In a little over two decades, almost 260 million people in the United States are predicted to have overweight or obesity, according to a new study. The study, published in the medical journal the Lancet, is one of the first to project what the nation's obesity epidemic will look like as far out as 2050. Specifically, it suggests that 43.1 million children and adolescents and 213 million adults will have overweight and/or obesity. In 2021, 36.5 million children and adolescents and 172 million adults had overweight and obesity.
Nearly 4 in 10 seniors have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine so far this year, new survey data published by the CDC suggests, marking a steep increase in vaccination rates compared with the same time last year. The data from the CDC's National Immunization Survey estimates that 37.6% of Americans ages 65 and older had gotten a shot of this season's updated COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 2, compared with 22.6% of older adults by the same week in 2023. Younger adults are also outpacing last year's rollout of COVID-19 shots, though not by the same large margin. By contrast, uptake of influenza vaccines this fall among seniors – 55.3% by Nov. 2 – is almost the same as at this time last year.
Less than 1% of all state medical-board disciplinary actions against physicians in the five most populous states were for spreading misinformation about topics such as vaccines and therapies during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with 29% for negligence, according to an analysis from the UNC School of Law. Yet two public health experts argue that, because of First Amendment rights and other factors, that's how it should be.
Amid new technologies, waning religions, shifting beliefs, fracturing healthcare systems, aging populations, and post-Covid healthcare worker burnout, chaplains are more important than ever. But they are often unappreciated.
Improving the customer experience is critical in healthcare, as it directly impacts patient outcomes, satisfaction and loyalty. Clear, compassionate communication—both in person and through digital channels—can help foster trust and ensure patients feel valued and well-informed.