Stories by Lauren J. Young

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?

A neuroscientist explains how highly processed foods may be key to “food addiction.” She also reveals some solutions

A pill version of the popular GLP-1 weight-loss drug Wegovy has been green-lit for use in the U.S. Here’s what that means for health care

From advancements in male birth control to the science of supplements, Scientific American highlights some of the most fascinating health and medicine stories of 2025

The U.S. reportedly plans to overhaul the country’s childhood vaccine schedule. The move could set public health back decades, experts say

Health officials on Thursday announced a slew of measures that seek to restrict access to gender-affirming health care for young transgender people in the U.S.

The FDA is reportedly considering the addition of high-level warning labels to COVID vaccines, a move that some experts say may cause unfounded concerns over safety

The U.S. is considering allowing bemotrizinol, a highly effective UV filter used throughout Europe and Asia, in its sunscreen products for the first time

A new study identifies a mechanism for how COVID vaccines may, in infrequent cases, drive heart inflammation, a condition that can be caused by the disease itself

Vaccine controversies, space pollution and puppy power.

New guidance from the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel scraps a decades-old universal birth dose recommendation for hepatitis B that helped cut infections by 99 percent in the U.S.

Members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices seemed confused about a proposed recommendation for the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine

Skipping meals before a big holiday feast probably isn’t the best idea for gut health, experts say. Here’s how to prevent overeating on an empty stomach—and tips for if you do

U.S. flu rates remain low, but experts are keeping an eye on a new strain that’s been linked to unexpectedly early and severe seasons in several other countries

Top-line results from two large clinical trials by Novo Nordisk, the company behind Ozempic and Wegovy, found oral semaglutide failed to slow down Alzheimer's progression

In recent weeks, dozens of infants in the U.S. have been infected with botulism in an outbreak linked to ByHeart powdered infant formula

In a reversal, the Food and Drug Administration has removed black box warnings on hormone replacement therapies for menopause