Reading Room
The reading room includes articles and videos of potential interest to consumers and medical professionals. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the NC Medical Board, its members, and staff. Note: Some links may require registration or subscription.
New study explores the effects of diet and exercise in preventing weight gain
Medical News Today
November 27, 2025
Nearly 3 billion people worldwide are living with overweight or obesity. Weight gain usually happens slowly, over many years, and we still have limited evidence on how everyday behaviors can help prevent the build-up of fat in different body compartments over the long term. Fat that builds up deep in the abdomen around internal organs, known as visceral fat, is especially harmful. It raises the risk of cardiometabolic diseases and premature death. Finding effective ways to prevent this type of fat gain is therefore very important.
Read More…Early Signs Point to a Harsh Flu Season in the U.S.
The New York Times
November 19, 2025
The United States may be headed for a rough flu season, with a virus that causes more severe symptoms than the one last year and seems to be spreading more rapidly and earlier than usual. On Friday, one day after they returned to work from the government shutdown, scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted data suggesting that flu infections are still low but rising in 39 states. The dominant flu virus this year, H3N2, is known to cause more severe symptoms than the H1N1 virus that was most common last year. And over the summer, H3N2 acquired at least seven mutations that allow it to sidestep immunity against infection.
Poll: 1 in 8 Adults Say They Are Currently Taking a GLP-1 Drug for Weight Loss, Diabetes or Another Condition
KFF
November 14, 2025
About one in eight adults (12%) say that they are currently taking a GLP-1 drug such as Ozempic or Wegovy either to lose weight or treat a chronic condition, an increase from 18 months ago, though the high costs of the medications remain a concern, a new KFF Health Tracking Poll finds.
Overall nearly one in five adults (18%) say at some point they have taken a GLP-1 drug, a class of medications used for weight loss and to treat diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions.
Women are more likely than men to say they are currently taking GLP-1 drugs (15% vs. 9%). Across age groups, current GLP-1 use is highest among adults ages 50-64 (22%). Lower use among those ages 65 and older (9%) likely reflects Medicare’s lack of coverage for drugs prescribed specifically for weight loss.
Read More…7 common medications linked to disrupted gut microbiome
Medical News Today
November 1, 2025
A recent study has found that many prescription medications have a lasting impact on the gut microbiome, which can persist for several years. The study, published in the American Society for Microbiology’s Journal mSystems, found that, in addition to antibiotics, antidepressants, beta-blockers, stomach acid reducers, and anti-anxiety drugs, these substances could continue to disrupt the microbiome long after use.