Tell us: what have you never quite understood about weight loss drugs?

Weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have burst into public awareness over the last few years, promising dramatic results and stirring up big questions.Originally developed for diabetes, these medications are now being prescribed for weight management. But the science, ethics, and long-term effects of these drugs are still being explored.In a new video series on our It’s Complicated Youtube channel, we’re investigating the major questions behind some of today’s most confusing topics – and weight loss drugs are at the top of that list.What do these medications actually do to the body? Who should take them, and who decides? Are they reshaping how we think about obesity, health, and personal responsibility? We’ll be speaking with experts to better understand the science and the social impact, and we want to make sure we’re answering the questions you have

England’s ‘complex’ health and care system harming patients, report says

Navigating England’s “complex” health and care system is “extremely difficult” and carers and patients are experiencing burnout, distress and harm as a result, a damning report says.There were frequent failures by NHS and care organisations in coordinating care for people with long-term health conditions, the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) found. Figures show 41% of adults and 17% of children have at least one long-term health issue.The report said patients unable to navigate the health and care system were getting sicker as a result, missing vital appointments, and their care could be delayed or forgotten about, meaning they may need more intensive and expensive treatment in future or longer stays in hospital.Patients and carers had to retell their health history to different health and care providers, the research showed

GPs in England provide inadequate care for Black people with HIV, says charity

GPs in England are failing Black people living with HIV owing to stigma associated with the virus and a lack of information, according to a report by a leading charity.The report, which surveyed 142 Black people living with HIV in London, found that almost a fifth (19%) of respondents said they had avoided going to their GP for fear of being treated differently because of their HIV status.One-fifth of survey respondents also said they have received judgmental or inappropriate comments or questions from GPs, while 35% said they were concerned about being treated differently by GP staff.One respondent to the survey said: “I was asked by my GP how does someone like you get HIV. At the time I had no words, I was just in shock at the question

At-home saliva test for prostate cancer better than blood test, study suggests

An at-home spit test appears to perform better at predicting prostate cancer risk than the current frontline test, a study suggests.The test assesses 130 genetic variants to provide a risk score for prostate cancer, which is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men in the UK.This so-called polygenic risk score was found to be a more powerful predictor of aggressive prostate cancer than the standard blood test used in the NHS, which measures levels of a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA).Prof Ros Eeles, who led the research at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “With this test, it could be possible to turn the tide on prostate cancer. We have shown that a relatively simple, inexpensive spit test to identify men of European heritage at higher risk due to their genetic makeup is an effective tool to catch prostate cancer early

Women should avoid all alcohol to reduce risk of breast cancer, charity says

Women should avoid alcohol altogether to reduce their risk of breast cancer, a charity has warned.The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has published a review of evidence on how diet and lifestyle factors can play a role in the development of the disease.Globally, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 670, 000 deaths caused by the disease in 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).Research teams from Harvard University and the Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands conducted a large review for the WCRF of research on breast cancer incidence and mortality

Hundred-year wait for family-size social housing in parts of England, study finds

The wait for family-size social housing has risen to more than 100 years in parts of England, which charities have condemned as “ludicrous” and a “national scandal”.Analysis from the National Housing Federation (NHF), Crisis and Shelter found that in 32 local authority areas across England, the wait for a home with at least three bedrooms was longer than 18 years – the duration of an entire childhood.The worst three councils, all of which are in London, have waiting lists exceeding 100 years, while nine local authorities have waiting lists of more than 50 years.Kate Henderson, the chief executive of the NHF, said: “The fact that families in so many parts of the country face waiting lists for an affordable home longer than their children’s entire childhood is a national scandal.“We are allowing hundreds of thousands of children to grow up in damaging temporary homes, in cramped and poor-quality conditions and with little privacy