A new study warns that diets not medically necessary can lead to harmful weight cycling, causing long-lasting negative effects such as shame, body dissatisfaction, and stress. Participants reported feeling pressured to diet for societal standards, leading to disordered weight-management behaviors and extreme dieting. Breaking the cycle involved adopting healthy eating habits, but societal expectations and weight stigma made it difficult. The study emphasizes the need to avoid unnecessary dieting to prevent a lifelong struggle with weight.
Synthetic vitamin supplements, particularly fat-soluble vitamins like A and E, may do more harm than good. While some individuals may require specific nutrient supplementation, most people do not need to supplement all the vitamins they think they do. Fat-soluble vitamins can accumulate in the body and reach toxic levels, causing adverse effects such as joint pain, liver damage, birth defects, skin irritation, and increased cancer risk. Vitamin E supplements, especially in the form of alpha-tocopherol, have been associated with negative health effects and increased mortality risk. The lack of regulation for dietary supplements raises concerns about inaccurate labeling and undeclared ingredients. It is important to consult with healthcare professionals and choose reputable brands when considering vitamin supplementation.
Smoking nicotine in any form, including vaping, is considered harmful for both the mother and the baby during pregnancy. While research on the effects of vaping during pregnancy is limited, animal studies have shown harm to the fetus, including smaller bones and growth. The goal is for women to quit smoking altogether before becoming pregnant, and there are patches available to help with quitting.
A world-first trial led by the University of Sydney has found that opioids are not more effective than a placebo for treating acute back and neck pain and may even pose a risk for harm. The researchers argue that treatment guidelines should be updated to advise against using opioids for this type of pain. The study highlights the need to reassess the use of opioid pain-relieving medicines due to limited evidence of benefit and known significant risk of harm. Reducing the overuse of opioids is a global health priority, and medical authorities are shifting focus to non-opioid treatments for low back pain.
Regulators in the US and around the world are tightening oversight of the sports gambling industry, citing harm to the public and athletes. At least three US states have moved to bar gamblers if they threaten or harass athletes after lost bets. The crackdown extends to advertising that may reach underage bettors. An estimated $1.8bn was spent advertising online gambling last year in local markets in the US, up nearly 70% in just one year. The moves overseas by regulators reflect what could be coming next if the US sports betting industry does not move rapidly to head off problems that have emerged in countries where sports betting has been legal for many years.
