Time limits may not spare teenagers from screen-related mental illness

Parents who enforce screen time limits may not be protecting their children from mental illness as much as they think, according to new research on adolescents and their use of cell phones, video games and social media.

Why it matters

Fluoride in drinking water draws growing scrutiny

A national re-examination of fluoridated water is well underway, with a number of localities and at least two states ending long-standing programs to add a bit of the mineral to their drinking water supplies.

Legislatures in Florida and Utah passed statewide bans earlier this year, and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he wants the federal government to end a decades-long recommendation to fluoridate water.

Read more

Biomarkers for ultra-processed foods reveal diet truth

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released results of a new study in which they identified biomarkers that can measure how much energy people consume from ultra-processed foods (UPF).

UPFs — generally defined as those created through industrial processes and containing high amounts of sugar and other calorie-dense ingredients, but low in nutritional essentials — are common in American diets but have long been suspected of leading to nutritional deficiencies and related health problems.

Why it matters

Wright: A cautious eye is needed in AI healthcare delivery

The American Psychological Association (APA) recognizes the immense potential of AI to revolutionize health care. For consumers and patients alike, AI-powered tools can enhance diagnostic precision, allow for more individualized and accessible treatment and preventative care and improve engagement in their own well-being. In behavioral health, where we face a significant workforce shortage, AI can enable the scaling of evidence-based interventions to reach a much broader segment of the population. 

Read more