Nearly three-fourths of U.S. adults are overweight or have obesity, with rates projected to increase further by 2050 without significant interventions, according to a large study published Nov. 14 in The Lancet.
Category: Public Health
Trust in scientists improves, still below pre-COVID levels
Confidence in scientists has slightly increased among Americans since 2023, but it remains lower than pre-pandemic levels, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in October.
Watch: Why the US Has Made Little Progress Improving Black Americans’ Health
KFF Health News senior correspondents Fred Clasen-Kelly and Renuka Rayasam discuss how government decisions undermine Black health.
KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: Readying for Republican Rule
Come January, Republicans will control the House of Representatives, Senate, and White House, regaining full power for the first time since 2018. That will give them significant clout to dramatically change health policy. But slim margins in Congress will leave little room for dissent. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has vowed not to touch Medicare, though […]
Scientists Fear What’s Next for Public Health if RFK Jr. Is Allowed To ‘Go Wild’
As federal health scientists await an unprecedented takeover by medical skeptics in the second Trump administration, some are said to be preparing résumés or retirement papers.
Premature birth rate at all-time high: Report
The U.S. has received a “D+” for preterm birth rates for the third year in a row, with no substantial change in those rates, according to a Nov. 14 March of Dimes report.
As California Taps Pandemic Stockpile for Bird Flu, Officials Keep Close Eye on Spending
California health officials began providing protective clothing to farmworkers months before the state’s first bird flu transmission to humans was announced in October. It’s a reminder of the state’s struggle to remain prepared for health threats amid multibillion-dollar deficits.
After Congress Ended Extra Cash Aid for Families, Communities Tackle Child Poverty Alone
The child tax credit passed by Congress at the height of covid has expired, but states and localities are trying to fill the gap with their own programs and funding. In Michigan, Rx Kids already covers every family with a new baby in Flint. Now, other communities aim to follow.
Genomic test shows promise in diagnosing complex infections
A diagnostic test developed by researchers at the University of California San Francisco aims to help physicians identify causes of severe infections by analyzing DNA and RNA to detect a range of pathogens.
Maryland Is Training More Health Workers To Offer Abortion Care
After the fall of “Roe v. Wade,” thousands of out-of-state patients traveled to Maryland for abortion care. The state is trying to diversify who can offer that care. Providers in the first training class say their new skills are especially needed in rural areas.
