Obesity rates are soaring globally in ‘monumental social failure’, study says–Reuters
Rates of obesity and overweight are spiraling, with more than half of adults and almost a third of children/young people set to be affected by 2050, according to a new study published in The Lancet that used data from more than 204 countries. That represents more than 3.8 billion adults and 746 million children and teens. Rates of overweight and obesity have already more than doubled over the past three decades. The researchers said an accelerated rise in obesity among young people and in low- and middle-income countries were particularly worrying. The study, funded by the Gates Foundation, did not take into account the potential impact of obesity drugs, which have seen huge demand in richer countries where they are available.
From AI-guided surgery to early disease detection. Five major healthcare advances–World Economic Forum
This 4-minute video explains in simple terms and in some vivid detail how AI is triggering five major positive transformations in healthcare. They range from AI-guided surgery to adaptive deep brain stimulation, to heart monitors that can reduce stroke risks, to AI helping detect the early signs of more than 1,000 diseases.
Immersive wellness: experience as medicine–Bluloop
As loneliness and anxiety surge, immersive social experiences, that blend entertainment and wellbeing, are rising. This in-depth article looks at immersive art experiences as embodiment, as emotional catalysts, as shared reflection spaces—and transformation through awe and wonder, community, and cinematic storytelling. It argues that this is the future of experience design, and that experiential commissioners, real estate developers, and wellness brands have a rare opportunity to pioneer new frontiers in immersive experiences as medicine.
Inside the scientific quest to reverse human aging–Washington Post
Can cellular reprogramming our genes make us young again? Hailed by its supporters as the most promising scientific approach to improving human healthspans and lifespans, proponents claim it has the potential to reshape how—and whether—we grow old. Later this year, a biotech company called Life Biosciences expects to file an application with the Food and Drug Administration to get approval for the first human trial of a version of the technique. But there have been serious side effects during some of the animal experiments and some researchers worry the science is moving too fast.
Hotdogs and motorways: The ripples created by Denmark’s Ozempic and Wegovy boom–BBC
How just one product can affect several industries while benefiting an entire country in the process. Two years ago, the name Novo Nordisk (a Danish company) hardly rung a bell, but today the soaring sales of its anti-obesity and diabetes treatments (Wegovy and Ozempic) have turned it into one of Europe’s most valuable companies, supercharging Denmark’s economy and transforming a small Danish community into an unlikely boomtown. Some of the domino effects are stunning
A Striking Stat:
79% of adults and 88% of children with obesity and overweight will be living in low- and middle-income countries by 2035. Only 7% of all countries have adequate health systems in place to deal with this.
Source: World Obesity Atlas from World Obesity Federation, March 2025
