Ruling endangers public health by failing to require processed meat on list of carcinogens

 

California court ruling endangers public health by failing to require processed meat on Prop 65 list of carcinogens

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Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

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SACRAMENTO—In a major blow to public health, the Superior Court of California has ruled that the State of California may ignore the dangers of processed meat, a product that the World Health Organization has classified as “‘carcinogenic to humans’ (Group 1) on the basis of sufficient evidence for colorectal cancer.”

The surprising ruling comes five years after the nonprofit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine sued the state for failing to include processed meat on its published list of substances known to cause cancer, as required by Proposition 65. Under that law, the state’s list of carcinogens must include all substances categorized in Group 1, the highest evidence classification, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization.

In 2015, IARC announced this categorization for processed meat—such as hot dogs, bacon, and deli meat—after 22 experts from 10 countries assessed more than 800 epidemiological studies. The experts highlighted a meta-analysis that concluded that each 50-gram portion of processed meat (about one hot dog) eaten daily increases the relative risk of colorectal cancer by 18%. Research shows that eating 50 grams of processed meat daily also increases the relative risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and overall cancer mortality.

The court found the Physicians Committee “correct that Proposition 65 requires OEHHA to include on the Proposition 65 list substances that meet the criteria for listing under the Labor Code mechanism.” But the judge nevertheless concluded that “the definition of ‘processed meat’ in IARC’s monograph”—a scientific report spanning more than 500 pages—“fails to meaningfully inform what substances are included within that term.” The state public health agency that administers the law had advanced this argument after meeting with livestock and meat lobbyists.

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in California. The American Cancer Society estimates that California will have 16,050 new cases of colorectal cancer in 2025 and 5,450 deaths from the disease.

Since the IARC monograph was released in 2015 and the lawsuit was filed in 2020, new research continues to show that processed meat increases colorectal cancer risk.

Of particular concern is the dramatic rise in colorectal cancer among younger people. A study published in Nutrition and Cancer last year found that those under the age of 50 years who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer were more likely to consume higher amounts of processed meat and lower amounts of fruit and vegetables compared with those diagnosed over the age of 50 years.

The National Cancer Institute says, “There’s mounting evidence linking an unhealthy diet—in particular, one high in processed meat and fat, and low in fruits and vegetables—to early-onset colorectal cancer.”

According to “Cancer Statistics 2024: All Hands on Deck,” a report from the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer was the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the 1990s and has risen to the leading and second-leading cause of cancer death in men and women, respectively, aged 40-49. Colorectal cancer has also moved up to the leading cause of cancer death in men aged 20-39 years and the third-leading cause in women in the same age group.

“Tens of thousands of Californians are diagnosed with or die from colorectal cancer every year,” says Anna Herby, DHSc, RD, CDE, nutrition education specialist for the Physicians Committee. “California must commit to making sure that every resident knows that processed meat increases cancer risk, and Proposition 65 is the place to make that clear.”

“California has been violating the law for a decade by failing to add processed meat to the Proposition 65 list,” says Mark Kennedy, Esq., senior vice president of legal affairs for the Physicians Committee. “The court’s ruling leaves Californians at continued risk, so we will promptly appeal.”

Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research, and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in education and research.

Loneliness in U.S. adults linked with amount, frequency of social media use

TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and similar platforms are apparently no antidote for the global loneliness epidemic, according to Oregon State University research that linked increases in social media use with a greater likelihood of feeling alone.

The study led by Jessica Gorman of the OSU College of Health, published today in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, featured more than 1,500 U.S. adults ages 30-70 and builds on a 2017 study by co-author Brian Primack that looked at young adults.

As in the previous study, two different measures of social media use – time and frequency – each correlated with loneliness; that is, many short “checks” are just as apt to be associated with loneliness as a few long sessions.

“I wasn’t sure if we would see as strong a relationship between social media and loneliness for 60-year-olds that we saw with 18-year-olds, but we did,” Primack said. “Those who were in the upper 25% based on frequency of social media use, compared with those in the lower 25%, were more than twice as likely to test as lonely.”

The findings have important public health implications, the authors say, given loneliness’ high cost to society. This is especially true because the study used survey weights to make the findings nationally representative of all U.S. adults.

Loneliness, characterized by the subjective experience of insufficient social connections and resources, is linked to a range of negative health consequences including cardiovascular disease, substance use, poor mental health and intimate partner violence. A 2023 advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General estimated the health impact of loneliness to be equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and it identified social media use as a loneliness risk factor.

Americans were already growing lonelier before COVID-19, the authors note, and the pandemic worsened the trend. In the United States, an estimated 50% of the adult population is lonely.

“Most prior research on social media use and loneliness has focused on youth and young adults,” Gorman said. “Even after adjusting for all measured sociodemographic factors among the people in our study – gender, age, sexual orientation, educational attainment, employment status and marital status – we found a significant association between people being lonely and people being on social media frequently or for extended periods.”

For context, estimates suggest it’s not uncommon for a person to check in with social media between 100 and 200 times a day and to spend two to four hours on their platforms of choice. Older adults, as “digital immigrants,” may be less adept than younger social media users, which could be one factor behind the connection to loneliness in the older population, the researchers say.

“There hasn’t been enough research on adults, who use social media a lot and experience harm due to loneliness,” Primack said. “An important caveat is that this was a correlational study, so we can’t say whether using social media leads to loneliness or whether lonely people seek out more social media. It may be a combination.”

Although this study cannot determine why the connection exits, it does recommend caution around heavy social media use among U.S. adults, Gorman added. The results also suggest that, if it’s primarily a case of lonely people seeking out more social media, doing so doesn’t make the loneliness go away.

New clinical study shows masturbation can relieve menopause symptoms

 

Links self-pleasure to measurable improvements in sleep, mood, and wellbeing

Ahead of Menopause Awareness Month, the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University and sexual wellness brand Womanizer released headline results from a groundbreaking clinical study examining how masturbation can affect menopause symptoms.

The new study is the first controlled investigation of its kind to examine how self-pleasure can influence menopausal health and wellbeing, building on a peer-reviewed paper on masturbation across the menopause transition and 2024 survey of 1,500 American women, which found that 36% experienced menopause symptom relief from masturbation and 1 in 10 used it as their primary relief strategy.

About this Study

From April to August 2025, researchers recruited 66 peri- and post-menopausal women aged 40–75 across 27 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Participants were screened through surveys and interviews, then asked to vary their masturbation habits at home over a 3-month period while completing biweekly surveys.

At baseline, 97% of participants reported at least one menopause-related symptom, most commonly fatigue, night sweats, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, and joint pain.

Key Findings

• Symptom improvement: After four weeks of Womanizer Next use, which employs 3D Pleasure Air™ Technology, 92.9% of participants reported experiencing at least one menopausal symptom less frequently. The biggest improvements were in feeling well-rested and experiencing fewer mood swings.
• Attitudes toward masturbation: 91% said they would be more likely to masturbate if they knew it could positively impact menopause symptoms, and 79% said they would follow a doctor’s advice to do so. Yet only 3% reported ever having a doctor discuss masturbation with them.
• Orgasm matters: While masturbation alone appeared beneficial, women who achieved orgasm showed the largest symptom reductions, likely due to neurochemicals such as oxytocin and endorphins that improve sleep, mood and pain perception.
• Effectiveness of Womanizer Next: 95% of women reported enjoyment of the product and 32.3% said it made it easier to reach orgasm compared to their preferred method.

The study’s full data report is available here.

“Conversations about menopause often focus on hormone therapy or lifestyle changes, but self-pleasure remains overlooked,” said Dr. Cynthia Graham, Senior Scientist at the Kinsey Institute. “Our findings suggest masturbation, and especially reaching orgasm, may play a meaningful role in symptom management.”

Why It Matters

This research highlights a major gap between patient interest and clinical guidance. Although most participants were open to using masturbation for symptom relief, very few had ever received that recommendation from a healthcare provider. By documenting measurable benefits, this research aims to destigmatize self-pleasure and highlight sexual wellness as an integral part of menopause care.

“We’ve long believed sexual wellness is an important aspect of health and wellness,” said Verena Singmann, Head of Public Relations for Womanizer. “These findings underscore how our products can support women through different life stages, especially menopause where pleasure is often forgotten.”

Participating in cognitively stimulating activities helps optimize brain health in older adulthood

 With the rapid growth of the population age 65 years and older and the increased risk of cognitive decline associated with advanced age, there is a mounting need to identify the potential mechanisms that buffer against cognitive decline and preserve cognitive function in later life.

 

Previous studies have shown that having more years of education, participating in cognitively stimulating activities and having longevity in your family all protect brain health and help people maintain good cognitive function throughout life. However, little is known about how these factors relate with one another or if they are distinct pathways for optimizing cognitive health.

 

Now, for the first time, a new study looks at the interplay between these factors that promote cognitive resilience in older adulthood. The study found that older adults without a family history of longevity who more frequently engaged in cognitively stimulating activities such as reading, writing, playing games and visiting museums, were able to match the same level of good cognitive functioning as those with familial longevity. This was particularly true for executive function (cognitive processes that help people manage their thoughts and actions) and language tasks. When both groups had similar levels of cognitive engagement from activities like reading, researchers found that people with a family history of longer lifespans still had better memory than those without that trait.

 

“Our findings highlight the importance of keeping your mind engaged in various activities to maintain cognitive health. If there is something that sparks your curiosity, go learn more about it, and you might just help protect your brain too,” says senior author Stacy Andersen, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine  and co-director of the New England Centenarian Study.

 

Using data from the National Institute on Aging-funded Long Life Family Study, a study of genetic and familial factors associated with longevity and healthy aging, the researchers administered a series of cognitive tests and a questionnaire on participation in cognitively stimulating activities. They compared people from these long-lived families to people without a family history of longevity. The analysis assessed how both inherited and behavioral protective factors contribute to cognitive function in older adulthood.

 

“By modeling a chain of pathways of these factors on cognitive function, we can not only better understand the individual and combined roles of familial longevity, education and cognitive activity on patterns of cognitive aging (e.g. how modifiable life exposures may offset the absence of familial longevity), but also compare the relative impact of these factors on cognitive function,” explained corresponding author Nicole Roth, MS, a biostatistician affiliated with the school.

 

According to the researchers, identifying the underlying factors that appear to buffer against age-related cognitive change can help us design and promote interventions that would prevent the more severe changes in cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease.

“Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are caused by a buildup of harmful proteins in the brain. There are some people that have a buildup of these proteins yet maintain good cognitive function, and therefore show resilience to Alzheimer's disease. Healthy behaviors such as engaging in cognitively-stimulating activities and continuing to learn new things may help build this resilience,” says Andersen.

 

These findings appear online in the journal Neuropsychology.

 

Funding was provided by the National Institute on Aging (grants U01 AG023755, U19 AG063893 and K01 AG057798).

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Journal

Neuropsychology

DOI

10.1037/neu0001039 

Nordic dietary guidelines associated with longer life

Eat less meat, added sugar – and more whole grains, legumes, fish, and low-fat dairy products. Such are the recommendations of the Nordic dietary guidelines. Published in 2023, the guidelines were designed with both health and climate in mind. Now, research from Aarhus University shows that following them is directly linked to lower mortality. The study was led by Associate Professor Christina Dahm along side with PhD-Student Anne Bak Mørch.

“Our study shows that among middle-aged Swedish men and women who follow the guidelines, mortality is 23% lower compared with those who do not – even when factors such as education, income, and physical activity are taken into account. The study also reveals lower mortality from cancer and cardiovascular disease among those who are best at adhering to the guidelines,” she explains.

The researchers examined data from more than 76,000 Swedish men and women across two large population studies: the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men. Since 1997, participants have reported their dietary and lifestyle habits, providing a unique foundation for exploring the link between diet and health. The findings are significant for both human and planetary health, says Christina Dahm.

“Our results are relevant across the Nordic and Baltic countries, since national dietary guidelines are based on the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations. We show that following the guidelines as a whole benefits public health. But our results also go further: because the recommendations take into account both nutritional value and climate impact, our research demonstrates that a sustainable Nordic diet benefits public health and the climate – and could serve as a model for other regional sustainable diets worldwide.”

Diet is a major contributor to climate change: around 30% of human-made greenhouse gas emissions come from our current food consumption and production. The Nordic dietary recommendations are therefore designed to balance human health with sustainability. This is the first study to examine the overall health benefits of the new guidelines.

“The study confirms that we can follow a Nordic diet to improve both our health and the climate – at least when it comes to preventing premature death,” says Christina Dahm.

Whether the diet also affects other health outcomes, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer, remains to be seen. Dahm and her research team hope to investigate this further in a forthcoming study.

Many older adults – especially Gen X women – show signs of addiction to ultra-processed foods

Adults age 50 to 80 who meet criteria for an addiction to ultra-processed foods are far more likely to report being overweight, or being in fair or poor mental or physical health

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They were the first generation of Americans to grow up with ultra-processed foods all around them – products typically loaded with extra fat, salt, sugar and flavorings. They were children and young adults at a time when such products, designed to maximize their appeal, proliferated.

Now, a study shows, 21% of women and 10% of men in Generation X and the tail end of the Baby Boom generation, now in their 50s and early 60s, meet criteria for addiction to these ultra-processed foods.

That rate is far higher than it is among adults who grew up just a decade or two earlier, and only encountered ultra-processed foods in adulthood. Among adults age 65 to 80, just 12% of women and 4% of men meet criteria for ultra-processed food addiction.

The study, published in the journal Addiction by a team from the University of Michigan, is based on nationally representative data from more than 2,000 older Americans surveyed by the U-M National Poll on Healthy Aging.

The poll is based at the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation and supported by Michigan Medicine, U-M’s academic medical center. The new paper builds on a previous poll report by diving deeper into generational differences and correlations with health.

Measuring food addiction in an under-studied group

The researchers used the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0), a standardized tool adapted from the criteria used to diagnose substance use disorders. The scale asks about 13 experiences with ultraprocessed foods and drinks that define addiction, such as strong cravings, repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut down, withdrawal symptoms, and avoiding social activities because of fear of overeating.

In this case, the “substance” is not alcohol or nicotine, but highly rewarding ultra-processed foods such as sweets, fast food, and sugary beverages. By applying clinical addiction criteria to ultra-processed foods, the study highlights the ways in which such foods can “hook” people.

“We hope this study fills a gap in knowledge about addiction to ultra-processed foods among older adults, as measured by a well-studied and standardized scale,” said Lucy K. Loch, a graduate student in the U-M Department of Psychology. “Today’s older adults were in a key developmental period when our nation’s food environment changed. With other research showing clear links between consumption of these foods and risk of chronic disease and premature death, it’s important to study addiction to ultra-processed foods in this age group.”

Differences by gender

Unlike traditional substance use disorders — which historically have been more common in older men — ultra-processed food addiction shows the opposite pattern: higher prevalence in older women.

One explanation may be the aggressive marketing of “diet” ultra-processed food to women in the 1980s.

Low-fat cookies, microwaveable meals, and other carbohydrate-heavy products were promoted as weight-control solutions, but their engineered nutrient profiles may have reinforced addictive eating patterns.

Women now aged 50 to 64 may have been exposed to ultraprocessed foods during a sensitive developmental window, which may help explain the poll’s findings for this age group, said senior author Ashley Gearhardt, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at U-M and member of IHPI. Gearhardt leads the U-M Food and Addiction Science & Treatment Lab.

“The percentages we see in these data far outpace the percentages of older adults with problematic use of other addictive substances, such as alcohol and tobacco,” said Gearhardt. “We also see a clear association with health and social isolation, with much higher risks of ultra-processed food addiction in those who call their mental or physical health status fair or poor, or say they sometimes or often feel isolated from others.”

Key findings related to overweight, health status and social isolation

• Overweight self-perception:
  • Women aged 50 to 80 who said they are overweight were more than 11 times as likely to meet criteria for ultra-processed food addiction than women who say their weight is about right. Men who reported being overweight were 19 times as likely.
  • No matter what their age, 33% of women who described themselves as overweight, 13% of women who described themselves as slightly overweight and 17% of men who described themselves as overweight met criteria for addiction to ultra-processed foods. Of the total sample, 31% of women and 26% of men in the sample said they were overweight and 40% of women and 39% of men said they were slightly overweight.
• Health status:
  • Men reporting fair or poor mental health were four times as likely to meet criteria for ultra-processed food addiction; women were nearly three times as likely.
  • For physical health, men reporting fair or poor health were three times as likely to meet criteria for ultra-processed food addiction, and women were nearly two times as likely.
• Social isolation: Men and women who reported feeling isolated some of the time or often were more than three times as likely to meet criteria for ultra-processed food addiction as those who did not report isolation.

The researchers suggest that individuals who perceive themselves as overweight may be particularly vulnerable to “health-washed” ultra-processed foods – those marketed as low-fat, low-calorie, high-protein or high-fiber, but still formulated to amplify their appeal and maximize craving.

“These products are sold as health foods – which can be especially problematic for those trying to reduce the number of calories they consume,” Gearhardt said. “This especially affects women, because of the societal pressure around weight.”

Looking Ahead

The generation of older adults now in their 50s and early 60s is the first to live most of their lifespan in a food environment dominated by ultra-processed foods, Geahardt noted.

“These findings raise urgent questions about whether there are critical developmental windows when exposure to ultra-processed foods is especially risky for addiction vulnerability,” she said. “Children and adolescents today consume even higher proportions of calories from ultra-processed foods than today’s middle-aged adults did in their youth. If current trends continue, future generations may show even higher rates of ultra-processed food addiction later in life.”

She added, “Just as with other substances, intervening early may be essential to reducing long-term addiction risk across the lifespan.”

New insight into prediabetes: Blood sugar level is more important than body weight

 

Until now, weight reduction has been the primary therapeutic goal for people with prediabetes. An analysis of a large Tübingen study shows that patients who bring their blood sugar levels back within the normal range through a healthy lifestyle but do not lose weight, or even gain weight, still reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by 71 percent. Researchers from the University Hospital of Tübingen, Helmholtz Munich, and the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) were involved in the study.

Millions of people worldwide live with prediabetes. It is estimated that one in ten adults is affected, although the number of unreported cases means the real figure is significantly higher. Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar values are elevated but do not yet meet the criteria for diabetes. It often remains undetected for a long time, as affected individuals initially have no symptoms. The body’s cells become more resistant to endogenous insulin hormone. As a result, less sugar moves from the blood into the body cells and the blood sugar level increases. The risks are considerable: If left untreated, there is a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on—a disease that affects more than 460 million people worldwide. It can lead to serious complications, such as cardiovascular disease or cancer.

Normal Blood Sugar Level as a Milestone

Strategies recommended to date—including in current guidelines—for the prevention of type 2 diabetes in people with prediabetes primarily focus on reducing weight through a healthy diet and increased physical activity. This strategy, which is limited to weight alone, could be broadened on the basis of the new analysis results.

A long-term study conducted by the Department of Diabetology, Endocrinology and Nephrology at the University Hospital Tübingen showed that 234 of the more than 1100 study participants lost no weight or even gained weight over the course of a year despite undergoing lifestyle changes. Nevertheless, a good 22 percent of them normalized their blood sugar levels. The development of type 2 diabetes was monitored over a period of up to a further 9 years. Without weight loss, this group was up to 71 percent less likely to develop diabetes. This figure is almost identical to that of individuals who were able to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by losing weight (73 percent).

Fat Distribution as a Decisive Factor

The analysis paid particular attention to fat distribution. The relationship between visceral fat (the inner abdominal fat surrounding the organs) and subcutaneous fat (the fatty tissue located directly under the skin) was examined. Visceral fat releases signaling molecules that promote inflammation and disrupt hormone balance, which leads to insulin resistance and is thus directly linked to type 2 diabetes. Study participants whose blood sugar levels returned to normal without losing weight had a lower percentage of abdominal fat as a result of lifestyle changes compared to those whose blood sugar levels remained in the prediabetes range.

Body Weight No Longer the Sole Indicator

“Restoring a normal fasting blood sugar level is the most important goal in preventing type 2 diabetes and not necessarily the number on the scale,” says Prof. Dr. Andreas Birkenfeld, study leader and director of the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) of Helmholtz Munich at the University of Tübingen. “Exercise and a balanced diet have a positive effect on blood sugar levels, regardless of whether weight is reduced. Losing weight remains helpful, but our data suggests that it is not essential for protection against diabetes,” he continues. “In future, guidelines for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes should not only take weight into account, but above all blood glucose control and fat distribution patterns,” adds Prof. Dr. Reiner Jumpertz-von Schwartzenberg, who, as last author, was involved in the study alongside Prof. Dr. Birkenfeld.

A Healthy Lifestyle as a Recipe for Success

However, the study results highlight the importance of including target glycemic values, i.e., guideline blood sugar values, in practice guidelines in addition to weight reduction targets. Prediabetes remission is the most effective way to prevent future type 2 diabetes, and the analysis suggests that this is partly independent of weight loss. Nevertheless, sufficient physical activity and a balanced diet remain the key means to bring blood sugar values within a normal range