“Couch potatoes,” take note: Sedentary behavior now accounts for up to 8% of non-communicable diseases and deaths worldwide, researchers say. Physical inactivity is a known risk factor for premature death and several non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and several cancers. In a new study, researchers analyzed 2016 data…  read on >  read on >

Black people have higher diabetes death rates than white people in the 30 largest cities in the United States, a new study finds. But placing a cap on the price of insulin could narrow that racial gap, according to researcher Joanna Buscemi, of DePaul University in Chicago. Insulin medication is needed by all people with…  read on >  read on >

Middle-aged adults looking to boost their muscle mass do not need to bulk up on protein, a new study suggests. Researchers found that 10 weeks of strength training plus a moderate amount of protein were enough to build muscle in previously sedentary middle-aged people. And extra protein brought no added gains. The findings run counter…  read on >  read on >

Middle-aged folks who feel persistently lonely appear to have a nearly doubled risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, a new study reports. If you take steps to counter your loneliness, however, you might actually reduce your dementia risk, the researchers found. Dementia risk rose 91% in those who reported feelings of loneliness that persisted…  read on >  read on >

Many people may have postponed cancer screenings during the coronavirus pandemic, but a major medical group says now is the time to catch up. The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer is urging people to resume recommended cancer screenings to prevent further delays that could lead to diagnosis after a cancer is more advanced.…  read on >  read on >

U.S. surgery patients have a high rate of smoking, which could be one reason why some wind up on the operating table, researchers say. A look at nearly 329,000 Michigan residents who had common surgical procedures between 2012 and 2019 found that nearly a quarter had smoked in the past year. In comparison, just over…  read on >  read on >

About 1 in 5 Colorado high school students has access to guns, according to new study from the Colorado School of Public Health. The research — published March 29 in the Journal of Pediatrics — is being released after recent mass shootings in Atlanta and in Boulder, Colo. “Our findings highlight that it is relatively…  read on >  read on >