Latest news with #metabolicdysfunction
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Takeaways from AP's report on the business interests of Trump's surgeon general pick
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — President Donald Trump's pick to be U.S. surgeon general has repeatedly said the nation's medical and food systems are corrupted by special interests and people out to make a profit at the expense of Americans' health. Yet as Dr. Casey Means has criticized scientists, medical schools and regulators for taking money from the food and pharmaceutical industries, she has promoted dozens of products in ways that put money in her own pocket. The Associated Press found Means, who has carved out a niche in the wellness industry, set up deals with an array of businesses. In some cases, she promoted companies in which she was an investor or adviser without consistently disclosing the connection, the AP found. Means, 37, has said she recommends products that she has personally vetted and uses herself. Still, experts said her business entanglements raise concerns about conflicting interests for an aspiring surgeon general, a role responsible for giving Americans the best scientific information on how to improve their health. Here are some takeaways from the AP's reporting. Growing an audience, and selling products Means, 37, earned her medical degree from Stanford University, but she dropped out of her residency program in 2018, and her license to practice is inactive. She said she saw firsthand how 'broken and exploitative the healthcare system is" and turned to alternative approaches to address what she has described as widespread metabolic dysfunction driven largely by poor nutrition and an overabundance of ultra-processed foods. She co-founded Levels, a nutrition, sleep and exercise-tracking app that can also give users insights from blood tests and continuous glucose monitors. The company charges $199 per year for an app subscription and an additional $184 per month for glucose monitors. Though scientists debate whether continuous glucose monitors are beneficial for people without diabetes, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted their use as a precursor to making certain weight-loss drugs available to patients. With more than 825,000 followers on Instagram and a newsletter that she has said reached 200,000 subscribers, Means has a direct line to an audience interested in health, nutrition and wellness. Many companies, including Amazon, have affiliate marketing programs in which people with substantial social media followings can sign up to receive a percentage of sales or some other benefit when someone clicks through and buys a product using a special individualized link or code shared by the influencer. Means has used such links to promote various products sold on Amazon. Among them are books, including the one she co-wrote, 'Good Energy"; beauty products; cardamom-flavored dental floss; organic jojoba oil; sunglasses; a sleep mask; a silk pillowcase; fitness and sleep trackers; protein powder and supplements. She also has shared links to products sold by other companies that included 'affiliate' or 'partner' coding. The products include an AI-powered sleep system and the prepared food company Daily Harvest, for which she curated a 'metabolic health collection.' On a 'My Faves' page that was taken down from her website shortly after Trump picked her, Means wrote that some links 'are affiliate links and I make a small percentage if you buy something after clicking them.' It's not clear how much money Means has earned from her affiliate marketing, partnerships and other agreements. Daily Harvest did not return messages seeking comment, and Means said she could not comment on the record during the confirmation process. Disclosing conflicts Influencers who endorse products in exchange for something of value are required by the the Federal Trade Commission to disclose it every time. But most consumers still don't realize that a personality recommending a product might make money if people click through and buy, said University of Minnesota professor Christopher Terry. While Means did disclose some relationships like newsletter sponsors, the AP found she wasn't consistent. For example, a 'Clean Personal & Home Care Product Recommendations' guide she links to from her website contains two dozen affiliate or partner links and no disclosure that she could profit from any sales. Means has said she invested in Function Health, which provides subscription-based lab testing for $500 annually. Of the more than a dozen online posts the AP found in which Means mentioned Function Health, more than half did not disclose she had any affiliation with the company. Though the 'About' page on her website discloses the affiliation, that's not enough, experts said. She is required to disclose any material connection she has to a company any time she promotes it. Representatives for Function Health did not return messages seeking comment. While the disclosure requirements are rarely enforced by the FTC, Means should have been informing her readers of any connections regardless of whether she was violating any laws, said Olivier Sylvain, a Fordham Law School professor, previously a senior advisor to the FTC chair. 'What you want in a surgeon general, presumably, is someone who you trust to talk about tobacco, about social media, about caffeinated alcoholic beverages, things that present problems in public health,' Sylvain said, adding, 'Should there be any doubt about claims you make about products?' Potential conflicts pose new ethical questions Past surgeons general have faced questions about their financial entanglements, prompting them to divest from certain stocks or recuse themselves from matters involving their business relationships for a period of time. Means hasn't yet gone through a Senate confirmation hearing and has not yet announced the ethical commitments she will make for the role. Emily Hund, author of 'The Influencer Industry: The Quest for Authenticity on Social Media,' said as influencer marketing becomes more common, it is raising more ethical questions — like what past influencers who enter government should do to avoid the appearance of a conflict. 'This is like a learning moment in the evolution of our democracy,' Hund said. 'Is this a runaway train that we just have to get on and ride, or is this something that we want to go differently?'
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Takeaways from AP's report on the business interests of Trump's surgeon general pick
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — President Donald Trump's pick to be U.S. surgeon general has repeatedly said the nation's medical and food systems are corrupted by special interests and people out to make a profit at the expense of Americans' health. Yet as Dr. Casey Means has criticized scientists, medical schools and regulators for taking money from the food and pharmaceutical industries, she has promoted dozens of products in ways that put money in her own pocket. The Associated Press found Means, who has carved out a niche in the wellness industry, set up deals with an array of businesses. In some cases, she promoted companies in which she was an investor or adviser without consistently disclosing the connection, the AP found. Means, 37, has said she recommends products that she has personally vetted and uses herself. Still, experts said her business entanglements raise concerns about conflicting interests for an aspiring surgeon general, a role responsible for giving Americans the best scientific information on how to improve their health. Here are some takeaways from the AP's reporting. Growing an audience, and selling products Means, 37, earned her medical degree from Stanford University, but she dropped out of her residency program in 2018, and her license to practice is inactive. She said she saw firsthand how 'broken and exploitative the healthcare system is' and turned to alternative approaches to address what she has described as widespread metabolic dysfunction driven largely by poor nutrition and an overabundance of ultra-processed foods. She co-founded Levels, a nutrition, sleep and exercise-tracking app that can also give users insights from blood tests and continuous glucose monitors. The company charges $199 per year for an app subscription and an additional $184 per month for glucose monitors. Though scientists debate whether continuous glucose monitors are beneficial for people without diabetes, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted their use as a precursor to making certain weight-loss drugs available to patients. With more than 825,000 followers on Instagram and a newsletter that she has said reached 200,000 subscribers, Means has a direct line to an audience interested in health, nutrition and wellness. Many companies, including Amazon, have affiliate marketing programs in which people with substantial social media followings can sign up to receive a percentage of sales or some other benefit when someone clicks through and buys a product using a special individualized link or code shared by the influencer. Means has used such links to promote various products sold on Amazon. Among them are books, including the one she co-wrote, 'Good Energy"; beauty products; cardamom-flavored dental floss; organic jojoba oil; sunglasses; a sleep mask; a silk pillowcase; fitness and sleep trackers; protein powder and supplements. She also has shared links to products sold by other companies that included 'affiliate' or 'partner' coding. The products include an AI-powered sleep system and the prepared food company Daily Harvest, for which she curated a 'metabolic health collection.' On a 'My Faves' page that was taken down from her website shortly after Trump picked her, Means wrote that some links 'are affiliate links and I make a small percentage if you buy something after clicking them.' It's not clear how much money Means has earned from her affiliate marketing, partnerships and other agreements. Daily Harvest did not return messages seeking comment, and Means said she could not comment on the record during the confirmation process. Disclosing conflicts Influencers who endorse products in exchange for something of value are required by the the Federal Trade Commission to disclose it every time. But most consumers still don't realize that a personality recommending a product might make money if people click through and buy, said University of Minnesota professor Christopher Terry. While Means did disclose some relationships like newsletter sponsors, the AP found she wasn't consistent. For example, a 'Clean Personal & Home Care Product Recommendations' guide she links to from her website contains two dozen affiliate or partner links and no disclosure that she could profit from any sales. Means has said she invested in Function Health, which provides subscription-based lab testing for $500 annually. Of the more than a dozen online posts the AP found in which Means mentioned Function Health, more than half did not disclose she had any affiliation with the company. Though the 'About' page on her website discloses the affiliation, that's not enough, experts said. She is required to disclose any material connection she has to a company any time she promotes it. Representatives for Function Health did not return messages seeking comment. While the disclosure requirements are rarely enforced by the FTC, Means should have been informing her readers of any connections regardless of whether she was violating any laws, said Olivier Sylvain, a Fordham Law School professor, previously a senior advisor to the FTC chair. 'What you want in a surgeon general, presumably, is someone who you trust to talk about tobacco, about social media, about caffeinated alcoholic beverages, things that present problems in public health,' Sylvain said, adding, 'Should there be any doubt about claims you make about products?' Potential conflicts pose new ethical questions Past surgeons general have faced questions about their financial entanglements, prompting them to divest from certain stocks or recuse themselves from matters involving their business relationships for a period of time. Means hasn't yet gone through a Senate confirmation hearing and has not yet announced the ethical commitments she will make for the role. Emily Hund, author of 'The Influencer Industry: The Quest for Authenticity on Social Media,' said as influencer marketing becomes more common, it is raising more ethical questions — like what past influencers who enter government should do to avoid the appearance of a conflict. 'This is like a learning moment in the evolution of our democracy,' Hund said. 'Is this a runaway train that we just have to get on and ride, or is this something that we want to go differently?' ___ Swenson reported from New York.
Globe and Mail
20-05-2025
- Health
- Globe and Mail
MASH Market Report 2034: Statistics, Revenue, Patient Pool, EMA, PDMA, FDA Approvals, Clinical Trials, Medication, MOA, ROA and Companies by DelveInsight
MASH Companies are Boehringer Ingelheim, Hepagene, Eli Lilly and Company, Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Galectin Therapeutics, Novo Nordisk A/S, Merck & Co., Zealand Pharma, Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Inventiva Pharma, Cirius Therapeutics, HighTide Biopharma, Pfizer, Lipocine, Corcept Therapeutics, Poxel SA, Enyo Pharmaceuticals, Akero Therapeutics, Zydus Therapeutics, 89bio, Viking Therapeutics, Boston Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, CytoDyn, Sagimet Biosciences, and others. (Albany, USA) DelveInsight's Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, MASH emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2020 to 2034, segmented into 7MM [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan]. The MASH market report provides current treatment practices, emerging drugs, the market share of the individual therapies, and the current and forecasted MASH market size from 2020 to 2034, segmented by seven major markets. The Report also covers current MASH treatment practice/algorithm, market drivers, market barriers, and unmet medical needs to curate the best opportunities and assesses the underlying potential of the MASH market. Key Takeaways from the Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Market Report The total MASH market size in the 7MM was approximately USD 2,114 million in 2023 and is projected to increase during the forecast period (2024–2034). In 2023, there were an estimated 42 million prevalent cases of MASH in the 7MM. Out of these, a total of ~15 million cases were diagnosed, and this number is projected to increase by the end of 2034 in the 7MM. Leading MASH companies such as Inventiva Pharma, Novo Nordisk A/S, Cirius Therapeutics, Akero Therapeutics, 89bio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Zealand Pharma, Galectin Therapeutics, Lipocine, Viking Therapeutics, Eli Lilly and Company, Boston Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, HighTide Biopharma, CytoDyn, Merck & Co., Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Hepagene (Shanghai), Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Enyo Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Poxel SA, Zydus Therapeutics, Sagimet Biosciences, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Corcept Therapeutics, and others are developing novel MASH drugs that can be available in the MASH market in the coming years. The promising MASH therapies in the pipeline include Lanifibranor (IVA337), Semaglutide, Azemiglitazone (MSDC-0602K), Efruxifermin (EFX), BIO89-100 (Pegozafermin), Survodutide (BI 456906), GR-MD-02 (Belapectin), LPCN1144, VK2809, Tirzepatide, BOS-580, Ervogastat (PF-06865571) + Clesacostat (PF-05221304), HTD1801, Leronlimab (PRO 140), Efinopegdutide, HPG1860, Rencofilstat (CRV431), EYP001 (Vonafexor), Semaglutide/Cilofexor/Firsocostat, PXL065, Saroglitazar Magnesium, Denifanstat (TVB-2640), ION224, Miricorilant (CORT118335), and others. In March 2024, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals' groundbreaking product, REZDIFFRA (resmetirom), a once-daily, oral THR-ß agonist, received accelerated endorsement from the US FDA based on results from the Phase III MAESTRO-NASH trial. This approval marks a significant stride in the medical landscape, as REZDIFFRA becomes the inaugural and sole FDA-sanctioned therapy for adults afflicted with non-cirrhotic MASH, accompanied by moderate to advanced liver scarring (fibrosis) corresponding to stages F2–F3 fibrosis. Discover which therapies are expected to grab the major MASH market share @ Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Market Report Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Overview Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a progressive liver disease that stems from metabolic dysfunction, often linked to obesity, diabetes, and other conditions of metabolic syndrome. MASH is characterized by the accumulation of fat in liver cells, accompanied by inflammation and liver cell injury, which can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, or even liver cancer. The primary drivers of MASH include insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Genetic predisposition and a sedentary lifestyle also play significant roles. Environmental factors, such as a poor diet high in sugars and fats, exacerbate the condition. MASH is often asymptomatic in its early stages. When MASH symptoms occur, they can include fatigue, vague abdominal discomfort, or pain in the upper right quadrant. In advanced stages, signs of liver dysfunction such as jaundice, swelling of the abdomen or legs, and confusion may arise. MASH Diagnosis involves a combination of clinical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. Blood tests measuring liver enzymes (ALT, AST) often indicate liver inflammation. Imaging techniques like ultrasound, MRI, or FibroScan can identify liver fat and fibrosis. In some cases, a liver biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis and assess disease severity. Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Epidemiology Segmentation The MASH epidemiology section provides insights into the historical and current MASH patient pool and forecasted trends for the 7MM. It helps recognize the causes of current and forecasted patient trends by exploring numerous studies and views of key opinion leaders. The MASH market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 2020–2034 in the 7MM segmented into: Prevalent Cases of MASH Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of MASH Gender-specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of MASH Severity-specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of MASH MASH Treatment Market The approval of REZDIFFRA (resmetirom) in March 2024 represents a pivotal achievement in medical innovation, transforming the treatment landscape for MASH disease. This groundbreaking therapy addresses the root causes of MASH, offering renewed hope to patients grappling with this challenging condition. Clinical trials have shown impressive results, with REZDIFFRA effectively reducing symptoms like inflammation and fibrosis, enhancing liver function, and improving patients' quality of life. By providing healthcare professionals with a robust treatment option, this approval addresses a critical unmet need and has the potential to significantly alleviate the complications linked to advanced liver disease. The prevalence of MASLD is strongly linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, particularly in individuals with a higher body mass index. However, MASLD occurrence is reduced in T2DM patients receiving treatments such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and insulin. Vitamin E, with its antioxidant properties, is regarded as a first-line pharmacological option for managing MASH, especially when dietary and lifestyle interventions are insufficient. Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Pipeline Therapies and Key Companies Lanifibranor (IVA337): Inventiva Pharma Semaglutide: Novo Nordisk A/S Azemiglitazone (MSDC-0602K): Cirius Therapeutics Efruxifermin (EFX): Akero Therapeutics BIO89-100 (Pegozafermin): 89bio Survodutide (BI 456906): Boehringer Ingelheim/Zealand Pharma GR-MD-02 (Belapectin): Galectin Therapeutics LPCN1144: Lipocine VK2809: Viking Therapeutics Tirzepatide: Eli Lilly and Company BOS-580: Boston Pharmaceuticals Ervogastat (PF-06865571) + Clesacostat (PF-05221304): Pfizer HTD1801: HighTide Biopharma Leronlimab (PRO 140): CytoDyn Efinopegdutide: Merck & Co./Hanmi Pharmaceutical HPG1860: Hepagene (Shanghai) Rencofilstat (CRV431): Hepion Pharmaceuticals EYP001 (Vonafexor): Enyo Pharmaceuticals Semaglutide/ Cilofexor/ Firsocostat: Gilead Sciences PXL065: Poxel SA Saroglitazar Magnesium: Zydus Therapeutics Denifanstat (TVB-2640): Sagimet Biosciences ION224: Ionis Pharmaceuticals Miricorilant (CORT118335): Corcept Therapeutics Discover more about MASH drugs in development @ Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Clinical Trials and Advancements MASH Market Dynamics The MASH market dynamics are expected to change in the coming years. Growing research activities and multiple clinical trials for MASH, driven by the rapid surge in its prevalence due to rising obesity and type 2 diabetes rates, highlight an active drug development pipeline and an expanding market size. The large pool of patients and lucrative growth opportunities present attractive prospects for key players, further supported by ongoing preclinical studies aimed at advancing imaging techniques for MASH diagnosis, potentially eliminating the need for invasive biopsy-based histopathological confirmation. Furthermore, potential therapies are being investigated for the treatment of MASH, and it is safe to predict that the treatment space will significantly impact the MASH market during the forecast period. Moreover, the anticipated introduction of emerging therapies with improved efficacy and a further improvement in the diagnosis rate are expected to drive the growth of the MASH market in the 7MM. However, several factors may impede the growth of the MASH market. Lack of awareness and negligence in the early stages of MASH by physicians often lead to disease progression, culminating in irreversible damage where liver transplantation becomes the only viable option. Diagnosing advanced MASH typically requires procedures like liver biopsy, which are costly, invasive, and risky. Regulatory challenges also pose hurdles, as the FDA mandates achieving one MASH endpoint for approval, while the EMA's draft guidance requires efficacy in both endpoints, potentially delaying first-mover approvals in major European markets. Additionally, access to expensive MASH treatments may be limited in certain regions, further hindering patient adoption. Moreover, MASH treatment poses a significant economic burden and disrupts patients' overall well-being and QOL. Furthermore, MASH market growth may be offset by failures and discontinuation of emerging therapies, unaffordable pricing, market access and reimbursement issues, and a shortage of healthcare specialists. In addition, the undiagnosed, unreported cases and the unawareness about the disease may also impact MASH market growth. Download the report to understand which factors are driving MASH drugs and therapies in pipeline @ Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Treatment Market Scope of the Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Market Report Study Period: 2020–2034 Coverage: 7MM [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan]. Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis CAGR: 17.9 % Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Market Size in 2023: USD 2.1 Billion Key Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Companies: Hepion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: HEPG), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IONS), Galectin Therapeutics (NASDAQ: GALT), Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE: NVO), Cirius Therapeutics (Private), HighTide Biopharma (TSX-V: HBT), Boehringer Ingelheim (Private), Hepagene (Private), Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Lipocine (NASDAQ: LPCN), Corcept Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CORT), Poxel SA (EPA: POXEL), Enyo Pharmaceuticals (Private), Akero Therapeutics (NASDAQ: AKRO), Zydus Therapeutics (NSE: ZYDUSLIFE), 89bio (NASDAQ: ETNB), Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX), Boston Pharmaceuticals (Private), Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD), Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK), Zealand Pharma (CPH: ZEAL), Hanmi Pharmaceutical (KRX: 128940), Inventiva Pharma (EPA: IVA), CytoDyn (OTCQB: CYDY), Sagimet Biosciences (NASDAQ: SGMT). Key Pipeline Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Therapies: Lanifibranor (IVA337), Semaglutide, Azemiglitazone (MSDC-0602K), Efruxifermin (EFX), BIO89-100 (Pegozafermin), Survodutide (BI 456906), GR-MD-02 (Belapectin), LPCN1144, VK2809, Tirzepatide, BOS-580, Ervogastat (PF-06865571) + Clesacostat (PF-05221304), HTD1801, Leronlimab (PRO 140), Efinopegdutide, HPG1860, Rencofilstat (CRV431), EYP001 (Vonafexor), Semaglutide/Cilofexor/Firsocostat, PXL065, Saroglitazar Magnesium, Denifanstat (TVB-2640), ION224, Miricorilant (CORT118335), and others Therapeutic Assessment: Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis current marketed and emerging therapies Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Market Dynamics: Key Market Forecast Assumptions of Emerging Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Drugs and Market Outlook Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies Download the report to understand which factors are driving MASH market trends @ Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Market Trends Table of Contents 1. Key Insights 2. Report Introduction 3. Country-wise MASH Market Overview at a Glance 4. MASH Market Overview by Therapeutic Class 5. Methodology of MASH Epidemiology and Market 6. Executive Summary 7. Key Events 8. Disease Background and Overview 9. MASH Epidemiology and Patient Population 10. MASH Patient Journey 11. Marketed MASH Drugs 12. Emerging MASH Drugs 13. MASH Market Analysis 14. Key Opinion Leaders' Views 15. SWOT Analysis 16. Unmet needs 17. Market Access and Reimbursement 18. Appendix 19. Report Methodology 20. DelveInsight Capabilities 21. Disclaimer About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Life Science market research and business consulting company recognized for its off-the-shelf syndicated market research reports and customized solutions to firms in the healthcare sector. Media Contact Company Name: DelveInsight Business Research LLP Contact Person: Ankit Nigam Email: Send Email Phone: +14699457679 Address: 304 S. Jones Blvd #2432 City: Albany State: New York Country: United States Website:
CBS News
09-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
What is metabolic dysfunction? Dr. Casey Means, Trump's surgeon general pick, calls it key factor in chronic disease
What to know about the effort to get rid of artificial food dyes Dr. Casey Means, President Trump's nominee to serve as the U.S. surgeon general, is a prominent proponent of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "MAHA," or "Make America Healthy Again," agenda. Her work has largely focused on metabolic dysfunction — but what is it? Metabolic dysfunction occurs when our body cannot normally process our food the way we are designed to, Satchidananda Panda, a professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, told CBS News. He offered an analogy: Cars run on gas, but if you filled a car that takes unleaded gas with leaded gas mixed with kerosene and alcohol, it won't function properly. "Your engine might run, but actually your engine will not function properly, and maybe a couple hundred miles or 1,000 miles, your engine, or the car, is starting to break down. So that's what happens," he said. "When we don't eat properly, and when we don't exercise properly, and when we don't let our body to repair, rejuvenate and reset, then this metabolic dysfunction happens." Metabolic dysfunction can lead to a number of symptoms and even increase the risk of certain serious health conditions, Panda said. Means, an M.D., author and entrepreneur, often cites metabolic dysfunction as the "key reason" why we develop chronic disease, warning about the impact of "our modern, toxic ultraprocessed food supply" and the use of chemicals and pesticides. She's previously said about 88% of Americans suffer from metabolic dysfunction, referencing a 2022 paper published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that found only 6.8% of U.S. adults had "optimal cardiometabolic health." If you've never heard of the term, Panda said it's often an overlooked area — pointing to a larger focus on pills and treatments rather than prevention. "It's not very attractive," he said. "People say, 'Oh, yeah, it's good lifestyle. We all know that.' So people pooh-pooh that particular aspect of research. They don't want to hear that they can go and change their behavior to improve health." What is metabolic syndrome? Metabolic syndrome is when someone experiences a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. To be diagnosed with the syndrome, someone needs at least three of the following: Excess abdominal weight High blood pressure High blood sugar High cholesterol High triglyceride levels Up to one-third of U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome, but the numbers are growing, according to the Mayo Clinic. Other names for it include syndrome X, insulin resistance syndrome and dysmetabolic syndrome. If you have even one of the criteria on the list, "that already shows you that you have some underlying metabolic dysfunction. So that's why we always say that we should actually be more mindful about metabolic dysfunction and start to act on it before we are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome," Panda said. There are things you can do to keep your metabolic health, and therefore general health, in good standing, he said, including regular exercise, eating a healthy diet and not being overweight. Metabolic health roadblocks Many people face challenges to pursuing optimal metabolic health, however, Panda notes, including education and access. Few people are taught the building blocks of a healthy diet or the importance of sleep, he says. Plus, society isn't always structured to support healthy eating and sleeping, from late-night deadlines in school to shift workers' schedules and food deserts that make it harder to find or afford fresh fruits and vegetables. Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, said she's a big believer in prevention, but believes the Trump administration's funding cuts will set back progress. "What doesn't add up is that the administration claims to want to prevent chronic diseases while at the same time eliminating the CDC's chronic disease prevention programs," she said. "You can't fix what you don't measure — and that's exactly what's happening with the CDC cuts." In his reorganization of HHS, Kennedy has touted the creation of new Administration for a Healthy America, or AHA, with a mandate to address chronic diseases, including metabolic diseases. But according to the draft HHS budget, it would receive far less funding than the cuts made to the CDC — about $500 million compared to $3.6 billion. "There's been no transparency into what AHA will do and how. What are their policies and strategies? We don't know," Gounder said.
