Chowing down on ultra-processed foods – fast food, packaged snacks, heat-and-eat meals – increases young adults’ risk of health problems that contribute to diabetes, a new study warns. An increase in ultra-processed food intake is associated with a higher risk of prediabetes, in which early-stage high blood sugar can lead to type 2 diabetes, researchers…  read on >  read on >

They’re tasty, affordable and satisfy fast — ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) dominate the American diet, accounting for more than half of the calories consumed by the average adult, and even more for children. These foods are a growing public health concern and federal health officials are working to remove some from food assistance programs. But experts…  read on >  read on >

There’s no clear evidence linking acetaminophen use during pregnancy with developmental issues like autism or ADHD, two major evidence reviews have concluded. Any increased risk observed in dozens of studies tended to cancel out when researchers adjusted for other potential factors, or when they compared between siblings to validate their findings, both evidence reviews found.…  read on >  read on >

A cup of coffee might actually benefit some people with a common heart rhythm disorder, a new study says. Adults with atrial fibrillation who drank a daily cup of coffee were 39% less likely to have an episode of irregular heart rhythm, compared to those who avoided caffeine, researchers reported Nov. 9 in the Journal…  read on >  read on >

A common diabetes drug could be sabotaging the health benefits that a patient might expect from a daily walk, a new study says. Metformin appears to blunt improvements in blood pressure, fitness and blood sugar control that normally come from regular exercise, researchers report in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. This complicates current…  read on >  read on >