Health

Many people in the U.K. now use apps, smartwatches or wearable devices to track their physical activity. Fitness trackers promise to help users become fitter, happier and healthier versions of themselves. For many people, they can be useful: a nudge to move more, a way to notice patterns, or a reminder that activity does not have to happen in a gym.

The number of obese adults in England rose from 26% in 2019 to 30% in 2025, according to a new analysis of 55 million people. Nearly 1 in 3 adults are now obese. But averages hide a lot, and behind this one are two very different trends.

Children growing up in a low-income urban community in Vellore are now facing two seemingly opposite forms of malnutrition simultaneously: persistent thinness and rising obesity by the time they reach primary school age. A longitudinal birth cohort study of 251 children found that while thinness remained common, the prevalence of overweight and obesity nearly tripled between ages 7 and 9, underscoring the country’s growing “double burden of malnutrition.”

As pro cycling teams have been preparing for the start of the Tour de France on Saturday, extreme heat has rolled across Western Europe, smashing temperature records, cracking infrastructure and taking a toll on the population.

A new study by University of Manchester researchers has linked a digital platform helping people manage type 2 diabetes to better blood sugar control, improved health and potential long-term NHS cost savings. MyWay Diabetes, an NHS-supported online platform and app—which lets users view their diabetes health records, track results and access simple education courses and advice—was rolled out across Greater Manchester during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The appearance of food images on a menu can influence whether we order large or small portions—or potentially choose healthy or more caloric meals. New research from Flinders University indicates that the color and size of a dining plate can have mixed results in regulating meal size, so it may not be the best way to boost healthy eating choices.

A pioneering food additive that can stop people from gaining weight has appeared on the EU’s Novel Food List, indicating its safety for human consumers. Inulin propionate ester, or IPE, is a dietary fiber developed and tested by scientists at Imperial College London and at SUERC, Center for the Isotope Sciences at the University of Glasgow. It maximizes the known benefits of a high-fiber diet, helping people feel fuller for longer, with the aim of reducing the daily calorie surpluses that can drive long-term weight gain.

Nearly half of dementia cases could be prevented by tackling modifiable risk factors such as physical inactivity, smoking, low education or social isolation, but new Curtin University research suggests current public health approaches are falling short in driving real behavior change. The major international review published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity found that while large-scale health awareness campaigns for dementia prevention can reach wide audiences, they often lead to only small improvements in knowledge and limited changes in behavior.

Each additional hour of prolonged, uninterrupted sedentary behavior in a person’s day is associated with a 9% higher risk of cancer death, according to a study published in PLOS Medicine by Frederick Ho of the University of Glasgow, UK, and colleagues.

Few substances are as deeply woven into everyday life as alcohol. It is a fixture at holiday celebrations, work-related social gatherings, sporting events, airports and brunch or dinner tables. A raised glass for a toast, the ubiquitous wedding open bar or drinks shared during a Fourth of July celebration all demonstrate how deeply alcohol has become embedded in social customs and cultural traditions.

As summer heat intensifies across the U.S., the American Heart Association is warning that soaring temperatures don’t just make people uncomfortable—they can put serious strain on the heart and increase the risk of life-threatening complications.