Must-reads from the Wellness World (May 31st, 2023)

Celebrities are talking openly about menopause. Why won’t the healthcare industry?Social media is fueling enthusiasm for new weight loss drugs. Are regulators watching?– Salon, May 21, 2023
The public discourse around menopause has dramatically improved, thanks partly to outspoken celebrities helping to change the paradigm. But all women desperately need more healthcare resources for menopause: affordable, effective, and widely available therapies and educational resources. We do not need more “menopausal capitalism.”

US Surgeon General warns that social media may harm children and adolescents– The New York Times, May 23, 2023
Last week, the US top health official issued an extraordinary public warning about the risks of social media to young people, urging a push to fully understand the possible “harm to the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents.” In a 19-page advisory, Dr. Vivek Murthy called on tech companies to enforce minimum age limits and to create default settings for children with high safety and privacy standards. And he urged the government to create age-appropriate health and safety standards for technology platforms.

The truth about booze: how alcohol really affects your body, from first flush of happiness to hangover hell– The Guardian, May 24, 2023
Is red wine good for you? Is it healthier to drink a little than not at all? Is there such a thing as hangxiety? This article sorts some fact from fiction and is based on Professor David Nutt’s (chair of Drug Science, an independent UK scientific body researching drugs and alcohol) book Drink? The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health. Over the past few years, the science has progressed enormously, with dozens of studies validating some old “truths,” debunking others, and giving the medical establishment a much clearer understanding of how alcohol affects us. Read on to find out. A relatively long read, but grounded in science, with plenty of interesting insights.

Think about your death and live better – The Atlantic, May 25, 2023
Contemplating your mortality might sound morbid, but it’s actually a key to happiness.

A Striking Stat

Depression in the US has reached new highs: 29% of adults have been diagnosed with it (up 10 points from 2015); 18% currently have, or are being treated, for depression (up 7 points).

Source: Gallup poll, May 2023