Source: National Library of Medicine -

Source: National Library of Medicine

Source: National Library of Medicine -

People who as teenagers felt pressure to lose weight from family or from the media, females, people who are not heterosexual, and people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, are most at risk of 'internalized' weight stigma, new research has found.

Nicotine pouches are a type of smokeless tobacco product that has become increasingly popular with teens and young adults. They contain nicotine and other fillers, and come in mint, fruit, and candy flavors. Users place the pouch under their upper lip and the nicotine is absorbed through their gums and saliva. Last year, the CDC’s National Youth Tobacco Survey estimated that about 1.5 percent of middle and high school students had used nicotine pouches.

Nicotine pouches are often marketed as a healthy alternative to smoking, but they can still be harmful. Nicotine is highly addictive and can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Additionally, the pouches contain chemicals and additives that can irritate the mouth and gums, and potentially lead to issues like periodontal disease or even oral cancer. The long-term consequences of using nicotine pouches are not yet fully understood.

A study confirms the concerns raised in the public domain about how young people's decreased fitness may affect their future work ability. The association of low youth cardiorespiratory fitness and adulthood decreased work ability persisted until the end of working life, which predicts substantial societal costs.

The avian flu, also known as bird flu, is a type of influenza virus that typically infects birds, such as chickens, ducks, and geese. This virus can sometimes spread to humans, but it is not easily transmitted from person to person. Last month, highly pathogenic avian flu—a type of influenza A known as H5N1—was identified in at least a dozen cattle herds in Texas, Ohio, New Mexico, Kansas, Michigan, and Idaho on the Canadian border. On April 1, 2024, a person in Texas became ill with bird flu after contact with infected dairy cattle. It’s the first human case of the highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza in Texas, and the second recorded in the United States.

According to a recent EdWeek Research Center survey, 55 percent of students have self-diagnosed mental health issues using social media sites like TikTok and Instagram. Social media has made it easier for people to talk about their mental health, and it may be faster or more affordable to use online resources than to contact a professional. However, false information spreads quickly online and people who give advice may not have the required training or experience. Additionally, it’s not a good idea to share all of your incredibly private details and experiences on the Internet where others can view them and could be influenced to believe they may also be diagnosed with the same conditions.

If you’re struggling, you can take proactive steps by talking to a trusted adult, like a family member, teacher, or school counselor, who can provide support and help you find appropriate resources. Engaging in healthy coping strategies such as making time for hobbies, staying physically active, eating a balanced diet, and connecting with supportive friends and peers can also reduce stress and support your overall well-being.

Women affected by premenstrual disorders have a higher risk of perinatal depression compared with those who do not, according to new research. The relationship works both ways: those with perinatal depression are also more likely to develop premenstrual disorders after pregnancy and childbirth. This study suggests that a common mechanism might contribute to the two conditions.

Experiencing puberty earlier, compared to same-age peers, may be one of the mechanisms through which childhood risk factors influence adult cardiometabolic health issues, according to a new study.

Many parents recognize increasing mental health concerns among children, reflected by the 1 in 5 who say they're open to allowing a child to take a mental health day.

Source: Nemours Foundation

Source: Nemours Foundation -

Source: Nemours Foundation -

Source: Nemours Foundation -

Source: Nemours Foundation

Source: Nemours Foundation

According to the latest Monitoring the Future survey, more U.S. teens are experimenting with delta-8, a cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp plants. In 2023, 11 percent of 12th grade students reported using the substance. To put the results into perspective, that’s at least one or two students in every average-sized high school class, according to the National Institutes of Health, which provided funding for the survey. Ninety-one percent of the teens who used delta-8 also acknowledged using marijuana.

Delta-8 has comparable effects on the body and brain to delta-9 THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, but there’s no regulatory oversight in the U.S. for how delta-8 is manufactured or tested. Delta-8 users have reported adverse health effects like rapid heart rate, breathing problems, and even seizures. Health officials say teens are at greater risk because they can unintentionally overconsume edibles that contain delta-8 THC.

Fifteen-year-old Gavinn McKinney was well-known and warmly regarded by his Durango, Colorado, community. He was part of the Thunder Clan of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, and embraced the philosophy “Love is the cure.” Just days before his sixteenth birthday, McKinney tried hard drugs for the first time at a friend’s house and died from fentanyl poisoning.

In response to the devastating loss of McKinney, his friends and classmates are advocating for change. They drafted a bill that, if passed by state lawmakers, would permit Colorado high school students to carry naloxone—a medication capable of temporarily counteracting an opioid overdose and potentially proving lifesaving in such emergencies. In addition to naloxone access, the students also want improved drug education and programs aimed at addressing the overdose epidemic. “We realized we could actually make a change if we put our hearts to it,” said Niko Peterson, a senior at Animas High School in Durango and one of McKinney’s friends who helped write the bill. “Being proactive versus being reactive is going to be the best possible solution. ... We’re making things happen on behalf of him.”