THURSDAY, Dec. 19, 2024 (HeathDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants to redefine the meaning of healthy food, issuing a new rule Thursday that changes the way food companies can claim their products are indeed nutritious. What foods will qualify for the new designation? Under the final rule, pretty much everything in the… read on > read on >
All Food:
FDA Says Shortage of GLP-1 Tirzepatide Is Over
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration re-issued a decision first made by the agency in October that a shortage of the diabetes/weight-loss medication tirzepatide is over. Tirzepatide includes blockbuster injected GLP-1 medications Mounjaro (for diabetes) and Zepbound (for weight loss). The FDA first announced two months ago that any shortage of the medications observed during… read on > read on >
DOJ Alleges CVS Facilitated Unlawful Sales, Violating Federal Opioid Regulations
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a civil complaint against CVS Pharmacy Inc., accusing the nation’s largest pharmacy chain of unlawfully filling prescriptions for highly addictive opioids and violating federal health care laws. According to a news release published Dec. 18, 2024, the complaint also accuses CVS of seeking reimbursement for these prescriptions… read on > read on >
Milk Cereal Drinks for Infants May Trigger Weight Gain
Adding cereal to a baby’s bottle is a habit that’s been around for a long time to help introduce solid foods while also supplementing a mom’s breast milk. But this practice can cause babies to pack on some pounds early in life, however, a new study says. Infants were about 50% more likely to experience… read on > read on >
FDA: Veozah, First Hormone-Free Hot Flash Drug, Issued Black Box Warning
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued its most serious warning — a black-box warning — for Veozah, a medication used to relieve hot flashes in menopausal women, due to rare but potentially severe liver risks. In new communication issued Dec. 17, the FDA advised that women taking Veozah should undergo regular blood… read on > read on >
With Correct Measurements, Wine Really May Protect Heart
A little wine every day can protect your heart health, a new study suggests. People who drank half to one glass of wine a day had a 50% lower risk of heart attack, stroke or heart disease, compared to wine teetotalers, researchers reported Dec. 18 in the European Heart Journal. Even light drinking — one… read on > read on >
Artificial Sweetener Use Tied to Less-Healthy Diets
Folks who switch to artificial sweeteners in drinks and food may be drawn to other types of unhealthy fare — bringing down the quality of their overall diet, new research suggests. The study, published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, tracked the diets of almost 164,000 people averaging 53 years of age, about… read on > read on >
Scientists Identify Genes That Shape People’s Teeth
Ever wonder why your teeth look the way they do? A group of genes drive the shape of each person’s teeth, including at least one gene inherited from Neanderthals, a new study published Dec. 12 in Current Biology found. There are 18 sets of genes that influence the size and shape of teeth, 17 of… read on > read on >
U.S. Adult Obesity Rate Fell in 2023, as Use of GLP-1 Meds Rose
The U.S. obesity rate declined for the first time in a decade last year, coinciding with the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss meds, a new study finds. Data on almost 17 million adults nationwide showed the obesity rate — which has been rising for years — fell from 46.2% of adults in 2021 to 45.6% in… read on > read on >
Unhealthy, Ultra-processed Foods Now Half of Calories Americans Eat at Home
Unhealthy ultra-processed foods have wormed their way into American kitchens, likely harming people’s health for decades, a new study warns. More than half of the calories adults eat at home now come from ultra-processed foods, which contain high levels of sugar, salt, fat and other additives, and have been linked to heart disease, obesity and… read on > read on >