Health

A new study has discovered that contact with natural environments may help people develop healthier eating habits. Led by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and published in the journal Body Image, this is the first research to provide evidence that exposure to nature can influence people’s relationship with food.

Girls who added a prebiotic fiber supplement to their usual diets for a year built more bone than girls who took a placebo, according to a clinical trial led by Florida International University nutrition researcher Cristina Palacios.

People who eat fresh food are healthier than those who don’t. That simple fact is the basis of food prescription programs that make fruits, vegetables and other foods free for people who are food insecure.

Overall ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption was not associated with increased colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in a cohort of more than 400,000 U.S. adults, according to a study published Oct. 15 by Erikka Loftfield of the National Cancer Institute, U.S., and colleagues in the journal PLOS Medicine.

The new annual California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data released today provide a more precise look at how the 2025 wildfires affected Californians’ health and well-being, while also revealing troubling trends in the health of immigrants, low-income individuals and transgender and gender-expansive communities.

Healthy adults who eat high amounts of ultra-processed food, like packaged snack foods, sugary breakfast cereals, soft drinks, instant noodles and ready-to-eat frozen meals, are more likely to have signs of damage to the brain that may increase the chances of clinical stroke and future memory problems.

Need treatment fast? Many people now turn to Google before consulting a health care professional. From checking symptoms online to buying medicines online and taking advice from social media influencers, health care is increasingly becoming a do-it-yourself activity.

Exercise should be prescribed as a foundational component of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and treatment, according to a new American College of Cardiology scientific statement published in JACC.

Staying active is key to staying healthy, and fitness trackers and smartwatches have become popular tools for tracking activity. But just how many steps does someone need to take each day to lose weight? Experts say there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The number 10,000 is repeated often, but research shows anywhere from 4,000 to 10,000 steps per day can still provide health benefits.

Survivors of childhood cancer can make lifestyle changes to reduce later-in-life chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. Still, some survivors report local environmental barriers to taking these actions. According to a new study from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists, survivors from the most vulnerable neighborhoods—those with features including low income per capita, poor walkability, a lack of access to nearby health care or fewer healthy food options—have a significantly elevated risk. The findings, published recently in eClinicalMedicine, identify a need to consider these community-level factors to better support survivors.

Participation in school meal programs was linked to lower blood concentrations of certain PFAS, pollutants commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in a new study of Hispanic children in Northern Virginia.