HEALTHY LIVING

SYDNEY — Australia continues to rank among the world's most obese developed nations in 2026, with adult obesity prevalence hovering around 32%, placing the country roughly 36th globally according to the latest international data and highlighting ongoing public health challenges despite awareness campaigns and policy efforts.

SYDNEY — Nicotine-based vapes are likely to cause lung and oral cancers, according to a comprehensive new Australian review that analyzed global evidence from 2017 to 2025 and concluded the devices pose a direct carcinogenic risk even without prior smoking history.

A highly mutated COVID-19 variant nicknamed "Cicada" is gaining attention as it quietly spreads across the United States and at least 23 other countries, prompting health officials to step up surveillance even as overall cases remain low.

SYDNEY — As obesity rates remain a public health focus in Australia, Sydney residents seeking effective weight management have more options than ever in 2026.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, but simple dietary changes can significantly lower risk.

Australians are drinking fewer sugar-sweetened sodas and other sweetened beverages than a decade ago, with consumption dropping sharply among children, but overall soft drink intake per capita hovers around 82 liters annually as zero-sugar and diet options gain ground

Health officials are closely monitoring the highly mutated COVID-19 variant BA.3.2, nicknamed "Cicada," after detections in wastewater samples from at least 25 U.S. states and clinical cases as of early 2026.

With age comes wisdom, tales, and a deep love for independence. A majority of the seniors would prefer to spend their days in their own homes, enjoy daily routines, and move around in life with much confidence.

CANBERRA, Australia — Lung cancer is projected to remain Australia's deadliest cancer in 2026, claiming an estimated 9,000 lives as part of more than 54,000 total cancer deaths expected nationwide, according to the latest data from Cancer Australia and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

The Environmental Working Group on Tuesday released its annual 2026 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce, with spinach claiming the top spot on the Dirty Dozen list of fruits and vegetables carrying the highest levels of pesticide residues.

BOSTON — People with type 1 diabetes face nearly three times the risk of developing dementia compared with those without diabetes, according to a large new U.S. cohort study published March 18, 2026, in *Neurology*, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

CANTERBURY, England — A rapidly spreading outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease, primarily strain B, has killed two young people and hospitalized others in Kent, southeastern England, prompting urgent public health measures, antibiotic distribution and a scramble for vaccines amid depleted private supplies.

BistroMD, a leading prepared meal delivery service focused on weight loss and wellness, continues to attract attention in 2026 for its medically supervised approach and chef-prepared frozen entrees.

The Trump administration's TrumpRx program, launched in early February 2026 as part of a broader push to align U.S. prescription drug prices with the lowest rates paid in other developed nations, continues to expand its list of discounted medications.

Colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among adults under age 50 in the United States, surpassing other major malignancies as overall cancer mortality in this age group continues to decline sharply, according to recent analyses from the American Cancer Society and published research.

Hemp Bombs, a veteran player in the CBD industry since 2016, remains a prominent name in 2026 for its wide range of THC-free, isolate-based products amid regulatory uncertainty surrounding hemp-derived cannabinoids.

By far the biggest health fear in people over the age of 50 is Alzheimer’s disease and the catastrophic loss of personal memory it entails.

Australia has nearly five million dogs, with nearly 40% of Australian households owning one. But it seems that 40% of Australian dogs are not walked enough and that a similar percentage of dogs are overweight or obese.

Pressure at work and even in school can bring both emotional and mental stress, which in turn can affect how a person functions in life.

Poor sleep may lead to Alzheimer’s, especially for those who carry the risk of the degenerative disease. Lead scientist Dr. Barbara Bendlin of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US said that previous studies had also shown the influence of sleep on the development progression of the disease in various ways.

"Pokemon Go" urges players to get up and go, inadvertently giving them some calorie-burning initiatives through small steps for a healthier life, according to a study.

A team of medical scientists and demographers have cited which countries have the longest living people, and key factors attributed to longevity are dietary and lifestyle habits.

Boston University scientists have revealed that they have developed a blood test that can predict lifespans. As weird as it may sound, the scientists believe it is a game-changing blood test though the test needs to be conducted on larger groups of people to confirm the results. This breakthrough will allow patients to identify health risks early on and subsequently modify behaviour to change outcome.

Mission Australia, a non-denominational organisation, conducted a survey whose results were published on Dec. 5. The survey found out that mental health is the main issue young Australians face today.

A recent study has shown that the young generation is overconfident about their condom-using skills, even when they often do so inconsistently and incorrectly. The study included data from interviews with 290 people aged between 18 and 29. The respondents attended a northern New South Wales music festival.

In a major turnaround of events that has baffled medical experts and researchers, a protein that was long believed to cause Alzheimer’s, has proved to be one that actually fights off the degenerative disease.

World Mental Health Day is observed every October 10 to spread mental health awareness and education. This year’s theme is “Psychological First Aid.”

Australian doctors have slammed celebrity chef Pete Evans for proposing a paleo diet to an osteoporosis suffer that doctors believe could be potentially damaging. Evans advised the sufferer to remove dairy from his diet. Queensland obstetrics and gynaecology specialist Brad Robinson, furious at Evans’ advice, reminded him he is a chef, not a doctor.

Italian experts have claimed that a Mediterranean-styled diet is good for the heart and way better than cholesterol-lowering drugs. Researchers involved in the study said that people following diets rich in fish, nuts, vegetables and olive oil are a third less likely to die early compared to those eating larger amounts of beef, butter and red meat.