Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Menopause In Focus: 15 States Launch Bills Supporting Women's Health
There鈥檚 a new wave of interest in improving menopause care in the United States 鈥 it鈥檚 in books, on podcasts and dominating social media hashtags 鈥 and it鈥檚 even generating new legislation across more than a dozen states. (Howard, 7/11)
When most of us think about sugar, I bet we鈥檙e not thinking about our sex lives. We鈥檙e thinking about dessert. I鈥檓 writing this with the help of a bowl of vanilla ice cream by my side. Sugar makes us feel good in the moment, but over time, too much of it may cause us to lose out on some of life鈥檚 most intimate moments. (Brahmbhatt, 7/14)
On weight, weight loss, ulcer medication recall, and choking treatment 鈥
Nearly a fifth of U.S. adults previously deemed 鈥渙verweight鈥 would be categorized as 鈥渙bese鈥 under a 2024 obesity classification framework, according to a new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Using the recent obesity framework, 18.8 percent of the adults who had previously been categorized as 鈥渙verweight鈥 now fit under the 鈥渙bese鈥 category, researchers said. (Docter-Loeb, 7/14)
Use of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss rose sharply in kids and adolescents after the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2023 recommended offering medications along with lifestyle adjustments such as healthier eating and exercise. (Bettelheim, 7/15)
Nostrum Laboratories Inc. has recalled its Sucralfate Tablets USP 1 gram because the company filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, shut down operations and terminated its operational employees at all domestic U.S. sites, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The recall affects all lots manufactured after June 2023 of the medicine used to treat ulcers. (Bona, 7/14)
Each year, choking claims the lives of more than 4,100 Americans who are 65 or older. It鈥檚 the most vulnerable age group, accounting for about three-quarters of U.S. choking deaths, according to federal health statistics. The death rate has been relatively steady, but the number has risen, as the size of the nation鈥檚 retirement-age population grows. In response, a number of companies are marketing antichoking devices to the elderly. Medical professionals have been debating whether to endorse the products, sold under the names LifeVac, SaveLix, VitalVac and the Dechoker. (Stobbe, 7/14)
