Stories by Lauren J. Young

A sharp rise in U.S. measles cases is linked to falling MMR vaccination rates and growing immunity gaps

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency announced a joint effort to track microplastics in drinking water—but experts say doing so will be difficult

This week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a second GLP-1 pill for weight loss. The drug, called Foundayo, resulted in an average of 27 pounds lost in 72 weeks

Infectious disease experts say shots against meningococcal meningitis can be lifesaving during an outbreak, but U.S. regulators have attempted to roll back recommendations of such a vaccine for children

“Imitation” drugs, unexpected benefits, serious pitfalls—here’s what comes next as GLP-1 medications continue to rise in popularity

There’s no bulletproof remedy for a hangover, but a nutrition scientist explains which foods could aid symptoms after one has had too much to drink

A growing field of research suggests that some medical treatments, such as cancer therapy or vaccines, might be more effective when given at certain times of the day

Camp East Montana, one of the largest immigration detention facilities in the U.S., has reported 14 confirmed measles infections, triggering the El Paso center to close to visitors

A new study finds that heart attack deaths in U.S. hospitals are rising in people aged 54 and below, signaling a shift in cardiovascular issues in younger ages

A large epidemiological study of more than 600,000 veterans with diabetes suggests GLP-1 weight-loss medications may reduce drug- and alcohol-related overdoses and deaths

As the U.S. officially breaks 1,000 measles cases in 2026, experts say that the rate of infections is accelerating much faster this year than it did in years past

A new trial found that Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 pill resulted in greater reductions in blood sugar levels and weight than oral semaglutide did, but fewer people stayed on it

A new projection study estimates that nearly a third of women aged 20 to 44 will have been diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease by 2050

The FDA is reportedly considering broadening the types of drugs that can be sold without a prescription, a move some pharmacy experts say could raise safety risks

The recent withdrawal of Hims & Hers’ GLP-1 pill raises questions about the safety and effectiveness of compounded medications

A new study suggests that people with obesity have higher rates of mortality and hospitalization from a variety of infections from viruses, fungi, parasites and bacteria

Dozens of routinely updated CDC databases have gone quiet. Here’s what states and medical societies are doing to preserve U.S. public health

New research suggests that getting even just a few more minutes of sleep and exercise and eating an extra cup of vegetables every day can significantly boost longevity

Fewer people under age 50 are dying from cancer in the U.S., but colorectal cancer mortality rates continue to surge

Cases of respiratory syncytial virus are increasing, but vaccines and antibody shots can keep young children out of the hospital

The U.S. has held its measles-free status for more than 25 years. Experts say unrelenting outbreaks in the past year may change that

A new study finds that people who quit weight-loss medications, including GLP-1 drugs, regain weight four times faster than people who stop dieting or exercising

Nutritional guidelines released on Wednesday by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and the USDA emphasize “real food” that is high in saturated fat, departing from decades of evidence on healthful diets

The first GLP-1 pills for weight loss are hitting U.S. pharmacies. But how will they be prescribed?