obesity
Engaging vulnerable populations: Making the right connections for better health
A woman from a low-income neighborhood chooses not to receive care from her closest health center, which is located in a wealthy community, because of a demeaning interaction she previously had with the office staff there. A Spanish-speaking man whose prostate cancer has been in remission avoids making a follow-up appointment because he’s uncomfortable navigating discussions with staff in English. His …
From Post-it Notes to AI: How AI technology can improve workflow for mental health clinicians
Until Dr. Shiri Sharvit, chief clinical officer of Eleos Health, started adopting artificial intelligence in her work as a practicing mental health clinician, her companion was a Post-it Note. But these Post-it Notes would sometimes get lost or have water spilled on them. Then came Eleos, an AI solution that improves workflow for behavioral health …
How ultraprocessed foods affect gut microbiome and health
Several studies have demonstrated a potential link between ultra-processed foods (UPF) and chronic inflammation. One recent review published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology describes the mechanistic association between the consumption of UPF and chronic medical conditions, especially those involving the gut microbiome. Study: Ultra-processed Foods and Human Health: From Epidemiological Evidence to Mechanistic Insights. Image …
Digital health investment undergoing a healthy reset, future to be defined by value
After the dizzying pace of digital health investment in 2021, it’s helpful to assess what has happened so far this year and what activity this sector is likely to see for the rest of 2022. According to this H1 2022 report from Rock Health, digital health funding activity has slowed, a trend that the industry …
Health tech vendors can be the middleman that improves payer-provider relationships
It’s no secret that payers and providers have a historically antagonistic relationship. This struggle was noted in KLAS’ recent “Points of Light” report, which optimistically explored case studies of successful payer-provider collaborations. After diving deeper into the case studies focused on reducing administrative burden through automation, one thing became clear: payers and providers still struggle …
Harvard Licenses Technology to Obatala Sciences to Advance Discovery in Obesity, Diabetes, and Cancer
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & NEW ORLEANS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Harvard University has granted an exclusive license to biotechnology company Obatala Sciences to commercialize innovations that enable the study of human fat tissue in vitro. Harvard Office of Technology Development and Obatala, which manufactures stem cell and hydrogel products to enable next-generation therapeutics discovery, announced the agreement today. Obatala Sciences …
Healthcare companies raise record-breaking $31.6B in first quarter
Healthcare investments continued to grow at a record-breaking pace, according to a new report by CBInsights. In the first quarter of 2021, healthcare companies around the world raised a total of $31.6 billion, up from the previous quarter’s height of $25.5 billion. The number of deals also increased from 1,429 to 1,551. Healthcare companies continued …
COVID-19 vaccine recipient, health professionals advocate against shot shaming
SAN ANTONIO – Health professionals are asking residents not to be discouraged from getting the COVID-19 vaccine due to others shaming them because they fall into a particular health risk category due to a condition such as obesity. Sarah Loyd is a resident who says she’s accepted being overweight. “I have no problem saying the …
New technology helps study muscle biology more clearly
Exercising regularly is one of the best defenses against metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes – but why? It’s a question that scientists are still struggling to answer. While exercising changes the molecular behavior of muscles, it’s not well understood how these molecular changes improve metabolic health. Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have …
China Aims to Tackle Obesity with New ‘Healthy China’ Initiative
HONG KONG — More than half of China’s adult population is either overweight or obese, according to a new government report released on Wednesday. Obesity rates in China have doubled within two decades, and health authorities are warning of a surge in chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer. A new government report found …
