03/19/25 - #350

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • RFK Jr. Wants to Eliminate FDA’s  Controversial Food Additive Program. Here’s Why That Matters

  • More Than Half of Adults and a Third of Children and Young People Worldwide Will Be Overweight or Obese by 2050, Posing an “Unparalleled Threat” of Early Death, Disease and Enormous Strain on Healthcare Systems, a New Lancet Study Warns

  • Vaccine Targeting Pancreatic Cancer Shows Promise in New Study of Clinical Trial

  • More Hospitals Are Treating Patients at Home to Reduce Overcrowding. Here's How It Works

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

RFK Jr. Wants to Eliminate FDA’s  Controversial Food Additive Program. Here’s Why That Matters

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is taking action to end a program by the FDA called GRAS, which stands for "generally recognized as safe." This program is controversial. It lets food and chemical companies approve their own products. There are no strict checks from the FDA. Since the year 2000, almost all new chemicals used in foods were approved by these companies instead of the FDA.

Kennedy wants to make changes because many Americans eat a lot of ultraprocessed foods. These are foods that are heavily modified and filled with additives. More than half of the calories in an average American diet come from these kinds of foods. Studies have shown that such foods are linked to serious health problems like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Kennedy's goal is to force food companies to be more open about what they put in their products. He wants to make sure these ingredients are safe before they reach our tables. Nutrition expert Marion Nestle backs this plan. However, she worries the government might not provide enough resources to make it work.

The process to change this is not simple. Food companies argue that the GRAS system is important for them to innovate and meet consumer demands. However, if Kennedy's plan is successful, it could lead to a safer, healthier food supply. Making food safer is critical because it means better health for everyone, reducing diseases linked to poor diet choices.

WEIGHT LOSS

More Than Half of Adults and a Third of Children and Young People Worldwide Will Be Overweight or Obese by 2050, Posing an “Unparalleled Threat” of Early Death, Disease and Enormous Strain on Healthcare Systems, a New Lancet Study Warns

By the year 2050, more than half of all adults and a third of kids and teenagers around the world will be overweight or obese. This is a huge problem because it means many people will get sick earlier in life and it will put a lot of pressure on hospitals and doctors.

Right now, there are already 2.11 billion adults and 493 million young people who are too heavy. This has gone up a lot since 1990, and it's not slowing down. Being overweight can lead to serious health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer at younger ages than before.

For example, obesity in young men has increased over the years. In the 1960s, only 7% of men were obese by age 25. For those born in 2015, it's expected to jump to 25%.

Most overweight adults live in just eight countries, including the USA, China, and India. And by 2050, a lot of children in places like North Africa and Latin America will also be facing obesity.

This is a big issue that needs immediate action. We need to change our policies and how we live to stop this trend. If we don't, the health problems and costs will only get worse, especially in countries that don't have a lot of resources.

It's important that we do something now to make sure everyone can have a healthier future.

HEALTH

Vaccine Targeting Pancreatic Cancer Shows Promise in New Study of Clinical Trial

Barbara Brigham's life took a turn in 2020. She was diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer. She found out during a regular check-up at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she had been keeping an eye on a non-cancerous cyst for years.

Her doctor, Vinod Balachandran, specializes in pancreatic cancer. He saw a chance for her to join a clinical trial. This trial was different because it included a new type of vaccine made from mRNA, similar to some COVID-19 vaccines. This vaccine was customized for her specific cancer and was used along with surgery and chemotherapy.

The trial idea came from watching patients who survived pancreatic cancer for a long time. Their immune systems seemed to fight the cancer well. Dr. Balachandran and his team wondered if they could help other patients' immune systems do the same.

The trial included 16 people, and the results were promising. Patients who had strong immune responses from the vaccine did not see their cancer come back for at least 18 months, which is better than usual.

Barbara is thankful for the trial because it gave her more time to enjoy life's big moments with her family. She has even welcomed a new grandchild since the trial. For her, participating in this trial was a blessing that gave her a new lease on life.

More Hospitals Are Treating Patients at Home to Reduce Overcrowding. Here's How It Works

Hospitals are getting so busy that they are now treating patients like 57-year-old James Edwards at their homes. James, who has heart problems, liked the idea of getting better at home instead of staying at the hospital. "I have my dog, my friends, and nurses who visit me," he said.

This at-home care is becoming more common. In 39 states, over 380 programs help patients like James get treated at home. Medicare, Medicaid, and some private insurances pay for this service. The goal is to keep hospital beds free for others who need them more urgently.

Mass General Brigham’s program shows that patients at home do better. They don't have to go back to the hospital as much, and they face fewer health issues. Dr. Stephen Dorner says, "It’s all about focusing on the patient."

Being at home helps people heal faster. Dr. Lauren Doctoroff mentioned, "If you're less stressed and sleep better at home, you heal quicker."

However, not everyone agrees this is the best approach. The biggest nurses' union is worried about the quality of care and the costs. If the government stops funding these programs, they might struggle to continue.

Dr. Dorner believes in the importance of these programs, "It's better to care for patients in their homes than in crowded hospital hallways."

For James, getting treated at home meant he could enjoy comfort while still receiving excellent medical care.

✢ A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.