Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
National Obesity Rates Continue To Climb, Tipping Over 35 Percent In Seven States
Stat: Seven U.S. States Now Have Adult Obesity Rates Of 35 Percent Or Higher
Seven U.S. states now have adult obesity rates of 35 percent or higher, up from zero states just five years ago, according to federal data released Wednesday. The 2017 data, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlight continuing discrepancies in adult obesity rates across geographic areas, race, and education levels. (Joseph, 9/12)
Pioneer Press: Minnesotans’ Obesity Rate Lower Than Other Midwest States, CDC Says
Minnesota again has the lowest rate of obesity in the Upper Midwest, according to 2017 figures released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the first time, it also has the lowest rate among 12 Midwestern states.The CDC survey found 28.4 percent of Minnesota adults self-reported they were obese, which makes Minnesota the only Midwestern state below 30 percent. (Tarala, 9/12)
The Washington Post: A Prototype Of How To Fight The Next Pandemic: A Vaccine Without The Shot
When the next deadly pandemic flu hits, the first challenge will be to develop a vaccine. But looming behind that obstacle is another: How to get an inoculation to millions of people without inadvertently exacerbating the crisis. After all, droves of people — some who might already be sickened — who flock to health centers for a shot could be a potent way for the infection to spread. (Johnson, 9/12)
The Associated Press: US, Cuba To Meet On Mystery ‘Health Attacks’ In Havana
U.S. and Cuban officials will meet later today in an effort to determine the method and motive behind mystery incidents in Havana that have injured American diplomats. The meeting comes amid widespread frustration among national security agencies and in Congress at the lack of answers about what the U.S. describes as “health attacks” that began nearly two years ago and affected some two dozen people, including some diagnosed with brain damage. It also comes amid a flurry of reports suggesting investigators have narrowed their suspicions as to the cause and culprit. (Lee, 9/13)
The Washington Post: How Donor Sperm Is Creating Enormous Genetic Families Around The World
Kianni Arroyo clasps 8-year-old Sophia’s hands tightly as they spin around, giggling like mad. It’s late afternoon, and there are hot dogs on the grill, bubble wands on the lawn, balls flying through the air. The midsummer reunion in a suburb west of the city looks like any other, but these family ties can’t be described with standard labels. Instead, Arroyo, a 21-year-old waitress from Orlando, is here to meet “DNA-in-laws,” various “sister-moms” and especially people like Sophia, a cherished “donor-sibling.” (Cha, 9/12)
The Associated Press: Lab Test May Identify Dangerous Gene Mutations, Study Finds
Scientists say they've found a new way to help determine whether specific genetic abnormalities are likely to make people sick, a step toward avoiding a vexing uncertainty that can surround DNA test results. Researchers used genetic engineering to create thousands of tiny variations in a gene linked to breast cancer, and tested each one in a lab to predict whether it would promote the disease if it appeared in a person. (9/12)
The Wall Street Journal: Cannabis Comes To Your Coffee And Candy—But Is It Legal?
A kissing cousin to pot is showing up in your coffee, candy and chocolate bars. Companies are selling a growing number of products that contain cannabidiol, or CBD, a chemical found in hemp. It’s being added to everything from gumdrops to beverages, as marketers claim benefits such as pain relief and stress reduction. (Chaker, 9/12)
The New York Times: When Your Child Believes Meat Is Murder
After viewing “Blackfish,” a documentary about the mistreatment of animals at SeaWorld, Jeffrey Miller’s daughter, Hannah, became concerned that eating meat was murder. Last year, she decided to become a vegetarian. “Our 14-year-old has completely bailed on meat of her own accord, so we’ve had to do some maneuvering,” Mr. Miller said of his daughter, who is the lone vegetarian in a household where both parents and her 16-year-old sister, Emma, happily consume chicken, pork and turkey. He noted that in their town of Sioux Falls, S.D., the middle of the pork and beef belt, many of her friends view her vegetarian status as “weird.” (Halpert, 9/13)
Politico: Pulse Check At Work: Radiologists
Overseas doctors are cheaper. Artificial intelligence could eventually be smarter. Patient safety concerns have multiplied. Are American radiologists' days numbered? These radiologists say no — and take listeners inside their work. (9/12)
