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.