https://medicalxpress.com/preventive-medicine-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Preventive medicine A study of more than 229,000 obese adults without diabetes in the United States has shown that weight loss drugs are associated with a decreased risk of obesity-related cancers. The research found that GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), such as semaglutide (brand names: Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (brand names: Mounjaro and Zepbound), were associated with a 41% decrease in the overall risk of developing cancer among non-diabetic patients who used the drugs for weight management, compared to those who relied on diet and exercise alone. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-weight-loss-treatments-linked-obesity.html Sun, 07 Jun 2026 19:10:01 EDT news699810902 The first human clinical trial of a universal Sarbeco coronavirus vaccine, developed by the University of Cambridge and spin-out DIOSynVax (DVX) Ltd, has shown that the vaccine is safe and has no significant side effects. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ai-universal-vaccine-human-trial.html Sun, 07 Jun 2026 15:20:01 EDT news699866842 A phase 1 clinical trial testing the safety of a leishmaniasis vaccine is set to begin in the coming months—the first vaccine created to protect against the disfiguring skin disease common in tropical regions of the world and gaining ground in the United States. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-leishmaniasis-vaccine-phase-trial-disease.html Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:00:04 EDT news699978389 If you follow wellness channels on social media, you might've come across the claim that your grip strength—or how firmly you can squeeze something with your hands—can predict how long you will live. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-strength-longer.html Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:00:04 EDT news699700600 The Ebola outbreak in Central Africa could grow to 20,000 cases or more, depending on how quickly infected people are isolated to slow the spread, according to a new analysis by U.S. health officials. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ebola-outbreak-central-africa-cases.html Sat, 06 Jun 2026 07:40:02 EDT news699949215 A vaccine targeting a broad range of viruses that was designed using artificial intelligence had a "modest" effect on immune systems in a small, early trial, according to a new study. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ai-universal-vaccine-humans-uk.html Sat, 06 Jun 2026 07:28:24 EDT news699949669 "Every time you drink heavily, even if you do so infrequently, it can affect your role as a parent," says doctoral research fellow Barbara Carvalho. She led a comprehensive systematic review conducted by researchers at the University of Agder, in collaboration with Oxford Brookes University. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-rethink-safe-parental-alcohol-experts.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:40:01 EDT news699860185 A group of eating behavior and metabolism experts from across Europe have published a Perspective article in the journal Science examining the limitations of current evidence on ultraprocessed foods (UPFs). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-experts-highlight-limits-evidence-ultraprocessed.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:00:01 EDT news699876111 With dementia cases expected to nearly triple worldwide by 2050, researchers are increasingly focused on identifying ways to prevent or delay the disease. While lifestyle and health-related factors, such as blood pressure control and physical activity, influence dementia risk, genetics also play a major role. Currently, it is unclear whether maintaining a favorable lifestyle reduces dementia risk equally across different genetic backgrounds. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-favorable-lifestyle-health-linked-dementia.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:00:05 EDT news699881524 There can be too much of a good thing, and that has been the case with Vitamin A in the U.S.. A recent study in JAMA Network Open has found that between January and March 2025, America's Poison Centers reported a 38.7% increase in vitamin A exposures during the measles outbreak across many states. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-vitamin-poisonings-rose-measles-misinformation.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:00:01 EDT news699808455 As obesity rates rise across the U.S., new research from Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health at the University of California, Irvine scientists draws attention to an often-overlooked factor in children's long-term health: fathers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-dad-bods-childhood-obesity.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:00:04 EDT news699851881 Top food researchers have teamed up on a special issue of the American Journal of Public Health to push policymakers for stricter action on ultra-processed foods (UPFs). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-poll-broad-stricter-ultra-foods.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:20:01 EDT news699797054 Vitamin D levels remain low all year-round in key at-risk groups in England, challenging the belief that summer sunlight is enough to restore them. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-summer-sun-vitamin-d-gap.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:00:04 EDT news699807061 In homes with guns, proper storage is important in preventing injuries and deaths. Now, researchers have found a secondary benefit: Gun owners may be able to minimize children's exposure to lead, an environmental toxin, by safely storing their firearms and ammunition. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-safe-firearm-storage-pediatric-exposure.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:40:01 EDT news699805921 Fatherhood in Black men is associated with lower rates of all-cause mortality by middle age compared to nonfathers, according to the U.S.-based longitudinal study that enrolled Black and white individuals aged 18–30 years at baseline (1985–86). This association was not observed in white fathers in the study. The findings are published in the American Journal of Public Health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-fatherhood-linked-midlife-mortality-black.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:00:01 EDT news699785761 Michigan state health officials urged parents in several counties to vaccinate babies against measles ahead of schedule this spring as cases multiplied in the state. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-michigan-school-vaccine-waivers-backfired.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:00:09 EDT news699795241 Concerns about the health effects of ultra-processed foods are growing, as studies increasingly link them to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and even early death. But scientists are still debating what's driving those risks: the nutritional quality of these foods—which are often high in refined grains, sodium, and added sugars—or the industrial processing and additives used to make them. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ultra-foods-theyre.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:40:01 EDT news699780302 Imagine not having access to affordable, healthy food. For many Americans, it's a reality. A new study by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) shows that between 2003 and 2023, nearly five million people in the United States lived in food deserts, places with no grocery stores. Most of these deserts are in poor and rural areas and in places where people rely on public transit. At the same time, the number of food swamps or areas with mostly restaurants/fast-food locations increased nationwide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-experts-food-swamps-substantial-millions.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 07:00:02 EDT news699768361 Food contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals kills 1.5 million people worldwide each year, with young children worst hit, the World Health Organization warned on Thursday. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-unsafe-food-mn-people-year.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:00:03 EDT news699766958 Guns are the leading cause of death for children in the United States, and a new Northeastern University study published in JAMA Network Open finds at least 6.7 million American kids live in a home with at least one unlocked and loaded firearm. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-million-kids-home-guns.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:00:03 EDT news699700853 A recent University of Mississippi study has identified hundreds of counties in the South where HIV prevention and health care may not be keeping pace with the local needs, leaving communities without resources to address the persistent problem. The research, published in Frontiers in Public Health, offers health care and government leaders a new tool for targeting HIV-related support where the need is highest. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-deep-south-hiv-gaps-patients.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:20:03 EDT news699722702 More than one-third of U.S. adults report at least one sunburn during the previous 12 months, according to research published in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-adults-sunburn-previous-months.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:40:04 EDT news699687491 Data from 1,028 people vaccinated with TAK-003 in Catalonia suggests the dengue vaccine has a good tolerability profile in routine clinical practice among travelers from regions where dengue is not endemic. The findings come from a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, together with Hospital Clínic Barcelona, and published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-dengue-vaccine-favorable-safety-profile.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:30:01 EDT news699699980 Global progress in reducing preventable deaths among newborn babies, children, and adolescents has slowed substantially since 2015, and many countries risk missing international child survival targets by 2030, find a series of papers published by The BMJ. Researchers estimate that as many as 9.4 million people (including 2.5 million children under 5) could die by 2030, and call for renewed commitment and sustained investment to prevent an unfolding tragedy. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-child-adolescent-mortality-analysis.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:10:01 EDT news699718441 Persistently low rates of COVID-19 vaccination in Black and Hispanic children suggest that parents in these communities tend to be hesitant about the vaccine for their kids, even when they have received it themselves. Through interviews with parents of school-aged children, a new study sheds light on the factors influencing decisions about vaccination. Findings are published in Vaccine: X. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-core-values-black-hispanic-parents.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:20:05 EDT news699719600 As California lawmakers consider legislation that would require "high sugar" warning labels on restaurant menus, a University of California, Davis, study shows that the labels are effective in dissuading diners from ordering sugary items. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-restaurant-menus-diners-sweets.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:20:04 EDT news699719101 A new study by researchers at UC Davis Health and Kaiser Permanente found that higher exposure to very small air pollution particles (PM2.5) over a 17-year span was associated with lower semantic memory. Semantic memory acts like the brain's "encyclopedia" for things like facts, words and long-term general knowledge. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-air-pollution-brain-encyclopedia.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:20:01 EDT news699711901 The World Health Organization's chief told AFP on Wednesday that he welcomed Washington's stated intention to re-engage with the Gavi vaccine alliance, voicing hope it might also decide to rejoin the WHO. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-chief-gavi-vaccine-alliance.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:40:02 EDT news699707951 Across partisan lines, Americans broadly believe ultraprocessed foods are addictive and harmful—expressing attitudes strikingly like those that spurred regulation of the tobacco industry, new Cornell-led research finds. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-americans-ultraprocessed-foods-pose-major.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:40:02 EDT news699706862 Sustained herd immunity against measles in Finland suggests the measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR, vaccine provides long-term protection against onward measles transmission, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the University of Turku and LUT University. Without long-term protection against transmission, Finland, despite its high vaccination coverage, would likely have experienced larger measles outbreaks, like those seen in several other European countries. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-mmr-vaccines-measles-transmission.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:40:04 EDT news699700817