, medications, surgery, and other ways to manage obesity.

“It puts them at higher risk of all the diseases that are associated with obesity,” he said. “This condition needs to be recognized and managed.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 40% of adults in the United States have obesity, based on BMI measurements.

However, a December 2025 report published in JAMA notes that if waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios were used along with BMI, the obesity rate among U.S. adults would be 75%.

Even with BMI measurements, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that about 73% of U.S. adults can be classified as being overweight or having obesity.

The CDC states that there is no significant difference in obesity rates between males and females. The age group with the highest obesity percentage is people ages 40 to 59.

The federal health agency adds that non-Hispanic Black adults and adults may have higher obesity rates than other groups.

Obesity can also affect many parts of the body, including the brain, blood vessels, liver, and joints.

“Obesity is a complex, long-term medical condition influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and hormones,” said Ali. “If not properly treated, it can affect every organ system and contribute to diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Studies also show that obesity can significantly shorten a person’s life span.”

Diet is considered a primary factor in the development of obesity.

When the calories a person consumes exceed those they burn, the body stores the excess as fat, which may lead to weight gain over time.

In addition, the quality of the calories consumed is another important factor. Foods high in sodium, fat, sugar, and refined starches can lead to weight gain. Many processed foods fall into this category.

Other factors, such as a lack of exercise and inadequate sleep, can also contribute to obesity.

Experts say the first step is to know the facts about obesity and receive a definitive diagnosis. From there, people can seek treatment.

“The good news is that obesity can be treated,” said Lee in a statement. “Whether through lifestyle changes, medication or both, we have effective ways to reduce excess body fat and lower the risk of future health problems. The earlier we identify people at risk, the better chance we have of improving long-term health and quality of life.”

Ali said that what a person eats and how much they exercise are key to healthy weight management.

“To lower their risk, individuals should maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, and consult a medical professional if they face challenges in doing so,” he said.

Azagury said the focus should be more on treatment and less on risk reduction. “Prevention is always preferable,” he said. “However, obesity is a highly complex condition with multiple contributing factors, including genetics, which makes prevention challenging.”

“At this point, our main advantage is the availability of several highly effective treatments,” Azagury said.

“For individuals with obesity, initiating effective therapy — such as GLP-1 medications or surgery — early is important, ideally before health complications develop. For that reason, discussing treatment options with your physician at an early stage is critical,” he said.

• Researchers have identified several reasons why mosquitoes are more attracted to some people than others.
• The scent you give off through carbon dioxide and through your skin can make you more prone to mosquito bites.
• Mosquitoes may also be more attracted to people who drink beer.
• While DEET offers protection, research suggests that mosquitoes could evolve to become attracted to it.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re a mosquito magnet, you’re not alone. Research shows that mosquitoes may be more attracted to some people than others.

A 2026 preprint study found that mosquitoes are also more attracted to those who drink beer compared to those who don’t.

Other recent studies have found that mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide (CO2) humans exhale. Older studies suggest that mosquitoes may be attracted to chemical odors emitted by your skin.

Regardless of what attracts them, it’s safe to say that no one wants to be their next meal.

“Mosquitoes are said to be the most dangerous animals on our planet because they can transmit serious infections, including malaria, yellow fever, Zika, dengue, and chikungunya, among others,” said William Schaffner, MD, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University. Schaffner wasn’t involved in the studies.

“Thus, learning how to avoid mosquito bites has long been a public health priority. It is a common experience that mosquitoes seem to have a preference for some persons while avoiding others,” he told Healthline.

DEET has long been considered the gold standard repellent for protection against mosquito bites. However, a new study found that mosquitoes may have learned how to associate DEET with food and even become attracted to it.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you should stop using DEET altogether. Any protection against mosquitoes is better than none at all.

Whether you plan to travel this summer or attend World Cup matches, you may need to take extra precautions against mosquitoes, especially if you’re more prone to bites than others. Here’s what you need to know.

Mosquitoes are attracted to the CO2 we exhale. They can fly up a CO2 “plume” that a person creates when they breathe and find a host. However, whether they land or not may depend on other factors.

Some studies have pointed to our unique heat signatures as a reason mosquitoes may choose to land and feed on some people rather than others. Mosquitoes may be more attracted to stronger heat signatures.

Other studies have found that mosquitoes may be attracted to chemical odors emitted by human skin. People who are more attractive to mosquitoes appear to produce more carboxylic acids. Carboxylic acids are naturally occurring compounds. They are found in human sweat and generated by skin microbes.

Researchers believe that understanding how mosquitoes are attracted to certain skin odors may help develop more effective repellents.

A recent study at a festival also found that what you drink may be more likely to attract mosquitoes. The researchers examined mosquito behavior among 465 participants from the festival.

They found that factors such as consuming beer appeared to attract mosquitoes more.

The researchers noted that this may be due to the smell of beer attracting mosquitoes rather than blood alcohol levels. However, they also note that further research is needed to verify the findings.

“This study, conducted during a music festival in the Netherlands, suggested that mosquitoes were attracted to the skin of persons who had consumed beer,” Schaffner said.

“However interesting, the result is inconclusive and must be confirmed by further research. It is unlikely that this study will result in a notable reduction in beer consumption.”

A recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology found that mosquitoes may begin to associate the smell of DEET with food and even become attracted to it.

The researchers trained mosquitoes by gradually introducing DEET and using a bag of warm blood kept just out of reach. As the mosquitoes began feeding on blood, the team introduced DEET into their environment.

After repeating this process 4 times, they found that more than 60% of the mosquitoes attempted to feed when presented only with the smell of DEET. The insects were then given a choice of human hands. The “untrained” mosquitoes avoided the DEET-covered hand, while the “trained” ones were drawn to it.

“The common assumption has always been that repellents work because of their chemistry — that DEET simply smells bad to mosquitoes and they flee or that its chemistry prevents mosquitoes from smelling us,” Clément Vinauger, associate professor of biochemistry at Virginia Tech, and co-author of the study, said in a press release.

“But what we are showing is that the mosquito’s brain can rewrite that response based on experience. What the insect has learned matters just as much as what the chemical does. That, I think, is a paradigm shift,” Vinauger continued.

Schaffner noted that while these findings are interesting, they are “unlikely to occur in nature.”

The researchers noted that these findings don’t mean you should stop using DEET, as it’s still one of the most effective ways to repel mosquitoes.

The study, however, suggests that the timing and concentration may matter more than previously thought.

Vinauger suggested reapplying regularly rather than a lot at once. This may help the repellent to remain continuously active and provide protection.

If you’re spending time outdoors, it’s important to try to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

“Mosquito bites are an unpleasant nuisance, but, beyond that, mosquitoes can be the vectors for numerous diseases. Avoiding mosquito bites also reduces your risk of being stuck with a nasty infection,” said Schaffner.

Schaffner recommended the following ways to help protect yourself from mosquito bites:

• wear long-sleeved shirts and blouses
• wear light-colored clothing
• be aware that early mornings and evenings are times when many mosquitoes bite
• check the environment around your house to get rid of objects with standing water (i.e., plastic toys) as they can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes

• Only about 20% of sunscreens meet leading safety and efficacy standards, according to a recent report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
• Mineral sunscreens are generally considered safer, but the best sunscreen is one you use consistently and reapply regularly.
• Broad-spectrum SPF 30 to 50, proper application, and regular reapplication are the keys to effective sun protection.

Sunscreen is a key aspect of sun protection, especially in the summertime. However, your sunscreen may not be protecting you as well as you think.

The EWG rates products based on five factors that relate to ingredient hazard and efficacy in providing sun protection:

• health hazards
• UVB (ultraviolet B) protection
• UVA (ultraviolet A) protection
• balance of UVA and UVB protection
• sunscreen stability, or how quickly ingredients break down in the sun

While sunscreen is important, it shouldn’t be the only thing you rely on to protect yourself from the sun.

“The recent report from the Environmental Working Group raises some important points about sunscreen formulation, labeling, and regulation, but it is also important to interpret the findings based on what is available,” said Tanya Evans, MD, board certified dermatologist and medical director of the Skin Cancer Program at the Melanoma Clinic at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA. Evans wasn’t involved in the report.

“Sunscreen is still one of the most effective tools we have to reduce sunburn, photoaging, and skin cancer risk, including melanoma. The main message should not be to avoid sunscreen, but instead to choose and use sunscreen wisely,” she told Healthline.

There have been no fully approved new UV-blocking ingredients for sunscreen since 1999.

For 27 years, Americans have relied on older filters, while products with safer, potentially more effective filters have become standard across Europe and Asia.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed classifying bemotrizinol as a safe and effective sunscreen ingredient in late 2025. This would be the first time in decades that a new filter was allowed in U.S. markets.

However, this has not yet been fully approved.

Paul Banwell, a cosmetic surgeon and skin cancer specialist, said that as awareness of sunscreen ingredients broadens, more people are asking about the differences between chemical and mineral sunscreens. Banwell wasn’t involved in the report.

“Mineral sunscreens usually contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and sit on the skin to physically reflect UV rays away, whereas chemical sunscreens absorb UV radiation and convert it into heat,” Banwell told Healthline.

“Neither is automatically ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and both can be effective, but certain skin types may tolerate one better than the other. In my clinic, particularly after procedures like laser resurfacing, peels, or surgery, I will often recommend mineral sunscreens because they tend to be gentler on healing or more reactive skin,” he said.

Evans agreed and noted that the “best” sunscreen is the one that’s used every day.

With so many options available, choosing the most effective sunscreen may seem daunting.

“When choosing a sunscreen, I always tell patients to keep it simple and focus on the basics,” Banwell said.

Evans offered the following tips when choosing sunscreen:

• Look for broad-spectrum protection (covers both UVA and UVB).
• SPF 30 to 50 is sufficient for most people, but most dermatologists recommend SPF 50 or higher.
• Use water resistance when swimming or sweating. Remember to reapply regularly.
• Opt for a texture or formulation you will use consistently.
• Sensitive skin or rosacea-prone people benefit from zinc oxide-based formulas.

“Using extremely high SPFs such as SPF 100+ can create a false sense of security and does not dramatically offer greater protection,” Evans said. “The most important thing is not to abandon sunscreen altogether.”

“The risks associated with chronic UV exposure are very real and very well documented,” said Banwell. “Sunscreen should still absolutely form part of a sensible long-term skin health routine alongside hats, sunglasses, shade, and avoiding excessive sun exposure where possible. If the skin is constantly being exposed to UV damage without protection, it becomes much harder to maintain healthy skin quality over time,” he said.

• Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that a rise in tick bites is causing higher-than-usual emergency room (ER) visits.
• Tick bites can lead to Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
• Climate change may be partially responsible for the higher tick populations in many regions of the United States.

Growing tick populations across the United States are leading to more tick bites.

As of April, the Northeast saw the largest increase in tick-related ER visits. These rates are far higher than in other parts of the United States. The Midwest is the second-most-affected region.

Tick bites can cause Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that can be difficult to diagnose and treat.

“This trend is consistent with a broader pattern of increasing tick-borne disease burden in the United States,” said Robert Glatter, MD, attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital and assistant professor of Emergency Medicine at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/ Northwell.

“An estimated 400,000–470,000 cases of Lyme disease are now diagnosed annually in the U.S., and this number has been rising over the past two decades. Higher ER visits for tick bites likely reflect both a true increase in tick encounters and growing public awareness of tick-borne illness,” Glatter told Healthline.

Around 31 million people in the United States are bitten by a tick each year. According to the CDC’s Tick Bite Tracker, visits to the emergency room in many parts of the country are currently higher than usual.

All regions, except the South Central areas, reported the highest weekly number of tick bite ER visits since 2017.

“Emergency departments in endemic areas should be prepared for a corresponding rise in patients presenting with early Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections during peak season (May through August),” said Glatter.

Tick bites can lead to various illnesses, including:

Lyme disease, in particular, is the most common tick-borne disease in the United States.

According to a media briefing by the Bloomberg School of Public Health, one of the main reasons for the growing shift in Lyme disease cases and ER visits due to tick bites is climate change.

“There has been a rise in tick activity believed to be related to rising temperatures, resulting in shorter and milder winters. Ticks and the animals they thrive on flourish in these conditions,” said Jonathan Jennings, MD, a board certified internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan.

“Naturally, since there is increased tick activity, the risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases increases proportionally,” he told Healthline.

During this briefing, Nicole Baumgarth, DVM, PhD, director of the Lyme and Tickborne Diseases Research and Education Institute at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, explained that climate change contributes to the expansion of tick populations.

“A changing climate, a warming climate is expanding, the ticks northwards who are now able to overwinter in areas further north and at higher altitudes,” she told Healthline.

Glatter agreed, noting that several factors are driving the expansion of tick populations.

“Climate change — particularly warming temperatures — accelerates tick development, improves overwinter survival, and extends the geographic range of Ixodes scapularis into previously unaffected northern regions,” he said.

Glatter added that other drivers of shifts in tick populations, tick bites, and Lyme disease cases may be due to the recovery of white-tailed deer populations. He described white-tailed deer as “critical hosts” for adult ticks, thereby fueling tick abundance and population growth.

“Additionally, suburban development encroaching into wooded areas, habitat fragmentation, and urban greening initiatives have created new interfaces where humans and ticks increasingly overlap. As a result, the net effects of such ecological shifts mean that tick exposure is no longer limited to rural or heavily wooded environments,” said Glatter.

Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed, so it is important to do a full-body check after spending time outdoors.

This is especially important when you have been in areas where ticks are most likely to be found, such as high grass and leaf litter.

“When in areas where Lyme disease is endemic, it is important to wear insect repellent and scan your body frequently for ticks,” said Jennings.

• Check your clothes: Remove your clothes and inspect all outer clothing, shoes, and backpacks for ticks.
• Take a shower: As soon as you return from areas that may be high risk for ticks, take a shower or a bath. This can help remove any unattached ticks and help you find any that may be attached.
• Do a mirror check: Examine each area of your body using a hand mirror or a full-length mirror. Be on the lookout for any black dots that might resemble new freckles.
• Check hidden spots: Ticks prefer warm, dark, moist areas. So, be sure to focus on your hair, around your ears, underarms, groin, behind the knees, between your toes, and even your belly button.

The CDC states that preventing tick bites is the best form of protection. If you find a tick attached, remove it immediately. Removing attached ticks within 24 hours can help prevent Lyme disease.

Seek medical attention if you notice any signs of Lyme disease, like the bull’s-eye rash. You should also seek medical attention if you believe a tick has been attached for more than 24 hours.

• NASCAR driver Kyle Busch died on May 21, 2026, from a severe case of pneumonia that progressed to sepsis.
• Sepsis is the body’s extreme and potentially life threatening response to an infection.
• Sepsis is both common and unpredictable, meaning it can be easily missed.
• Knowing the “silent signs” of sepsis can lead to earlier intervention that may be lifesaving.

NASCAR fans were shocked to learn that famed driver Kyle Busch died suddenly and tragically on May 21. He was 41.

The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion died of severe pneumonia that progressed to sepsis, the Busch family announced on May 23.

NASCAR described Busch as “a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans,” NASCAR said in a statement.

Sepsis is a severe and potentially life threatening illness that can develop when an existing infection triggers an extreme immune system response.

“Reports indicate that Kyle Busch appeared to be struggling with what seemed like a sinus infection or a cold just two weeks before his death, and had even won a race the weekend prior,” Robert Glatter, MD, attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, and assistant professor of Emergency Medicine at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/ Northwell, told Healthline.

“That rapid reversal — from competing to a fatal crisis — is exactly what makes this progression so dangerous,” he said.

Sepsis accounts for over one-third of all hospital deaths. Sepsis can be treated if caught early. Knowing the signs of sepsis can help you advocate for yourself or loved ones. Healthline spoke with Glatter to learn more.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Glatter: Pneumonia begins as a localized infection. Bacteria, a virus, or fungi take hold in the lung tissue, and the immune system responds with targeted inflammation — swelling, fluid accumulation in tiny air sacs, along with the onset of fever. In most cases, such a response is sufficient, and patients can recover with appropriate therapy.

In severe pneumonia, however — particularly when the pathogen is aggressive, or the infectious burden is high — the immune response can escape its local boundaries and spill into the bloodstream.

At that moment, the body stops fighting an infection in the lungs and begins mounting a systemic war against itself — inflammatory chemicals flood every organ system, blood vessels leak, microscopic clots form throughout the circulation, and blood pressure collapses.

The kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart also begin to fail — not because the infection has physically spread to each organ, but because the immune system’s runaway cascade is damaging them all simultaneously.

Glatter: Sepsis can mimic many other conditions, which contribute to its lethality. The following signs — especially in combination, and in the context of a known or suspected infection — should prompt immediate emergency evaluation:

• fever above 38.3°C (101°F) or an abnormally low temperature below 36°C (96.8°F)
• rapid heart rate (above 90 bpm) or rapid breathing (above 20 breaths per minute)
• sudden confusion, disorientation, or unusual behavior in someone previously alert
• skin that is mottled, pale, or ashen — or conversely, flushed and hot to the touch
• extreme fatigue or weakness disproportionate to the known illness
• decreased urine output, signaling the kidneys are under stress
• powerful, difficult-to-articulate sense that something is seriously wrong — sometimes described as a “feeling of impending doom”.

Clinical literature and personal experience consistently show that when patients or family members insist the person looks dramatically worse than expected, they are often right — and that instinct warrants immediate action.

Glatter: Sepsis is fundamentally a disease of the immune response rather than the infection itself. Two patients can have identical pneumonias — same pathogen, same lobe of lung — and one recovers uneventfully while the other deteriorates into multi-organ failure.

The difference lies in the host: genetic predisposition, underlying health conditions, age, and the specific organism involved all influence whether the immune system mounts a proportionate defense or an uncontrolled, self-destructive cascade.

There is also no reliable early-warning test. Standard blood markers can lag behind the clinical reality by hours.

A patient can appear stable, even functional, while a biochemical storm is already underway internally. By the time blood pressure drops or organ failure becomes evident, the process is often well advanced.

The fact that Busch was competing in races days before his death is a stark illustration of how little warning the body sometimes provides.