Category: Health

• Federal regulators have approved the GLP-1 tablet Foundayo for use in weight management.
• Experts say having another weight loss medication in pill form could help people stick to a weight management regimen.
• They add that any weight loss medication regimen should be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Federal regulators have given the green light to a new GLP-1 weight loss tablet that people can take with or without food.

Officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued fast-track approval to orforglipron, a “molecular entity” pill manufactured by Eli Lilly and sold under the brand name Foundayo.

Foundayo was approved for use in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce excess body weight and maintain long-term weight reduction in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related comorbid condition.

Foundayo is now the second GLP-1 medication to be approved in pill form. A tablet form of the semaglutide-based drug Wegovy was given the go-ahead in January.

Foundayo is an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist taken once daily. The starting dosage is 0.8 milligrams (mg), increased to 2.5 mg after at least 30 days, and then to 5.5 mg after another 30 days. The dosage may be increased to 9 mg, 14.5 mg, or 17.2 mg after at least 30 days at each level based on treatment response and tolerability, according to the FDA.

Eli Lilly officials said Foundayo will be available via LillyDirect with prescriptions accepted immediately and shipping beginning April 6. Broad availability through U.S. retail pharmacies and telehealth providers is expected soon.

Company officials added that eligible people with commercial insurance may pay as little as $25 per month for the drug. Individuals opting for self-pay can purchase Foundayo for $149 per month for the lowest dose. Additionally, eligible Medicare Part D individuals may be able to get Foundayo for $50 per month, beginning as early as July 1.

Experts say the approval is a positive step toward managing obesity.

“It’s a significant milestone to have another GLP-1 tablet,” said Pouya Shafipour, MD, a family and obesity medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.

Zhaoping Li, MD, the chief of the Division of Clinical Nutrition at UCLA Health and director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition in Los Angeles, also welcomed the news. “It is great to have new tools added to our toolbox to deal with obesity,” she told Healthline.

The Foundayo approval was conducted under the FDA’s National Priority Voucher pilot program, which is designed to expedite the approval of medications needed to address national health priorities. The Foundayo application was approved 50 days after submission.

The approval followed two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in adults who have obesity or overweight with one or more weight-related comorbidities. The trials lasted for 72 days.

Eli Lilly officials said that in the ATTAIN-1 trial, individuals taking the highest dose of Foundayo who stayed on treatment lost an average of 27 pounds, compared with 2 pounds for those given a placebo.

Like other GLP-1 drugs, Foundayo can cause side effects such as nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and headache, according to the FDA. The product also carries an FDA boxed warning regarding thyroid C-cell tumors.

Lilly officials noted that Foundayo can be taken with or without food.

The Wegovy pill needs to be taken on an empty stomach. People must wait 30 minutes before ingesting any food or drink.

“We believe Foundayo can help level the playing field for those living with obesity or who are overweight and living with weight-related complications,” said David Ricks, chair and chief executive officer of Eli Lilly, in a statement. “As a convenient, once-daily oral pill that delivers meaningful weight loss, this is obesity care designed for the real world.”

Shafipour said more research is needed before it’s known whether Foundayo can produce long-term results.

“We don’t know in reality how much weight people will lose,” he told Healthline. “We need to wait and see on that long-term data.”

Shafipour noted that tablet forms of GLP-1 medications could help people stick to weight loss routines.

“People are used to taking pills,” he said. “Getting a shot throughout your life is not fun.”

Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon and the medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, said the type of GLP-1 medication prescribed varies from person to person.

“Preferences vary by patient,” he told Healthline. “Some prefer weekly injections while others prefer a [daily] pill. A primary advantage of the pill is that it does not require refrigeration, making it more convenient for travel.”

“While most studies indicate that oral forms may be slightly less effective than injections, they remain very effective. Ultimately, the choice depends on the patient’s lifestyle and personal preference,” Ali added.

There are a number of lifestyle habits you can adopt that can help you lose weight as well as manage your weight, whether or not you are taking GLP-1 medications.

Sharipour agreed with these suggestions and emphasized the importance of a diet high in protein and fiber as well as daily aerobic and strength-building exercise.

He added that quality sleep can help balance hormones and moderate hunger. He added that stress management can help with blood sugar levels.

Ali agreed that a proper diet is essential.

“The foundation of an effective diet — which we recommend to all patients regardless of whether they utilize surgery, medication, or counseling — is the reduction of carbohydrate and sugar intake. By emphasizing protein and non-starchy vegetables, the body is encouraged to utilize fat stores for energy, resulting in weight loss,” he explained.

Li said the best way to manage weight is to focus on lifestyle choices.

“Changing your lifestyle is challenging, but it is fundamental not only for weight loss but also for improving overall health (weight loss does not equal better health),” she noted. “Modern weight management no longer focuses solely on energy balance. It also places strong emphasis on the quality of the diet.”

• As colorectal cancer increases among people under 50, more children may experience watching a parent face this disease.
• Dylan Kurtz shares what it was like to watch his dad get treated for colon cancer while he was a teenager.
• Now, 22, Kurtz wants to spread awareness about colorectal cancer and help other young people cope with a parent’s diagnosis.

On Dylan Kurtz’s 16th Birthday in 2020, his dad, Jonathan, began chemotherapy to treat stage 3 colon cancer.

“I didn’t really know much of anything about colon cancer other than it was cancer in the colon,” Kurtz told Healthline. “I knew of different types of cancer but didn’t really know anything about what it meant for the person diagnosed, other than that it can be deadly, if it’s caught late.”

Emotionally, he was uncertain about his dad’s outlook.

“Then, after my dad talked me through everything that was going to happen, he was going to do radiation and then chemotherapy for a few months, I began to understand how serious it was,” said Kurtz.

Because a parent’s cancer diagnosis can bring fear, confusion, or worry, Marianne Pearson, MSW, LCSW, vice president of Cancer Care at the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, said honest, age-appropriate communication is needed.

“[Including] explaining treatments like chemotherapy or radiation and even visiting the cancer center can help reduce fear, while support from oncology-trained professionals can help children feel safer and more secure,” she told Healthline.

After Kurtz’s dad talked with him, he quickly learned that his condition would impact the whole family, including his mom and brother.

His mom informed him that while his dad went through treatment, he wouldn’t be able to do the things they typically enjoyed together, like attend professional baseball games and engage in outdoor activities like running.

“I was really sad because all these things that I love to do with my dad tend to be very physically active or involve going places and being very engaged in doing things,” said Kurtz. “But I handled it by finding workarounds.”

Because Jonathan’s treatments left him immunocompromised, the Kurtz family had to shift their routines to avoid bringing harmful germs into the house during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Runs outside turned into quiet time at home, and instead of traveling to professional baseball games, Kurtz and his dad worked on 1,000-piece puzzles of different baseball stadiums.

“Some of them are hanging in my room now, and some are hanging in my dad’s office,” said Kurtz. “It was something he could do while in treatment. We sat down quietly and had something good to do together.”

He also took on more responsibilities around the house, including cooking and cleaning, as well as caring for his older brother, Steven, who has autism.

Because all summer camps were canceled in 2020, he created “Camp Kurtz” for him and Steven to stay engaged.

“I would do all sorts of different activities to step in for the lack of camp activities that he had, so it was a combination of teaching him household skills and just doing fun things,” said Kurtz.

He taught his brother how to tie his shoes, clean the house, and vacuum. They also played in their backyard pool, watched movies, and went on long walks with their dog Piper.

“We did all sorts of different things throughout the summer to keep us both busy while my mom and dad were focusing on a lot of other stuff, like going through the treatments,” said Kurtz.

Today, Kurtz’s dad is cancer-free and living well with continued screenings and checkups.

At the time of his dad’s diagnosis, Kurtz didn’t know much about preventive health.

“I thought if you got cancer, there was nothing you could have done to change that,” he said.

He quickly learned that this might not be the case.

“From my dad’s diagnosis, I learned that screening and getting checked for different types of cancers is something that you can do to stay healthy,” he said. “It’s much better to find polyps and get them removed before they [become cancerous], than go through chemotherapy.”

Kurtz learned that his dad carries a gene mutation that puts him and his brother at increased risk for colorectal cancer if they also carry the gene. As he completes his senior year of college, he plans to get genetic testing done soon.

“If I do have the gene, I will need to start getting screened much earlier, at about 25,” he said.

Cedrek McFadden, MD, medical advisor for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, said if a parent is diagnosed with colorectal cancer, their children have a higher risk and should start screening earlier, usually at age 40 or 10 years before the age at diagnosis of the parent, whichever comes first.

“It is also important to consider genetic counseling and possible testing, especially if the cancer occurred at a younger age or there is a strong family history, to look for inherited conditions such as Lynch syndrome,” he told Healthline.

Kurtz plans to get a colonoscopy soon due to his family history.

“We have a history of melanoma in our family, but not colon cancer, so this was something that was very, very new. Now, for me and my kids, if I have them, and my brother and cousins, we all need to be aware of colon cancer,” Kurtz said.

He also doesn’t smoke and watches what he eats.

“I think of my health in more of a long-term context; what I do to my body now could affect me later,” he said.

Shortly after his dad’s diagnosis, Kurtz teamed up with Colorectal Cancer Alliance to create a blog post and video about the importance of screening and resources kids can turn to if their parent is living with cancer.

He decided to share his story again to spread the word, as colorectal cancer has surpassed breast and lung cancer to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in U.S. adults under 50.

Kurtz’s best tips for kids who have a parent facing colon cancer include:

He quickly learned how alarming it can be to search for information online.

“More often than not, you come across the worst-case outcomes in stories and nothing that’s going to put you in a good mood, or that is realistic for your own family situation,” he said. “Also, information, even from reputable sources, may be outdated.”

He recommends turning to doctors for answers instead.

For teenagers with a parent going through cancer treatment, he advises embracing taking on chores at home.

“A lot of the things your parent would typically do, they may not feel up to right now,” he said. “But if you become overwhelmed, be sure to tell your parents.”

As your parent goes through treatment and heals, try new activities together like creating puzzles, listening to podcasts, or watching a show.

“There are still ways to be together and create new memories,” said Kurtz.

Telling teachers, coaches, or a school counselor what’s going on at home can help them support you.

Kurtz said to talk with friends and other family members, too.

“It’s hard to go through this alone. People want to help, so let them,” he said.

If you need to talk with a mental health provider, it’s okay to tell your parents.

Tom Milam, MD, psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer at Iris Telehealth, said that some kids are inquisitive about cancer and want to discuss treatment and side effects, while others don’t talk about it.

“Underneath, however, there are often layers of grief, fear, and sadness that children may struggle to articulate,” he told Healthline.

“Parents diagnosed with cancer, along with the oncology teams supporting them, should consider professional behavioral health support and counseling for their children and/or the whole family to help ensure that the physical cancer does not also evolve into prolonged emotional trauma.”

• A new study has found that a significant amount of social media content about mental health is inaccurate.
• Researchers identified TikTok as the platform most associated with misleading mental health information
• Much of the content is based on personal anecdotes and simplified traits rather than clinical criteria
• Experts warn that this rise in misinformation may contribute to confusion, misdiagnosis, and delayed support

A new study, published in the Journal of Social Media Research, has found that a significant proportion of social media content about mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions may be misleading.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School reported that 52% of top-performing ADHD videos and 41% of autism-related videos on TikTok contained information that was inaccurate or not supported by current clinical evidence.

They found that social media platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), are awash with misleading or unsubstantiated mental health content, and identified TikTok as the worst offender.

The study also found that videos were often based on personal anecdotes and simplified traits, rather than diagnostic criteria or professional guidance.

“Our work uncovered misinformation rates on social media as high as 56%. This highlights how easily engaging videos can spread widely online, even when the information isn’t always accurate,” Eleanor Chatburn, a Clinical Psychologist from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, and the senior author of the study, said in a press release.

“Social media has become an important place where many young people learn about mental health, but the quality of this information can vary greatly. This means that misleading content can circulate quickly, particularly if there aren’t accessible and reliable sources available.”

Darren O’Reilly, DPsych, CPsychol, HCPC, consultant psychologist and clinical director at AuDHD Psychiatry, said he isn’t surprised by these findings.

“I’m not surprised that social media, and TikTok in particular, seems prone to misinformation since it rewards fast, emotionally engaging and highly relatable content and not the careful, evidence-based and clinically accurate content,” he told Healthline.

O’Reilly was not involved in the study.

Part of the problem, he noted, is that this kind of content can feel hugely validating, even if it’s not accurate.

“TikTok does not reward being right. It rewards being relatable, confident, and easy to share,” he pointed out.

“With ADHD and autism in particular, people can recognise one small part of themselves in a video and mistake that recognition for proof. But short-form mental health content tends to flatten complex conditions into a few catchy traits, and that is where misinformation spreads fastest.”

As a result, O’Reilly said he often sees people arriving in the clinic with a strong self-diagnosis based on social media content, when the reality is often much more complex.

“ADHD and autism are especially vulnerable to oversimplification because their traits overlap with everyday experiences such as stress, burnout, trauma, and anxiety. That makes inaccurate content feel convincing, even when it is clinically incomplete or wrong,” he noted.

When online content about mental health and neurodivergence can feel relatable and validating, you might ask, what’s the harm?

One of the biggest issues is that it can lead to confusion and misdiagnosis. O’Reilly said that in some cases, people can spend years trying to solve the wrong problem.

“What we often see is a double risk. Some people take on a diagnosis that does not really fit, while others dismiss symptoms that actually need proper attention,” he explained.

“When people are self-diagnosing based on short-form content, they are usually matching one or two traits, rather than seeing the full picture. That can lead them down a path that does not actually address what is going on.”

In some cases, O’Reilly said, this can delay people in getting a proper assessment. For others, it can mean a delay in getting the right support.

“A big part of the problem is that online content tends to blur the line between normal human experiences and clinical conditions. Things like distraction, stress, or emotional ups and downs get presented as signs of a disorder, when they may not be,” he explained.

“For people who are genuinely neurodivergent, this can delay access to the right support or lead to misunderstanding their own needs. For others, it can mean unnecessary labels, increased anxiety, and trying interventions that do not help.”

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of social media is that it can raise awareness of topics that aren’t often discussed.

Content on platforms like TikTok can spark productive conversations and reduce stigma. However, increased awareness around mental health and neurodivergence needs to be balanced with accuracy.

“What is spreading online is not just awareness, it is a simplified, non-clinical version of these conditions. Social media has made neurodivergence visible, but visibility is not the same as understanding,” O’Reilly noted.

“The benefit is that people feel able to explore their difficulties without shame, which increases help-seeking. The risk is that awareness turns into overconfidence, where people move from this resonates to this explains everything without proper assessment,” he explained.

The challenge is removing the oversimplification around the conditions.

“ADHD and Autism are complex developmental conditions, and if they are reduced to a handful of traits, people gain awareness but lose accuracy,” O’Reilly said.

“The goal is not to reduce conversation, but to anchor it in evidence, where lived experience is shared but not mistaken for diagnosis.”

So, what practical steps can you take to identify misinformation, and more importantly, where can you find reliable and accurate mental health and neurodivergence support?

“If a video claims, ‘If you do this, you have ADHD or autism,’ it is almost certainly misleading. Real diagnoses are based on patterns, impairment, and history, not one trait,” O’Reilly said.

“Good information explains context and limitations, while bad information speaks in absolutes and skips over nuance.”

As a rule of thumb, O’Reilly said you should avoid content that reduces a condition to a single behaviour or quick fix, look for whether the creator has relevant clinical training or cites credible sources, and check if multiple explanations are considered, not just one diagnosis.

For evidence-based support, O’Reilly advised seeking out regulated professionals such as clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, or specialist ADHD and autism services.

“A proper assessment should involve developmental history, functional impact, and consideration of alternative explanations, not just symptom checklists,” he noted.

• Research shows that young adults with high blood pressure may face a higher risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease later in life.
• The findings highlight the importance of maintaining healthy blood pressure at a younger age.
• Guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend treating hypertension in adults with a predicted 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease.

High blood pressure during young adulthood may be linked to a higher risk of heart disease and kidney disease later in life, according to new research.

The findings reinforced the importance of maintaining a healthy blood pressure at younger ages, particularly among adults under 40.

“High blood pressure is a known significant risk factor for developing both heart disease and kidney disease,” said Cheng-Han Chen, MD, board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, who wasn’t involved in the study.

“It is thus unsurprising, although still concerning, that long periods of elevated blood pressure in young adulthood would lead to premature cardiovascular and kidney events in middle age,” Chen told Healthline.

Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide.

High blood pressure is also the most common and modifiable risk factor for both heart disease and stroke. This means that maintaining a healthy blood pressure is imperative to reducing the risk of or preventing heart disease, a major cardiac event, or stroke.

“Often we ignore elevated blood pressures in young adults, thinking that we’ll just watch it,” said Karishma Patwa, MD, board certified cardiologist at Manhattan Cardiology in NYC, who wasn’t involved in the study.

“The new data is reinforcing that screening and management should begin much earlier than midlife,” Patwa told Healthline.

The recent study analyzed health information of 291,887 adults from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.

Each participant was 30 years old between 2002 and 2004, and received routine health screenings between the ages of 30 and 40.

The participants had no prior history of either heart disease or kidney disease before the age of 40.

The researchers calculated each participant’s cumulative blood pressure levels from ages 30 to 40 to account for how high it was and how long it stayed elevated.

The participants were followed for about 10 years after age 40. During this period, the development of heart or kidney disease was identified through national health service records. The diagnosis of chronic kidney disease was also confirmed by laboratory tests, conducted during the follow-up period.

The researchers found that those who had high blood pressure that remained elevated from age 30 to 40 had a higher risk of heart disease and kidney disease after 40.

Those who had a systolic (top number) blood pressure reading of around 10 mm Hg higher than their peers for about 10 years had a 27% higher risk of heart disease and a 22% higher risk of kidney disease.

Participants who had a diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) of around 5 mm Hg higher than their peers for about 10 years had a 20% higher risk of heart disease and 16% higher risk of kidney disease.

“I agree with these recommendations. 10-year cardiovascular risk predictors are limiting, especially in younger patients. I would, however, individualize my approach for each patient and look at their overall lifetime risk trajectory prior to starting medications,” said Patwa.

• Social media users claim that “parasite cleanses” using teas, herbs, and DIY remedies can rid the body of hidden infections and toxins.
• Medical experts say that parasitic infections are relatively uncommon and require proper diagnosis and targeted treatment.
• There is no scientific evidence to suggest that detox teas or herbal cleanses eliminate parasites, and they may cause harmful side effects.
• Experts recommend focusing on proper hygiene, food safety, and maintaining overall gut health rather than attempting at-home cleanses.

A wellness trend known as “parasite cleansing” is going viral, with influencers claiming that parasitic infestations are more common than people think.

On social media platforms like TikTok, influencers tout detox teas, herbal tinctures, and DIY elixirs made with Epsom salts, baking soda, and more, all said to flush parasites and “toxins” from the body.

One TikToker shares her “grandmother’s recipe,” claiming it will rid the body of parasitic worms and relieve constipation. This cleanse consists of soaking pumpkin seeds in hot water overnight, then blending them with turmeric and ginger.

Claims such as these have sparked both concern and curiosity among viewers and experts alike.

We asked medical professionals about the safety and effectiveness of parasite cleanses to find out whether they do more harm than good.

Steven Goldberg, MD, MBA, chief medical officer at HealthTrackRx, told Healthline that DIY parasite cleanses are unnecessary for most people and potentially harmful.

“The trend reflects a fundamental misunderstanding about parasitic infections and how the body works,” he said. “The human body doesn’t need cleansing from parasites unless there’s an actual diagnosed infection, which is relatively uncommon in the United States and other high-income countries with high levels of sanitation.”

Goldberg explained that while parasitic infections do occur in humans, most are specific organisms like Giardia or pinworms, which require targeted medical treatment, not general cleanses.

It’s also important to note that to a certain extent, the body naturally removes waste and toxins on its own.

“In most cases, the body already has highly effective systems for removing waste and toxins, primarily through the liver, kidneys, and gut,” said Tom Maggs, chief medical officer at Healthwords.

“Promoting the idea that people routinely need to cleanse parasites without evidence can lead to unnecessary anxiety and potentially unsafe behaviors,” Maggs told Healthine.

There is no credible scientific evidence to suggest that detox teas or herbal supplements eliminate parasitic infections, Goldberg said.

“Actual antiparasitic medications are prescription drugs that target specific organisms, but they’re not one-size-fits-all herbal mixtures,” he said.

Some content creators say they’ve witnessed worms in their stools after using these remedies, but Goldberg said what people are likely seeing and misidentifying as “parasites” falls into several categories.

The first of these is mucus strands and debris. “Many of these cleanses contain harsh laxatives or fiber that irritate the intestinal lining, causing it to shed mucus,” he explained.

“This mucus can form rope-like strands that look alarming but are completely normal digestive by-products.”

They could also be seeing undigested food particles, banana fibers, psyllium husk, or normal stool components.

“The digestive process creates all kinds of textures and shapes that might seem unusual if you’re looking for something alarming,” Goldberg said.

In short, parasite cleansing isn’t an effective way to rid the body of a parasitic infection, if one is present.

“True parasitic worms, when passed, are usually clearly identifiable as living organisms,” Goldberg said. “If someone passes what they genuinely think is a worm, they should save it in a container and bring it to their practitioner, who can send it to a laboratory for proper identification.”

Some versions of this trend involve ingesting herbal mixtures or using remedies like baking soda, Epsom salts, or essential oils.

But experts say these concoctions may pose health or safety risks.

“Herbal and dietary supplements are not regulated like medications by the FDA, meaning their safety, purity, and actual contents aren’t verified before sale,” Goldberg said. “Several studies have documented serious concerns.”

Product contamination and adulteration are other concerns.

“Chemical analyses frequently find discrepancies between product labels and actual ingredients, including undisclosed pharmaceutical drugs, heavy metals, and toxic plant species,” Goldberg said. “Dangerous drug interactions can occur, particularly for people taking prescription medications, and many patients don’t disclose supplement use to their doctors.”

In addition, parasite cleanses may also cause side effects.

If you’re worried about a parasitic infection, it’s important to understand the signs and symptoms.

According to Maggs, symptoms that may warrant medical attention include:

However, it’s also important to note that parasites can not be reliably self-diagnosed.

“If someone is concerned about a possible parasitic infection, this needs to be properly assessed by a medical professional. Diagnosis typically involves stool tests, blood tests, or other investigations depending on the suspected parasite,” Maggs said.

The best approach is prevention through basic hygiene and food safety practices.

“Remember hand hygiene, too, making sure to wash your hands after using the bathroom, before eating, and after handling raw meat,” he added.

What people are really seeking when they try trends like parasite cleansing is overall digestive health, Goldberg said.

Finally, stress management can be helpful. “The gut-brain connection is real, and stress affects digestion,” Goldberg said.

• Jamie Harris was in her 20s when she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.
• She shares her journey from symptoms and diagnosis to finding effective treatment to help raise awareness.
• Harris wants others to know that persistent symptoms like frequent bathroom trips, fatigue, or abdominal pain aren’t always due to diet.

In 2010, Jamie Harris was living her best life in her 20s. She was in graduate school pursuing her teaching certificate and dating the love of her life.

“It was a fun time in my life…I went on a trip to London with my boyfriend, who now is my husband,” she told Healthline. “I went to the bathroom, and I didn’t know if it was from travel, but I had blood in my stool.”

When she got home from the vacation, her symptoms continued, including an intense stomachache.

After seeing her general practitioner, he told Harris to add more fiber and psyllium husk to her diet. However, the sharp pain in her stomach continued for a year. She also started losing weight.

At this point, Harris was student-teaching and shared her concerns with one of her own teachers, who urged Harris to go to the emergency room.

“They ran the blood tests and were like, ‘Wow, your white blood cell count is way elevated,’ and then they ran further tests, and then that’s when I got referred to a GI doctor,” Harris said.

The GI doctor officially diagnosed her with Crohn’s disease, a chronic, relapsing inflammatory condition that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract.

“Crohn’s disease can present as superficial or deep ulcers (canker sores), and if left untreated, it can progress to bowel damage, including a buildup of scar tissue—what we call strictures or fistulas—which are connections between one loop of bowel and another loop of bowel or a connection from the bowel to the skin,” Emanuelle Bellaguarda, MD, Gastroenterologist and Associate Professor at Northwestern University, told Healthline.

Harris’s first year of navigating the diagnosis was difficult physically and mentally.

“It was like I kind of went into a little depression. I’m supposed to be at the peak of my life, and it wasn’t that anymore,” she said.

When Harris began experiencing symptoms, her mom, who was a registered dietitian for 40 years, suggested that she may have an intolerance to gluten.

“I started cutting back on [certain] foods, and my mom told me to keep a food journal, which I did, but I felt like everything was hurting my stomach,” said Harris.

She also tried the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) for a while.

“And then I was just so limited because every time I ate, I felt like I would have a stomachache, so I did try to manage through diet, and then it’s kind of bad, but I just stopped eating because it was so painful, and that’s when I lost 20 pounds,” Harris said.

While eating healthy is important for gut health and may improve symptoms such as diarrhea and bloating, Bellaguarda said there are no studies showing that diet alone can heal the inflammatory burden associated with Crohn’s disease or prevent its progression.

Bellaguarda said treatment of Crohn’s disease depends on its presentation, a patient’s comorbidities, and prior medications.

While doctors know more about Crohn’s disease today than they did 10 years ago, there is still no cure.

“So, when we think about a treatment plan for Crohn’s disease, we focus on a two-step approach to therapy,” said Bellaguarda.

The first step is to get patients well symptomatically and heal the bowel back to normal or stabilize the progression of the disease. The second step is the maintenance phase.

“We continue the medication that worked to get them well as their maintenance therapy,” Bellaguarda said. “Fortunately, we do have many effective medications to get patients well and keep them well, including biologic agents such as Omvoh or small molecule agents such as JAK inhibitors.”

Initially, after Harris was diagnosed, she tried different pill medications to manage her condition, which masked some symptoms.

“I never felt fully 100%. And what doctors like to do is they won’t move you onto a new medication until one fails or they don’t see improvement,” she said.

After two years of trying medications, she started getting infusion therapy. Today, she receives the infusion every six weeks.

“Before, infusions would take like four to six hours [which felt] like the whole day. But now with the options, they’re a little bit faster, so I can go on with my life and day,” Harris said.

She also exercises regularly and follows a Mediterranean diet, both of which help manage her symptoms.

“I’ve had the disease for 16 years; I know my trigger foods,” said Harris. “I don’t like to mix a lot of ingredients, so it’s very, very plain, very bland, but there are times when you fall off the wagon.”

“Sixteen years ago, I didn’t know anyone who had this disease, and it was very lonely. I felt isolated. I couldn’t relate to anyone,” she said.

“Now that I’ve shared my story and I tell people and I fundraise for it, it’s more common than you think. It’s not really a sexy disease; not everyone wants to talk about bowel movements or stool. But there are millions of people who suffer from it, and I don’t want other patients to feel alone,” said Harris.

She urges others to advocate for themselves if they feel like something isn’t right. To spread the message, she teamed up with the medicine company Lilly.

“It took two years to get my diagnosis. I felt like I was suffering for all of that time, and sometimes I thought it was in my head, like, am I making this up?” she said.

As real as the condition is, she said, those who have it can live a full life.

“It’s not the end of your life. You will move on. I’ve always been a positive person, but there’s hope,” she said.

Bellaguarda agreed. “We expect our patients to have a healthy, normal, and fulfilling life,” she said.

When Harris was first diagnosed, she worried her boyfriend wouldn’t stay with her or that her life would be over. The uncertainty of whether treatment would work was also unsettling.

“But now I try not to think like that. I hope there’s a cure in my lifetime, and I just try to live everyday life and be positive about it and [know that] life will go on,” Harris said.

As a mom, she shares her condition with her daughter in hopes of normalizing it and showing that she can still thrive with Crohn’s.

“I’m very open with my daughter that I have IBD,” she said. “We try to follow clean eating, so, of course, if I’m eating it, my daughter, by default, has to eat it, but it’s just about being healthy and listening to your body.”

• The AHA has released updated dietary guidance to reduce the risk of heart disease.
• The new guidelines focus on flexibility and accessibility, no matter where you are.
• They include nine essential features of a heart-healthy dietary pattern.
• Experts advise starting with a couple of changes and then layering in more over time.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has unveiled updated dietary guidance to promote cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of heart disease.

This new scientific statement, released on March 31, 2026, in the journal Circulation, builds on previous recommendations and focuses on overall eating patterns rather than isolated foods or nutrients.

It encourages healthy eating habits early in life and supports maintaining them throughout all stages of life.

The updated guidance emphasizes that a heart-healthy diet is flexible, culturally sensitive, and adaptable to personal preferences.

It also applies to all foods and beverages, no matter where they are obtained or consumed, whether at home, in restaurants, schools, or workplaces.

The AHA says the goal is to make heart-healthy choices the easiest and most accessible options everywhere.

The AHA highlights nine essential features of dietary patterns that promote cardiovascular health:

Maintaining a healthy body weight is critical. This means eating the right amount of calories to match your level of physical activity. Older children and adolescents should get 60 minutes of physical activity daily, while adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity weekly, along with muscle-strengthening exercises.

A wide variety of whole or minimally processed vegetables and fruits is fundamental. They provide essential nutrients and fiber that support heart health. Frozen or canned options are acceptable if they don’t contain added sugars or sodium.

Whole grains like oats, brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat contain all parts of the grain, offering fiber and nutrients. Regular consumption of whole grains is linked to lower risks of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Shift toward plant-based proteins such as legumes and nuts, which are rich in fiber and healthy fats. Regular fish and seafood consumption is also recommended for their omega-3 fatty acids. Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy over full-fat versions, and if consuming red meat, select lean cuts, avoid processed meats, and limit portion sizes.

Use nontropical plant oils like olive, canola, and soybean oils instead of animal fats (butter, beef fat) or tropical oils (coconut, palm oil). This switch lowers harmful LDL cholesterol and reduces heart disease risk.

Ultra-processed foods — those heavily altered with added sugars, sodium, and preservatives — are linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Choosing whole, minimally processed foods supports better health.

Added sugars in beverages and foods contribute to obesity and heart disease risk. Minimizing intake is crucial throughout life. This includes avoiding sugary drinks and being mindful of sweeteners added during food preparation or processing.

Excess sodium raises blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease. Choose low sodium foods and use little or no salt in cooking. Increasing potassium-rich foods like fruits and vegetables can also help balance blood pressure.

If you don’t drink, don’t start. If you do, limit your intake. Alcohol can raise blood pressure even at low levels and increase the risk of certain cancers. Binge and heavy drinking are especially harmful and should be avoided.

These recommendations focus on adopting heart-healthy eating habits early and sustaining them through life to build a strong foundation for cardiovascular health.

The guidance also aligns well with dietary advice for other chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cancer prevention, and kidney disease, offering broad benefits beyond heart health.

Jodi Myers, MD, medical advisor at Amie, said the biggest mistake people make is trying to change everything at once. “Sustainability comes from stacking changes, not switching overnight,” she said.

However, the easiest switch you can start with that will also have the greatest impact is to swap refined grains for whole grains (for example, eating brown rice and whole wheat bread instead of their white counterparts) and add a serving of vegetables.

“Those two changes alone improve fiber intake, glycemic control, and micronutrient density without requiring you to learn new recipes,” said Myers.

Next, you can begin consuming liquid plant oils, such as olive oil, rather than solid fats, and add two fish meals per week, she said.

“The AHA specifically highlights minimally processed foods over ultra-processed ones, and I’d frame that practically,” she said. “[I]f you can’t identify the original food source by looking at the ingredient list, that’s your signal to find an alternative.”

Myers also noted that the organization’s alcohol guidance has shifted to state that non-drinkers should not start drinking due to perceived health benefits.

“For patients who do drink, I recommend tracking intake for one week before making changes,” she said. “Most people underestimate their consumption until they see the data.”

Concluding her remarks, Myers added that the key is to treat these recommendations “as a direction, not a destination.”

“You don’t need to be perfect on all nine keys to see cardiovascular benefit,” she said. “Even consistent adherence to four or five of them meaningfully reduces risk.”

• Researchers report that walking is the most popular leisure activity in the United States.
• They note urban dwellers also like to run and lift weights, while rural residents also enjoy gardening and hunting.
• Experts say those activities may not be enough for some people to maintain a higher fitness level, so additional exercise may be needed.

Walking is the most popular leisure activity in the United States among both urban and rural residents, according to a new survey.

Researchers reported that urban dwellers also tend to engage in running, weightlifting, and dance, while people in rural areas also enjoy gardening, hunting, and fishing.

The researchers said the differences in leisure activity choices could reflect what people have access to or what is culturally supported in certain areas. They added that urban residents were more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than people living in rural regions.

The researchers, however, noted that even among walkers, only 25% met combined guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity. About 22% did not meet either guideline.

The researchers reached their conclusions by analyzing telephone survey data collected from a national sample of 396,261 U.S. adults in 2019.

They reported that 44% of respondents listed walking as the activity they spent the most time doing. The data closely matched another U.S. study from 2011.

The new findings were published today in the journal PLOS One.

The researchers said they hoped their study could help boost physical activity by encouraging people, as well as medical and fitness professionals, to tailor workouts to certain regions and demographics.

“We see a need to continue to support our partners in small towns and rural places by creating physical, social, and cultural conditions that support physical activity,” said Christiaan Abildso, PhD, a physical activity specialist at West Virginia University and a lead author of the study, in a statement.

Everyone needs to ask, ‘how does what we’re doing affect physical activity,’ in order to help get people more active, more often, in more places,” he added.

Abildso listed several steps community leaders can take to improve fitness opportunities. Among the suggestions:

• Create a wide shoulder on a country road for cycling and running.
• Expand the national network of rail trails.
• Help a senior center create a chair exercise program.
• Create or improve green spaces such as parks.
• Keep school facilities open to the public.

“This study aligns with other studies on physical activity in the U.S. population,” said Michael Fredericson, MD, a professor of orthopedic surgery at Stanford Medicine in California. Fredericson wasn’t involved in the study.

“This underscores the continued need to encourage easily accessible forms of exercise, such as walking, or more functional activities around the home, which are more doable for folks,” Fredericson told Healthline.

There are numerous benefits to daily walking, a low-stress activity that can help people exercise with a minimal risk of injury.

A daily walking routine can also improve mood and support long-term weight management.

A 2023 review reported that walking 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day can provide substantial cardiovascular health benefits as well as psychological well-being.

Gardening can also be considered a moderate physical activity that supports weight management and helps build strength. The time outdoors in a garden can also help your body produce vitamin D, which supports bone strength, calcium absorption, and immune function.

Gardening may also support mental well-being by improving mood and reducing stress.

“Walking and gardening can meet exercise recommendations for most people if performed at sufficient intensity and duration,” said Fredericson. “Still, hunting and fishing, unless there is a lot of walking/hiking, typically do not provide adequate moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week.

The agency suggests that exercise could come in the form of brisk walking for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as swimming laps.

The CDC also states that adults need at least 2 days a week of muscle-strengthening activity.

David Cutler, MD, a family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, recommends people try to meet these minimal time standards in their fitness routines.

“There should be greater emphasis for all adults to meet the minimum exercise guideline of 150 minutes per week,” he told Healthline.

“Their exercise routine should include more than just aerobic exercise, like walking, running, biking, swimming, or dancing. There should also be time devoted to muscle-strengthening exercises of both the upper and lower extremities. This could be as simple as using hand weights and squats.”

Agency officials note that the “exact amount of physical activity needed to maintain a healthy weight varies greatly from person to person.”

Fredericson said a comprehensive weekly exercise program should contain four main components. Those are:

He also suggested people can do “exercise snacks,” which consist of physical activity lasting 1 to 5 minutes performed periodically throughout the day. Those quick exercises can include stair climbing, brisk walking, and jumping jacks.

“This approach has demonstrated high compliance rates and can significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness, particularly in physically inactive adults,” Fredericson said.

Cutler agrees a wide variety of exercise is the best approach.

“Individuals should supplement walking with muscle-strengthening exercises like yoga or resistance bands, and higher-intensity activities such as running, dancing, or cycling,” he said. “Effective ways to increase activity include utilizing community infrastructure like rail-trails, joining senior center programming, and creating local, accessible activity spaces.”

“Core exercises should also be incorporated in a weekly routine,” he added. “These strengthen the muscles in your pelvis, lower back, hips, and abdomen, leading to improved stability, better posture, and reduced back pain.”

“Stretching exercises are also important for health aging, injury prevention, and overall fitness,” Cutler noted. “Evidence supports that consistent stretching increases range of motion, reduces joint stiffness, and enhances vascular health.”

• A few minutes of harder exercise each day may dramatically lower your risk of major diseases.
• New research suggests exercise intensity, not just total minutes, plays a critical role in prevention.
• Adding short bursts of vigorous activity to your day could be a simple, efficient way to improve long-term health outcomes.

Exercise intensity, not just volume, is essential to reduce the risk of serious conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dementia, according to a new study.

Physical activity guidelines tend to focus on how much, or total volume, people should exercise each week. For the average adult, that recommendation is about 150 minutes. Those recommendations emphasize duration but offer less guidance on how hard people should exercise.

But a new study published on Sunday in the European Heart Journal found that people who get even small amounts of vigorous exercise each day may be less likely to develop eight major diseases.

“In our study, even a small proportion of vigorous activity—just over 4% of total activity, which may translate to only a few minutes per day—was associated with meaningful health benefits,” Minxue Shen, PhD, a professor at Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China, and co-author of the research, told Healthline.

Vigorous doesn’t mean extreme, but it should be enough to mean that you are breathing hard and can’t speak more than a few words at a time. Shen told Healthline that even everyday activities like carrying heavy groceries or climbing stairs quickly can be intense enough to count.

For some diseases, both volume and intensity were important, but for others, like immune-related conditions, the benefit relied almost entirely on intensity.

Although the study is observational, meaning it doesn’t establish a causal link between exercise intensity and specific health conditions, the results align with other research suggesting that there’s more to physical activity than just volume.

The researchers used data from the UK Biobank, which includes de-identified health data for half a million adults living in the United Kingdom.

For their analysis, they focused on two groups:

• about 96,000 participants who had their physical activity objectively measured using wrist-worn fitness trackers
• a much larger group of about 375,000 participants who self-reported their physical activity

The fitness trackers continuously logged movement over a 7-day period, allowing researchers to estimate not only how much people moved but also how intense their activity was.

Participants were on average 56 to 62 years old, and just over half were women. Researchers calculated each person’s total physical activity and the proportion that qualified as “vigorous” exercise, defined as higher-intensity movement such as running. Participants were followed for about 9 years in the device-measured group and over 14 years in the self-reported group.

During that period, researchers tracked whether they developed any of eight major chronic conditions:

Across both datasets, people who did a higher proportion of vigorous exercise had consistently lower risks of developing major diseases, even when their total amount of exercise was the same.

“This study moves beyond the simple question of ‘How much exercise?’ and really examines how the intensity of that exercise matters,” said Denice Ichinoe, DO, an assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Ichinoe wasn’t involved in the research.

“In other words,” she adds, “moving more is essential, but how hard you move can further influence long-term health outcomes.”

The relationship followed a dose–response pattern, meaning the more vigorous the exercise, the greater the benefit. However, the risk reduction plateaued once vigorous activity accounted for about 4% to 5% of total activity, suggesting there’s no need to go overboard with strenuous activity.

In the group using fitness trackers, those who got more than 4% of their activity from vigorous exercise had substantially lower risk than those who did none. For example, they had about a 31% lower risk of major cardiovascular events, a 60% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and a 63% lower risk of dementia.

That pattern held across a wide range of conditions.

Higher-intensity activity was linked to roughly 60% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, 63% lower risk of dementia, and 46% lower risk of death. Importantly, these benefits were evident even at relatively low levels of vigorous activity.

The researchers also found that some diseases reacted differently to exercise.

“We observed that different diseases showed different patterns—some were mainly influenced by intensity, while others were associated with both intensity and total activity,” Shen said.

Reduction in risk for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and dementia was driven almost entirely by exercise intensity. Meanwhile, for metabolic conditions like diabetes, both intensity and total activity mattered.

Starting slowly, especially if you don’t regularly engage in intense exercise, is essential, according to Ichinoe.

“The best exercise plan is one that is sustainable, progressive, and individualized,” she said.

To this end, Ichinoe recommends a few simple steps to getting started:

• First, aim for a regular routine of moderate-intensity exercise on most days.
• Build on your success by adding 1-2 sessions of more vigorous activity per week.
• Choose activities you enjoy. This is key for long-term adherence.
• If you’re not sure about exercise intensity, use the “talk test”: moderate activity allows for conversation, but vigorous activity means you can only speak a few words at a time.

Ichinoe points out that while vigorous exercise, especially short bouts, is probably ok for most people, there are some individuals who should approach it cautiously.

Older adults who are not regularly active, especially those with balance issues, should consult with their doctor before starting a new fitness regimen. Individuals with known cardiovascular disease, diabetes, joint limitations, or unexplained chest pain or shortness of breath should also consult with their physician.

Even if you don’t regularly exercise, there are simple ways to add a bit of vigorous exercise to your day.

“Walk faster for a few minutes, take the stairs quickly, or do a brief uphill walk,” Shen said. “Even just 15 to 20 minutes total spread across the week—a few minutes at a time—can provide meaningful health benefits.”

• A new study reports that midlife exercise can cut women’s risk of early death in half.
• Women tend to lose muscle mass starting in midlife, which can affect health, but adequate exercise and sufficient protein intake can help preserve muscle mass.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) advises 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.
• Experts recommend starting slow and building up to this level if you aren’t accustomed to exercise.

New research highlights the importance of staying active for women throughout middle age and beyond.

The findings, published on March 26 in PLOS Medicine, show that women who consistently followed physical activity guidelines in their 50s and 60s had a lower risk of dying prematurely.

While it’s well established that regular exercise is good for health, this study emphasizes just how important it is for women as they age.

The study examined over 11,000 Australian women born between 1946 and 1951, tracking their physical activity habits and health over 15 years.

Instead of relying on a single snapshot of activity, the researchers checked in every three years to see how participants’ exercise routines changed or stayed the same.

This long-term view allowed the researchers to compare those who consistently met the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity — such as brisk walking, swimming, or tennis — with those who did not regularly reach these levels.

To make the study as reliable as possible, the researchers used a special approach called “target trial emulation.” This method tries to mimic what would happen if females had been part of a controlled experiment, even though the data came from observations of their real lives.

The researchers also considered other factors that might influence health, such as age, smoking, diet, and body weight, to make sure the results focused on the impact of physical activity itself.

The physical activity data came from surveys in which females reported how much time they spent walking, doing moderate exercise, or engaging in vigorous activities each week.

The team focused on whether participants met the WHO’s recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity per week.

Women who stayed active at recommended levels through their 50s and 60s were roughly half as likely to die prematurely compared to those who didn’t meet the activity guidelines.

This protective effect was seen for deaths from any cause, suggesting that consistent physical activity is a powerful contributor to better health and longer life.

When looking specifically at deaths from heart disease and cancer, the results pointed in the same protective direction but were less certain due to fewer cases.

This means that while the evidence is strongest for overall mortality benefits, physical activity likely also helps reduce the risk of major diseases such as cardiovascular conditions and cancer.

The study also explored whether starting to meet physical activity recommendations later in midlife — such as beginning regular exercise at age 55, 60, or 65 — would offer similar benefits.

The findings here were less clear, suggesting that while becoming active later in life is better than not at all, the greatest benefits come from being active consistently over time.

The researchers noted some limitations, including that the activity levels were self-reported and that the findings might not apply to all females, especially those with health issues that prevent regular exercise.

Still, the study’s design and large sample size provide strong support for the message that keeping active in midlife matters for longevity.

Jennifer Timmons, MD, a longevity physician and the founder and medical director of Timmons Wellness, said that being active and maintaining muscle mass are the most important things women can do in midlife to promote health and longevity. Timmons wasn’t involved in the study.

Without it, Timmons said, they could face significant health risks.

“Having enough muscle mass allows you to continue doing the activities you love, such as walking, running, bending, and playing on the ground with your grandkids,” she told Healthline.

Regular exercise also supports joint and bone health, helping prevent conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis. Physical activity also releases hormones called myokines, which interact with the hormonal system to improve health.

“Having enough muscle mass even decreases your risk of dementia,” Timmons said, citing a study suggesting that females with more leg muscle experienced slower cognitive aging.

Additionally, many women lose about 3–5% of their muscle mass each decade, starting around age 30.

“It is essential to take steps to maintain muscle mass,” Timmons said. Physical activity, combined with adequate nutrition and sufficient protein intake, can be helpful, she explained.

Jamie Bovay, DPT, founder of KinetikChain Denver and the author of “Adding Insight to Injury,” said the study aligns with the WHO’s guidelines for physical activity: 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Bovay wasn’t involved in the study.

Moderate-intensity activity makes you breathe harder, increases your heart rate, and causes you to sweat.

Vigorous-intensity activity, on the other hand, will have you breathing so hard that you can barely speak. It will also increase your heart rate more than moderate activity.

Fitting in this much exercise may seem daunting, especially if you have multiple obligations, such as caring for family members.

Bovay shared a few tips to help a regular exercise routine feel more manageable.

First, he recommends following the 80/20 rule. “Perfection isn’t realistic, so find a workout you can do consistently 80% of the time and be ok when things aren’t perfect,” he told Healthline. “Stay consistent for long-term results.”

Bovay said that the time of day that you work can make a big difference, too. You will have fewer distractions in the morning. Getting out in early morning sunlight can also benefit your circadian rhythm and sleep.

He suggested using wearable fitness trackers to provide you with reminders and log your activity. “Knowing how close you are to your goals can help ensure you hit those goals,” he said. “Plus, what gets measured tends to improve.”

It’s also helpful to realize that you don’t have to do those 150 minutes all at once, Bovay said.

You can try incorporating “exercise snacks” into your day, starting with as little as 10 minutes total per day.

“Maybe it is walking instead of taking that short car ride, or maybe it’s taking the stairs instead of the elevator,” Bovay said.

“Practice getting off the floor, carrying heavy groceries, and standing on one leg or whatever else you would like to be able to do, but start training now,” Bovay said.

If you invest in being active now, your older self will thank you, Bovay said.