Wegovy and the future of childhood obesity
Teenagers in the United States are using Wegovy and other weight-loss drugs at quickly rising rates. On this special episode of Reuters World News, we look at the decisions facing parents and children in the battle against childhood obesity.
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Further Reading
The Wegovy effect
Wegovy use among US teens up 50% as obesity crisis worsens
Weight-loss options for children are hard to come by
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The Independent
6 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sprains, strains and ACL tears: What to know about some of NFL players' most common injuries
Some of the most important players on NFL teams are those that might not necessarily start the season on the field. Depth is crucial during a rigorous 17-game regular-season schedule that's preceded by a month of training camp practices in hot conditions as players try to make team's 53-man active rosters. Injuries can play as big a role in an NFL team's successes or failures as the best game plans. So being able to navigate injuries and ailments to key players could make all the difference between a team seeing its season sink or making the playoffs. Here's a look at some of the most common injuries suffered by NFL players throughout the season: Achilles tendon tears The Achilles is the longest and strongest tendon in the body and stretches from the heel to the calf. It's a springy band located behind the ankle and just above the heel that helps players push off their feet, jump and accelerate. Due to overuse or excessive force placed on the tendon, it can tear or rupture. Surgery is typically necessary to reconnect the ends, sidelining a player for several months because of the extensive rehabilitation needed. ACL /PCL/MCL/LCL tears The anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate, medial collateral and lateral collateral ligaments are all located in the knee and serve different purposes. The ACL connects the thigh bone to the shin bone in the front of the knee. While a sprain could sideline a player for a few weeks, a tear can end a season. The PCL is located behind the ACL, crisscrossing it to form an "X" in the center of the knee. The MCL connects the thigh bone to the shin bone on the inner side of the knee, while the LCL connects the thigh bone to the top of the lower leg, or fibula, and is located on the outer side of the knee. Concussions A concussion is a brain injury caused by a hit to the head or a sudden movement that causes the head and brain to shake violently. Symptoms may include headaches, neck pain, nausea, dizziness and feeling sluggish. The NFL has been regularly testing and upgrading helmets for players to help reduce the risk of concussions. Eight position-specific helmets for quarterbacks and linemen were approved by the NFL and the NFL Players Association last year. Several players also have worn Guardian Caps, soft, protective helmet covers that the NFL authorized players to use during games last season in an effort to reduce head injuries. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is a degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions and can only be diagnosed posthumously. It can cause memory loss, depression and violent mood swings. Hamstring injuries The hamstring is a group of four muscles that run along the back of the thigh, stretching from the hip to the knee, and they help a person bend their leg at the knee. These injuries vary in severity, and in turn, their timetable in sidelining a player. A mild pull of one of the muscles, commonly referred to as a Grade I injury, can sideline a player for a few days to a couple of weeks and can be a lingering condition if not sufficiently rested and healed. A Grade II hamstring injury involves a partial tear, while a Grade III injury is a complete tear of the hamstring that could require surgery and is likely season-ending. High ankle sprains When a player suffers a high ankle sprain, the ligaments above the ankle — which connect the tibia to the fibula — are affected rather than the ligaments outside the ankle in a low ankle sprain. High ankle sprains take much longer to recover from — six to eight weeks, and sometimes longer — than a classic ankle sprain, which might sideline a player for several days to a couple of weeks. Hip pointers The injury could sideline a player for a week or a couple of months, depending on the severity. A hip pointer is bruising in the pelvis and abdomen area, usually caused by blunt force, such as a hard tackle. The bleeding can affect several other muscles in the area, making it difficult to run or even walk. Lisfranc injuries A serious foot injury that can be career-threatening because of its complexity. A Lisfranc sprain or fracture is an injury in the middle of the foot in which at least one (or sometimes, all) of the small bones (or metatarsals) is broken or the ligaments that support the foot in that area are torn. Even a minor sprain not requiring surgical repair could take six to eight weeks to heal. Meniscus tears The meniscus is a crescent-shaped rubbery disk of cartilage that serves as a shock absorber on the inside and outer edges of the knee. Both help a person balance weight across the knee. When a meniscus is torn, the knee can lock up and swell. 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Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Save 60% on the 28-day fasting challenge helping thousands of midlife women shed stubborn pounds fast
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more At any age, weight loss can be a challenge. Throw in the hormonal and physiological changes that occur during perimenopause and menopause, though, and it can seem almost impossible. With the right program, you can actually find your way to success. That's what thousands who joined the Reverse Health 28-day fasting challenge discovered. At 60 percent off (just 56 cents a day!), it's an amazing value. Reverse Health 28-Day Fasting Challenge Four weeks to a healthier, fitter, and more confident you! This program is designed to meet the needs of midlife women. Hormonal fluctuations can make weight loss a challenge, but through a carefully scheduled fasting plan, coupled with delicious recipes and invaluable support and education, you can feel better than ever in just 28 days. The benefits of fasting are unmatched! Your body shifts from burning glucose to burning stored fat, helping you lose weight. It can also stabilize blood sugar and even improve your mood and sleep quality. Sign up today for 60 percent off (that's just $15.65, or 56 cents a day). Save 60% Shop It's time to feel your best, and there is no time like now to get started on the Reverse Health fasting challenge Designed specifically to help women in midlife, the program takes a personalized approach to helping you shed unwanted pounds and improve your overall health. It's the combination of the two that is so vital to your wellbeing, especially during this transitional period of life when the body undergoes so many dramatic changes. Intermittent fasting can play a significant role in helping your body handle them. Fasting doesn't have to be a challenge thanks to this manageable program that's tailored to your specific needs Studies have found that by fasting, you can manage your weight more efficiently. It's not even just a theory. Centuries ago, people wouldn't eat for hours upon hours while they hunted and gathered for their next meal. Between the larger portions and the tempting snacks at every turn, though, food culture has obviously evolved. But fasting still exists, and it can be a great way to control how your body responds to your food intake. Under normal circumstances, your body uses glucose as its primary source of energy. When there's no more glucose left to burn though, your body shifts to mobilizing your stored fat. That's the key to weight loss — but there are other benefits to fasting, too, like reducing blood sugar, supporting heart health, and even boosting memory and sleep. The beauty of the Reverse Health is that it's tailored specifically to your body's changing needs during perimenopause and menopause. Packed with features, the Reverse Health app has all that you need to enjoy a successful challenge, including meal tips, reminders, trackers, and more Because estrogen drops during this time, it can affect how you respond to fasting. That's taken into account when creating your schedule, which is specifically designed to help you meet your personal goals. And you get a built-in support system, with helpful features like timers to help you stick to good habits and useful videos that teach you all about fasting and its impact on hormonal inflammation, along with access to the Reverse Health community. That's on top of other extras, like healthy recipes to enjoy during your eating windows, tips to support your overall wellness, and the kind of motivation you need to stick to the program and see results. Within just 28 days, you could both see and feel an incredible difference! Your confidence and health are worth it. Get started and enjoy 60 percent off when you join the Reverse Health 28-day fasting challenge today.
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Contraception used by thousands increases risk of brain tumour, study finds
Women on a widely–used contraceptive jab are three–and–a–half times more likely to suffer a potentially–fatal brain tumour, a study shows. It's the third major investigation in just over a year to show the jab raises the risk of a meningioma, the most common type of tumour in the brain, in those on it for 12 months or more. Around 10,000 prescriptions a month are issued for medroxyprogesterone acetate— sold under the brand name Depo Provera—in England alone. Hundreds of women in the UK are now reported to be considering legal action against the manufacturer Pfizer, for not warning them of the risks. A class action is already underway against Pfizer and other generic manufacturers of the jab in the US, where more than 500 women allege the companies were aware of the link but failed to adequately warn users of the risks or promote safer alternatives. The drug is a hormone injection give every three months and works by preventing eggs from being released by a woman's ovaries. It was first licensed for use on the NHS as a contraceptive over 40 years ago. But a 2024 study in the British Medical Journal of more than 18,000 women, by a team of scientists from the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety, concluded those who stayed on it for at least a year were up to five times more at risk of a meningioma. The jab is administered every three months in a doctor's surgery or sexual health clinic A second probe in September last year, by researchers at the University of Alabama in the US, produced similar results. Although non–cancerous, the condition can cause blurred vision, headaches, hearing loss, poor sense of smell and problems with swallowing. Tumours are normally slow–growing but can kill by compressing the brain and nerves if they grow too big. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with a meningioma and it's more common in women. In the latest study, scientists at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, compared meningioma rates in 72,181 women on the jab with more than 247,000 women on oral contraception. The results, in the journal Expert Opinion on Drug Safety, showed the risks were more than trebled in long–term users of the jab. Researcher Dr Mahyar Etminan said the dangers did not appear to increase the more years women spent on the drug. But he added: 'I do believe the evidence is now robust, with three large studies showing pretty much the same thing. 'Women concerned about this risk may want to consider opting for alternative contraceptives.' It's not clear why the jab triggers tumour growth. One theory is the synthetic hormone it uses – progestogen – binds to meningioma cells and helps them grow. Some research suggests certain versions of the Pill made with progestogen can also heighten the risk of meningioma but only in a small proportion of women who take it for more than five years. The UK drug safety watchdog—the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency—last October called on Pfizer to include a warning about the heightened risk in patient information leaflets. Pfizer also wrote to NHS doctors urging them to immediately stop women from using Depo Provera if they were diagnosed with a meningioma. Virginia Buchanan, partner at Levin Papantonio—the law firm handling the case in the US—said: 'This new study reinforces the need for legal action against Pfizer, with the hope of bringing justice for the women who have never been warned about the increased risk of developing a brain tumour from using Depo–Provera and who have gone on to develop meningiomas.'
