Newsom Signs Law Barring Sales of Diet Pills and Muscle-Building Supplements to Minors
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed AB 2030, barring sales to minors of certain over-the-counter diet pills and muscle-building supplements starting Jan. 1, 2027, with retailers facing fines of up to $500 per violation.
Stanford Nutrition Scientist Says Healthy Eating Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect
Stanford nutrition scientist Christopher Gardner says healthy eating is simpler than most people think, pointing to the 80/20 rule, legumes and self-forgiveness over perfection.
Fraud Cases and Hospital Spending Put 340B Drug Discount Program Under Scrutiny
A $58 million fraud case, hospital kickback settlements in New York and Virginia, and disclosures about hospital spending have drawn fresh scrutiny to the federal 340B drug discount program.
Dengue Cases in Tampa Bay Reach Decades-High Total as Local Emergencies Continue
Florida has recorded 485 locally acquired dengue fever cases this year, with the Tampa Bay area accounting for about 95% of them, prompting local states of emergency in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
Coffee on an Empty Stomach: Doctors Say the Cortisol Scare Is Overblown
Gastroenterologists say studies don’t back up viral claims that coffee on an empty stomach spikes cortisol or damages the gut, though caffeine can still cause heartburn or digestive discomfort in some people.
Doctors Offer Tips to Ease the Strain When Clocks Fall Back
As clocks fall back this weekend, two doctors explain how the sudden loss of evening light disrupts sleep and mood, and what small, practical adjustments can ease the transition.
California’s Medi-Cal Program Pays for Home-Delivered Gourmet Meals, Including for Some Immigrants Without Legal Status
California’s Medi-Cal program, through Governor Newsom’s CalAIM overhaul, is paying to deliver free gourmet groceries and prepared meals to qualifying recipients, including some immigrants without legal status, according to an opinion piece in the New York Post.
New Study Estimates Roughly 75% of Deceased NFL Players Showed Signs of CTE
A Boston University study estimates roughly 75% of deceased NFL players examined had some degree of CTE, though researchers note the donor pool likely skews toward more severe cases.
Seattle Woman’s Death Prompts Lawsuit Over ChatGPT’s Medication Advice
A lawsuit alleges ChatGPT’s advice to taper off epilepsy medication without her doctor’s knowledge contributed to the death of a 31-year-old former Amazon engineer in her Seattle apartment.
Study: Non-Surgical Procedure Eases Knee Arthritis Pain for Most Patients a Year Later
A new study found that a non-surgical procedure called genicular artery embolization provided lasting knee pain relief for 80% of osteoarthritis patients a year after treatment, with few side effects.
Doctors Say These Overlooked Symptoms Could Signal Endometriosis
Doctors say endometriosis symptoms go far beyond painful periods, including abdominal swelling, chronic fatigue and pain during intercourse or bowel movements that often get dismissed or misdiagnosed.
Federal Prosecutors Charge 15 in Southern California Health Care Fraud Cases Worth $2 Billion
Federal prosecutors charged 15 people, including six medical professionals, in Southern California health care fraud schemes totaling roughly $2 billion, among them the largest sober-home fraud case the Justice Department has ever brought.
Jillian Michaels Calls On Parents To Push Back Against Social Media’s Pull On Kids
Jillian Michaels is urging parents to limit kids’ phone access and push social media companies to change their algorithms, arguing the platforms are deliberately addictive.
Large Study Finds ADHD Linked to Higher Death Risk, With Medication Showing Possible Protection
A review of 19 studies covering nearly 16 million people found ADHD is linked to a 71% higher risk of early death, but prescription medication appeared to lower that risk by 25%.
New Synthetic Opioid Cychlorphine Tied to Dozens of Deaths in Tennessee, Illinois, California and Oklahoma
Cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid reportedly up to 10 times stronger than fentanyl, has been linked to dozens of deaths in Tennessee, Illinois, California and Oklahoma, and it evades standard drug tests.
Does Therapy Fuel Family Estrangement? Researchers and a Connecticut Mother Weigh In
Researchers and a Connecticut mother estranged from her adult daughter say some therapists may be fueling family cutoffs by treating value differences as abuse, though other experts say therapy’s effects vary widely case by case.
South Carolina Dietitian Weighs In on The Rock’s 70-Gram Protein Smoothie
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s 70-gram-protein post-workout smoothie is well-suited to his size and calorie goals, but a South Carolina dietitian says the creatine dose may be too much for smaller or less active people.
Tofu Tops New Ranking That Scores Protein Foods on Health and Environmental Cost
A new BPI Score rates 20 protein foods on nutrition and environmental impact, and tofu came out ahead of beef, salmon and eggs — though nutrition experts say the ranking shouldn’t replace thinking about serving size and individual needs.
Fewer Americans Are Hosting Guests at Home, and Experts Say They Know Why
A new analysis finds the share of Americans hosting guests at home has dropped sharply since the 1990s, with experts citing busy schedules, shrinking friendships, rising costs and streaming entertainment as key causes.
Lung Cancer Survivor Says Pope Leo’s Diagnosis Offers Hope, Points to Screening Gaps
A lung cancer survivor says Pope Leo’s diagnosis, caught early during a routine checkup, mirrors her own experience and should prompt a rethink of who qualifies for lung cancer screening in the U.S.
Pope Leo’s Lung Cancer Diagnosis Puts Spotlight on Tampa Cancer Specialist’s Warnings for Nonsmokers
Pope Leo XIV’s lung cancer diagnosis, following surgery to remove part of his right lung, has prompted a Tampa oncologist to explain why the disease also strikes people who have never smoked.
Doctors Warn Against Acting Out ‘Wicker’ Movie Fantasies With Real Wicker Furniture
An OB-GYN is warning fans of the new movie “Wicker” not to act out fantasies involving real wicker furniture, citing risks of injury and infection.
Italian Study Finds Erectile Dysfunction Drug May Help Muscle Cells Regenerate
A laboratory study by researchers at the University of Rome Foro Italico found that tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis, helped mouse muscle precursor cells grow and survive, though experts caution it is far too early to say the drug builds muscle in humans.
Newsom Backs New Health Plan Tax as Medi-Cal Financing Faces Federal Squeeze
California is backing a redesigned tax on private health plans to protect Medi-Cal funding after federal rule changes, a move that has united doctors and insurers in a lawsuit and could raise premiums for privately insured residents.