Late motherhood and weight gain greatly increase breast cancer risk
Women who experience significant weight gain after the age of 20 and either have their first child after the age of 30 or don't have children are almost three times…
Early childhood growth predicts adult height but not puberty timing, study finds
Children’s growth in the first two years of life significantly influences their pubertal growth and adult height, but not when puberty begins, according to a Swedish study. Early-life height is…
Junk food ads make kids eat more, even if the ad shows no food!
Children exposed to just 5 minutes of junk food ads consumed 130 extra calories in a day, regardless of ad type or media format. Even brand-only ads, without showing actual…
Antibiotic use in infancy raises early puberty risk in girls, study finds
Girls exposed to antibiotics in the first three months of life are significantly more likely to enter puberty early, according to a large South Korean study. The risk increases with…
Researchers uncover why women handle body fat more efficiently
Women’s fat cells break down fat faster than men’s once activated, even though they require higher hormone levels to initiate the process. This may help explain why women are less…
Study reveals phthalate exposure harms early sexual development in children
Maternal exposure to phthalates during pregnancy is linked to shorter anogenital distance in 3-year-old boys, a marker of impaired sexual development. Girls showed similar outcomes from their own postnatal exposure,…
Obesity in teens alters brain regions tied to memory and emotion
Adolescents with abdominal obesity have larger brain regions linked to memory and emotional control, potentially due to inflammation, according to a large MRI-based study. These brain changes, coupled with socioeconomic…
Maternal testosterone levels shape boys’ activity and girls’ strength by age 7
Boys born to mothers with PCOS or high third-trimester testosterone levels are less physically active at age 7, particularly on weekends. Girls exposed to high prenatal testosterone show reduced muscle…
Researchers find 8,500 tonnes of antibiotics enter rivers every year
A global study led by McGill University estimates that 8,500 tonnes of antibiotics enter river systems annually, mostly from human use—even after wastewater treatment. The findings warn that chronic exposure…
Delayed puberty in boys raises risk of type 2 diabetes later in life, study shows
A large Israeli study found that boys who experience delayed puberty are significantly more likely to develop type 2 diabetes in early adulthood. This increased risk persists even after accounting…