All articles tagged with #lancet study
A Lancet review of billions of doses finds mRNA vaccines are safe, highly effective at preventing disease spread, and promising for future uses like cancer treatment; they do not alter human DNA, are safe for children and pregnant people, and boosters extend protection, though rare side effects can occur—emphasizing transparent safety communication to counter misinformation.
New obesity diagnoses are rising fastest among England's young adults, according to a Lancet study analyzing 55 million NHS records. In 2024-25, 30-39-year-olds had 24.1 new obesity cases per 1,000 people (up from 20.3 in 2019-20), and 20-29-year-olds had 20.3 per 1,000 (up from 17.5), while rates in older groups fell and overall obesity prevalence rose from 26.2% to 30.3%. The researchers cite factors such as a pervasive unhealthy food environment, advertising, and cost-of-living and pandemic-related stress, with earlier onset more common in non-white groups and more deprived areas. They note that access to weight-loss drugs under NHS constraints could shape these patterns. The findings raise concerns about long-term health risks and widening inequalities, prompting ongoing government action on obesity.
A Lancet review of UK data shows that from 2020–2024, no cervical cancer deaths occurred among women aged 20–24, where 23 deaths would have been expected without the HPV vaccination program, marking a major step in cancer prevention though vaccine uptake and hesitancy remain challenges in other countries.
A Lancet analysis shows England’s HPV vaccination program, started in 2008, has saved around 200 lives and led to zero cervical cancer deaths among 20–24-year-olds from 2020–2024; those vaccinated at 12–13 now have near-zero risk before 30, while pre-vaccine deaths in that group averaged about 20 per year. Despite progress, HPV vaccine uptake remains below WHO targets, so efforts continue to boost vaccination and maintain screening through age 25–64.
A Lancet projection across 35 developed nations suggests South Korean women could become the first population to average life expectancy above 90 by 2030, surpassing Japan. The prediction—not guaranteed—rests on near-universal healthcare, equity in health gains, and favorable trends in obesity and blood pressure; the United States trails due to unequal access. The 90-year threshold is plausible (about 57% probability) with a 90% chance of exceeding 86.7 years. If realized, it would reshape retirement, elder care, and healthcare policy amid rapid aging in Korea.
A Lancet study estimates 1.5 million deaths worldwide from foodborne illnesses in 2021, with Salmonella, E. coli, norovirus and Listeria as major culprits. The article offers practical home precautions: refrigerate perishable foods within two hours, avoid undercooked meat and unpasteurized dairy, wash produce, keep cooked foods separate, and stay hydrated if illness occurs. A balanced diet and healthy lifestyle support immunity, and vulnerable groups—children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals—face higher risk. Global food-safety systems vary, so personal kitchen hygiene matters greatly.
A Lancet study finds about 1.2 billion people had mental health disorders in 2023, a 95.5% rise since 1990, with anxiety up 158% and depression up 131% across 204 countries. Mental health conditions now account for the largest share of global disability, yet government spending on mental health averages only around 2% of health budgets, and roughly 9% of people with depression receive minimally adequate treatment. The report highlights a surge among youth (15–19 age group) and calls for stronger global leadership, expanded mental-health services, and attention to lifestyle factors like sleep and social connection to address this mounting crisis.
Nearly 1.2 billion people worldwide had mental disorders in 2023, up about 95.5% since 1990, with anxiety and depression increasing the most and remaining the most common conditions across 204 countries; the Lancet study also highlights age- and sex-related patterns and suggests the Covid-19 pandemic’s lasting impact and a need for expanded mental-health services.
A Lancet study from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute finds that Long Covid can damage the heart, with about 18% of women reporting a cardiovascular event and evidence the condition may disrupt autonomic nervous system function, underscoring growing concerns about lasting cardiac risk among those affected.
A large Lancet analysis pooling data from over 120,000 patients across 19 randomized trials finds that statins do not meaningfully increase most side effects and their cardiovascular benefits far outweigh potential risks. The piece attributes the ongoing “statin hysteria” to misinformation and celebrity/aut online narratives, noting past observational studies were misinterpreted and that skeptics persist despite this stronger evidence.
A Lancet analysis of more than 500,000 adults from Finland and the UK shows that obesity (BMI ≥30) raises the risk of being hospitalized for or dying from infectious diseases by about 70% versus those with a healthy weight, with obesity linked to roughly 11% of infection deaths globally and varying by country (about one in six in the UK, one in four in the US). The study suggests obesity may weaken immune defenses across infections such as flu, pneumonia, COVID-19 and gastroenteritis, and notes the need for policies that support healthy weight and vaccination; however, as it relies on observational data it cannot prove causality, and further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.
One year after the Trump-era dismantling of USAID, a Lancet study projects that ongoing global aid cuts could cause about 9.4 million more deaths by 2030 (about 2.5 million under age 5) vs maintaining 2023 funding; deeper cuts could raise deaths to 22.6 million. Using data from 93 low- and middle-income countries, the analysis credits overseas aid with major declines in child mortality and infectious diseases, while warning that current and planned cuts are already weakening health systems as clinics close and mortality data gaps emerge. Some donors argue for reform of the aid system and route funds through recipient governments; the study notes it doesn’t fully account for philanthropic or national countermeasures that could mitigate harms.
A Lancet study analyzing data from about 150,000 adults across the US, Sweden, Norway and the UK found that adding just 5 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity per day could reduce deaths by up to 6% in the least active group and 10% overall over ~8 years, while cutting daily sitting by 30 minutes could prevent about 3% of deaths in the least active and 7% in the total population; small daily changes in activity and sedentary time may yield substantial population-health benefits and improve overall healthspan as well as lifespan.
A Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health meta-analysis of 43 studies (over 300,000 pregnancies) found no evidence that prenatal acetaminophen exposure increases autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability, reinforcing current guidance to use Tylenol at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration and to discuss use with a clinician; the findings provide reassurance amid earlier Trump-era warnings about Tylenol and pregnancy, while noting that fever management remains important.
An analysis of about 135,000 people finds that adding five minutes of brisk daily activity could cut premature deaths by roughly 6% in the least active group (10% if adopted across the whole population), and cutting sitting time by 30 minutes daily could prevent 3–7% of premature deaths. Benefits are greatest for the most sedentary. A second Lancet study suggests that small, simultaneous changes in sleep, activity, and diet can markedly extend healthy life years, with accelerometer data strengthening the results but not proving causation. Following WHO guidelines (about 150 minutes of moderate activity per week) remains a prudent target.