Health Report

The first 2,000 days of life are crucial for brain development.Children learn and grow more during this time than at any other point in their lives.However, research shows many childcare centres are failing to provide proper nutrition: children are going hungry, and meals often don't meet basic dietary standards.Experts are calling for better food support in disadvantaged areas and improved nutritional guidelines for early childhood centres to help children get the nourishment they need.

Scientists are increasingly concerned about the rising incidence of colorectal cancer among younger populations, and emerging research points to the gut microbiome as a key factor in understanding this trend.A study from the University of Melbourne uncovered a specific bacterial strain that can cause DNA damage, potentially triggering the development of colorectal cancer.

Many individuals with knee osteoarthritis are being subjected to unnecessary tests and procedures, even though exercise is often the most effective treatment.New clinical care guidelines have been introduced, highlighting the importance of non-surgical approaches to manage pain and improve mobility.And do you ever worry you spend too much time sitting around? Well now you can find out.An international team of researchers has unpacked how long you should sit, stand, sleep and exercise for optimal health. References:Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care StandardAssociations of 24 h time-use compositions of sitting, standing, physical activity and sleeping with optimal cardiometabolic risk and glycaemic control: The Maastricht Study

Performance and image-enhancing drugs are more common than you might expect, especially if you're not enmeshed in gym culture. Experts are worried the medical community has fallen behind the rise in steroid use, leaving users physically and mentally vulnerable. Also, at-home testing kits promise to diagnose a range of illnesses from vitamin deficiency to cancers. Are they accurate?And motor neurone disease (MND) is affecting more Australians. With the environment likely to blame, researchers are trying to pin down the culprits.

There's already a lot to think about when you're trying to get pregnant. Should plastic be one of them? Some fertility experts think that yes, cutting down your exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical used to make plastics, could help. Also, the mission to come up with consistent guidelines for the testing of gestational diabetes. As early as possible, or wait until 24 to 28 weeks?And why rethinking dementia could improve our experiences of the condition. 

Sore back from sitting all day? A new study suggest virtual yoga — much of which can be done from a chair — could help relieve low back pain.AI-generated deepfakes of health professionals are promoting a supplement, and concerning new data on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).Two stroke survivors challenge Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Bill Shorten, on NDIS accessibility and funding.And a pilot program examining how music therapy can help those affected by early onset dementia.

Some describe Australia as the allergy capital of the world, noting high rates of food allergies — what can parents do to help kids early? Why the term 'Munchausen by Proxy' is making headlines, and how to spot Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA).The global impact of Donald Trump's re-election on abortion access and funding.And a new study shows screening of parents can help identify couples with a higher chance of passing on genetic disorders to children.

Our joints are capable of making a cacophony of sounds, even more so as we get older. Is it ever a cause for concern?Research shows once more that vaccination protects against long COVID, but the timing of the jab may be important. Generations of teenagers have found a way to smoke weed — legal or not. So what do we know about the effects on the brain?And the Declaration of Helsinki has turned 60 years old. Are these ethical principles that guide clinical research up to scratch?

Donald Trump's re-election could spell big health policy changes for the United States, including the rolling back of a 20th century intervention.  Also, a major review into how health professionals operate in Australia, and how we can do better. How checking blood pressure in childhood could prevent heart disease down the line. Concerns about a common heart procedure. And, the last word on asthma treatment?

Spray-on skin already helps many burns patients, but what about those with deeper burns? Meet the team trialling a technique to grow sheets of replacement skin.Takeaways from the inquiry into Australia's COVID-19 pandemic response, and a dip in childhood vaccination rates.A new gene variant among some First Nations peoples in Oceania that could explain susceptibility to some diseases.And how physiotherapists are helping women who experience pain during or after sex.