U.S. regulators on Monday gave the green light to a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval handed drugmaker Novo Nordisk an edge over rival Eli Lilly in the race to market an obesity pill. Lilly’s oral drug, orforglipron, is still under review.
Both pills are GLP-1 drugs that work like widely used injectables to mimic a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of fullness.
In recent years, Novo Nordisk’s injectable Wegovy and Lilly’s Zepbound have revolutionized obesity treatment globally and in the U.S., where 100 million people have the chronic disease.
The Wegovy pills are expected to be available within weeks, company officials said. Availability of oral pills to treat obesity could expand the booming market for obesity treatments by broadening access and reducing costs, experts said.
About 1 in 8 Americans have used injectable GLP-1 drugs, according to a survey from KFF, a nonprofit health policy research group. But many more have trouble affording the costly shots.
“There’s an entire demographic that can benefit from the pills,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, a Massachusetts General Hospital obesity expert. “For me, it’s not just about who gets it across the finish line first. It’s about having these options available to patients.”
The Novo Nordisk obesity pill contains 25 milligrams of semaglutide. That’s the same ingredient in injectables Wegovy and Ozempic and in Rybelsus, a lower-dose pill approved to treat diabetes in 2019.
In a clinical trial, participants who took oral Wegovy lost 13.6% of their total body weight on average over about 15 months, compared with a 2.2% loss if they took a placebo, or dummy pill. That’s nearly the same as injectable Wegovy, with an average weight loss of about 15%.
Chris Mertens, 35, a pediatric lung doctor in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, joined the Novo Nordisk trial in 2022 and lost about 40 pounds using the Wegovy pill. The daily medication worked to decrease his appetite and invasive thoughts of food, he said.
“If there were days where I missed a meal, I almost didn’t realize it,” Mertens said.
Participants in a clinical trial who took the highest dose of Lilly’s orforglipron lost 11.2% of their total body weight on average over nearly 17 months, compared with a 2.1% loss in those who took a placebo.
Both pills resulted in less weight loss than the average achieved with Lilly’s Zepbound, or tirzepatide, which targets two gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, and led to a 21% average weight loss.
All the GLP-1 drugs, oral or injectable, have similar side effects, including nausea and diarrhea.
Both daily pills promise convenience, but the Wegovy pill must be taken with a sip of water in the morning on an empty stomach, with a 30-minute break before eating or drinking.
That’s because Novo Nordisk had to design the pill in a way that prevented the drug from being broken down in the stomach before it could be absorbed by the bloodstream. The drugmaker added an ingredient that protects the medication for about 30 minutes in the gut and makes it easier to take effect.
By contrast, Lilly’s orforglipron has no dosing restrictions. That drug is being considered under the FDA’s new priority voucher program aimed at cutting drug approval times. A decision is expected by spring.
Producing pills is generally cheaper than making drugs delivered via injections, so the cost for the new oral medications could be lower. The Trump administration earlier this year said officials had worked with drugmakers to negotiate lower prices for the GLP-1 drugs, which can cost upwards of $1,000 a month.
The company said the starting dose would be available for $149 per month from some providers. Additional information on cost will be available in January.
It’s not clear whether daily pills or weekly injections will be preferred by patients. Although some patients dislike needles, others don’t seem to mind the weekly injections, obesity experts said. Mertens turned to injectable Zepbound when he regained weight after the end of the Wegovy pill clinical trial.
He said he liked the discipline of the daily pill.
“It was a little bit of an intentional routine and a reminder of today I’m taking this so that I know my choices are going to be affected for the day,” he said.
Dr. Angela Fitch, an obesity expert and chief medical officer of knownwell, a health care company, said whatever the format, the biggest benefit will be in making weight-loss medications more widely accessible and affordable.
“It’s all about the price,” she said. “Just give me a drug at $100 a month that is relatively effective.”
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Two months ago, I made a decision that changed my nights: I bought a crochet kit from Lion Brand, the oldest yarn company in the U.S., and taught myself to crochet. Why?
For a while, I would sit on the couch at the end of the day and scroll on my phone in an attempt to relax. My intention would be to do it for “just a few minutes.” But you know how that goes. A couple of hours later, I was still absorbing an endless feed of mindless content. What’s worse is that I’d repeat the whole pattern the next night. This cycle left me feeling empty, and wired with racing thoughts. My sleep was suffering and I knew I wasn’t as productive as I should be.
I needed something creative to do. And I have to admit, I was inspired by posts across my feed I’d seen of the incredible things people were making with crochet. And yes, right from their own couches.
Through nightly practice I quickly learned that yarn crafts like knitting and crochet are more than just hobbies to pass time with. They also double as powerful wellness tools that offer benefits like a sense of calm, mental clarity, and emotional grounding, one stitch at a time. They also give you a skill to create beautiful and useful things with your own hands. It’s a win-win.
Here’s what may surprise you: if you thought knitting and crochet had a reputation for being something you’d do with your grandma, think again.
Today, more than 60 million people worldwide knit or crochet, not only as a modern form of stress relief but also as a way to create things like wearables and home decor. And recent lifestyle trends popping up that embrace living simply, but beautifully like “cottagecore” and “grannycore”, these crafts have surged back into popularity.
This comeback has also been fueled by a growing desire by many to step away from screens and start creating. Social media has amplified this comeback, with Gen Z embracing yarn crafts as calming, creative outlets. Once thought to be “grandma activities,” knitting and crochet patterns are being reimagined with a modern twist. Crochet has even found its way into fashion trends, with oversized, chunky designs capturing attention in 2025.
But beyond aesthetics, the revival reflects something deeper: a collective craving for handmade work, for the satisfaction of creating rather than consuming, and for the mental clarity that comes from slowing down stitch by stitch.
Meditation is great, but if you find it difficult, taking up a hobby like crochet may be exactly what you need.
The Science Is Clear: Yarn Crafts Support Mental Health
The perfect evening ritual: tea, chocolate, and mindful knitting
When I first learned about crochet and knitting as a relaxing form of self-care, I wondered if it really could offer the stress relieving and mental health benefits I was reading about. So I did a little research.
What I found surprised me.
Large-scale studies tracking thousands of knitters and crocheters consistently showed concrete evidence of incredible mental health benefits.
In one study, researchers found that knitting was associated with an 11 beats-per-minute drop in heart rate and reduced blood pressure (physical markers of relaxation).
Nearly 90% of over 8,000 crocheters surveyed reported crocheting helps them feel calmer, making it a go-to self-care tool for stress relief.
But the benefits extend far beyond just relaxation:
It Boosts Mood: In large-scale research, 82% of crocheters reported feeling happier after crafting, with mood scores jumping significantly during and after crafting sessions. The combination of creative accomplishment and repetitive motion may support serotonin production, which plays a role in regulating mood and emotional wellbeing.
It Eases Anxiety: The rhythm of creating stitches can calm racing thoughts and center an anxious mind. Many people use yarn crafts to self-soothe in stressful moments, finding that just a few stitches can offer instant relief while providing a sense of control. If anxiety is something you struggle with at bedtime, we also have tips for calming your anxiety at night.
It Improves Memory and Focus: Among knitters surveyed, 61% reported better concentration and 58% noticed improvements in memory. Over half observed clearer thinking, improved problem-solving abilities, and sharper planning skills.
It Gives a Sense of Accomplishment: In one survey, nearly 75% of crocheters said their craft made them feel more useful in daily life. Making tangible, useful and beautiful things with crochet and knit can be a powerful counter to feelings like aimlessness or disconnection. A single square of a blanket or a finished scarf isn’t just fabric, it’s proof that you can start something and finish it.
These aren’t just numbers on a page. They represent real people experiencing genuine improvements in their daily wellness. And now I’m one of them.
Understanding the Mindfulness Connection
My new evening routine: couch, crochet, tea, and complete presence | Photo: Better Living
One of the most interesting aspects of yarn crafts is how they naturally induce a mindfulness state. The repetitive rhythm of knitting and crochet gently pulls your focus to the present moment, offering what researchers describe as a meditative experience.
Psychologists have compared stitching to a “calming mantra” that quiets mental clutter and eases the mind. Many crafters describe entering a peaceful “flow state” where stress fades and time seems to disappear. Following a pattern can fully occupy your mind while your hands move in a soothing, almost automatic rhythm.
Therapists have noticed that the back-and-forth hand movements in knitting are a bit like the side-to-side eye movements used in a therapy called EMDR, which helps people process trauma. Both involve repetitive, rhythmic motions that can calm the nervous system and keep the brain gently engaged, making the activity soothing and grounding.
These activities give the brain a much-needed pause from the constant stimulation of modern life.
The Digital Detox Element
One of the best things about knitting and crochet is that they’re completely screen-free. You can’t scroll your phone while juggling yarn, hooks, and patterns. And that’s the point. In a world where we’re constantly plugged in, these crafts give us a rare chance to unplug.
They’re hands-on, analog, and demand your full attention in the most calming way. For me, that break from screens has become one of the biggest joys of crafting. When I sit down with a project, I’m not just making something, I’m giving my brain a rest from endless notifications and social media.
And for anyone feeling overwhelmed by screen time (which is most of us), yarn crafts aren’t a guilt trip about using your phone less. They’re a genuinely fun, appealing alternative you’ll want to choose instead of scrolling. Similar to other easy ways to reduce stress, finding an engaging hobby can naturally replace unhealthy habits.
Knitting vs. Crochet: Which Should You Choose?
The complete Log Cabin Crochet Kit. Yarn, pattern, and all the tools to create something beautiful! | Photo: Better Living
Here’s the good news: both crafts offer essentially the same wellness benefits. Research shows no significant advantage of one over the other. The therapeutic value comes from the act itself, not the specific technique.
That said, they do have different characteristics:
➡ Crochet involves one hook and a single active loop, making it beginner-friendly with faster, more visible progress. This is what I chose to start with, and I appreciate how forgiving it is when mistakes happen. You can easily undo a few stitches without losing your entire row. ➡ Knitting uses two needles and maintains multiple active stitches on each needle. It creates stretchier fabrics and offers a wider range of textures and patterns. Many knitters describe the rhythm as particularly meditative once you’ve mastered the basics.
The best craft for wellness is simply the one you’ll actually do consistently. Choose based on what appeals to you, what projects interest you, and which technique feels more intuitive. You can always learn the other one later if you’re curious.
There’s a few differences between crocheting and knitting you’ll want to consider before you decide which one to learn. The truth is that while crocheting and knitting are both yarn crafts, they have their own distinct personalities.
There’s no reason why you can’t learn both in time, but it’s best to focus on one craft in the beginning.
I chose crochet because:
Generally easier for beginners (only one hook to manage).
Faster progress thanks to larger stitches.
It’s ideal for blankets, home décor, and amigurumi (stuffed toys).
Portable and forgiving (mistakes are easier to fix than in knitting).
Advantages of knitting are:
It produces smooth, flowy and stretchy fabrics perfect for clothing (sweaters, socks, and fitted accessories).
It offers a wide range of techniques for intricate designs.
Creates a more uniform, polished look.
Uses less yarn than crochet.
Reading through threads online, most reviewers felt crochet was easier to learn. But this wasn’t true for everyone. Many found they preferred knitting and liked the neater look of knitted projects better. But it was agreed that fixing mistakes in knitting was more difficult.
💡 Tip: To help you decide, take a look through Lion Brands huge catalog of patterns, projects and kits. See which project styles you’re drawn to. If you find you’re picking more projects of one more than the other, then consider learning that technique. Be sure to note the level of skill on project. You’ll want to start with “Beginner” or “Beginner +” skill level so you know it’s something you’ll be able to accomplish in the near future.
➡ My Advice: Whichever you choose, learn the basics, and start with small simple projects. There are so many amazing things you can make with both!
New to Knitting or Crochet?
Lion Brand’s beginner knit and crochet kits include yarn and a free pattern, so you can start without guessing what you need.
My First Two Months: The Log Cabin Blanket Journey
Progress you can hold in your hands. 30+ squares and counting! | Photo: Better Living
I’ll be honest about something: I didn’t start small with simple scarves or dishcloths. I did practice for a while, but for my first project, I went straight for the Log Cabin Crochet Kit on Lion Brand.
Why? I loved the look and the colors and this beginner project only requires you to learn one basic stitch. Buying kits from Lion Brand makes life easy. You get the pattern along with the exact amount of yarn you need for the project. You can customize what colors you want and also add accessories like crochet hooks if you need them. It’s so convenient.
The kit includes Lion Brand’s own Landscapes Breeze yarn. Since the recommended yarn was sold out (it’s a popular project) I chose the Seashell color instead. This is a gorgeous palette that shifts between soft, coastal tones. When I opened the package and felt the yarn, I knew I’d made the right choice. Quality materials matter, and Lion Brand delivers yarn that’s genuinely pleasant to work with.
The pattern calls for 40 squares that eventually come together to form a full blanket. At first, it would take me an entire day to make one square. Now, just two months in, I can complete two squares in an evening depending on how much time I have. That tangible evidence of improvement is incredibly satisfying.
While I’m glad I chose a project I’m genuinely excited about, starting with something smaller would have definitely given me quicker wins and built confidence faster. With a scarf, some coasters, or a simple dishcloth you can quickly finish your first projects in days rather than months. Was jumping straight into a blanket ambitious? Absolutely. Would I recommend it to others?
Honestly, if you master techniques like holding your crochet hook, creating even stitches tension, counting stitches, making a foundation chain, creating a few basic stitches there’s no reason not to dive in.
The learning curve for basic crochet isn’t steep, but like any new skill you’ll need to spend some time practicing to get your rhythm down.
How Lion Brand Made Learning Easy
Free video tutorials from Lion Brand Yarn that make learning easy. Your personal crochet instructor available 24/7!
Here’s what surprised me most: I’d never crocheted before starting this project, yet I picked it up quickly.
The Lion Brand video library was really helpful. They have clear, well-produced tutorials that walk you through every basic stitch and technique. When I couldn’t figure out why my edges were getting wonky, I found a Lion Brand video that explained exactly what I was doing wrong.
At first, my stitches were too tight. This is a common beginner issue. But with just a bit of practice and some clear info, I improved significantly.
And when you buy a kit includes everything you need: the yarn, a size 6 crochet hook, and clear pattern instructions. For about $70, I had a complete project that would keep me engaged for months.
The investment wasn’t just in supplies. It was in my wellness routine. And it’s paid off in ways I didn’t expect.
The Real Wellness Changes I’ve Experienced
Now, every night around 8 PM, I settle onto my couch with my current square, put on some music or a movie, and crochet for about two hours. Sometimes I’m half-watching a show, sometimes I’m fully absorbed in the pattern. Either way, my phone stays face-down on the coffee table.
I’m offline completely at night now. Not “I’m trying to use my phone less.” Actually, fully offline. My hands are busy, my mind is engaged just enough to stay present, and the compulsion to scroll has simply disappeared.
The positive changes have been real:
✔️ I’ve Had Better Sleep: I fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. My brain isn’t buzzing with the digital noise of two hours of scrolling. ✔️ I Feel Genuine Accomplishment: Every completed square is proof that I made something real. My family has already started requesting blankets as gifts. They love what I’m working on. ✔️ I Feel More Calm: The repetitive motion truly is meditative. Experts describe getting lost in the rhythm of stitching as something that lowers breath and pulse, creating a natural sense of calm. I can confirm that’s exactly what happens. ✔️ I’m Staying Sharp: Following the pattern keeps my brain active in a productive way. I’m problem-solving, counting, paying attention to detail, all while relaxing.
I only wish I had started sooner.
The Cognitive Benefits: Keeping Your Brain Sharp
Watching your project come to life, one stitch at a time | Photo: Better Living
Beyond stress relief, yarn crafts give a gentle but effective mental workout while challenging the brain.
Crafts like crochet and knitting also build what researchers call “cognitive reserve.”
Cognitive reserve is the brain’s built-in resilience or ability to keep working even when damaged or aging. The idea first appeared in the late 1980s, when scientists noticed that some people had signs of Alzheimer’s in their brains but showed no symptoms in daily life. Their “reserve” helped them cope.
Picture it is like a road: if the main road is blocked, people with strong cognitive reserves can find alternate routes to reach their destination.
Crochet and knitting are also believed to help protect against age-related cognitive decline and impairment like increased forgetfulness, slower processing of information, difficulty with planning or decision-making.
How can working with yarn do this?
Learning new stitches and techniques strengthens neural pathways, while encouraging mental resilience. Counting stitches as you follow your project’s pattern also requires and supports focus.
The beauty is that this type of brain training doesn’t feel like work. You’re not forcing yourself through mental exercises. You’re making something beautiful, and your brain is benefiting in the background.
Why These Crafts Work for Anxiety
For anyone dealing with anxiety, the way yarn crafts work is particularly powerful.
One crafter perfectly described the experience:
“While my hands are busy doing something, my mind slows to a crawl, and I am actually able to think about one thing at a time, rather than having 20 to 30 threads all going at once.”
That’s exactly it. Anxiety often manifests as racing thoughts, multiple worry streams running simultaneously, and a sense of being unable to control your own mental focus.
The structured nature of knitting or crochet provides a gentle anchor. Your attention has somewhere specific to go. The counting gives your mind something concrete to track. The growing fabric provides immediate, visible feedback that you’re making progress.
The act of crafting occupies your hands and engages your mind just enough to distract from anxiety triggers without becoming overwhelming. It’s not trying to force the anxiety away. It’s simply giving your brain an alternative focus that naturally creates calm.
Getting Started: What You Actually Need
Everything you need to start your crochet journey in one beautiful kit | Photo: Better Living
One of the best aspects of yarn crafts is how accessible they are. You don’t need a huge investment or elaborate setup to get started.
For Crochet Beginners: The Lion Brand Beginner Crochet Kitincludes everything needed: hook, yarn, and beginner-friendly patterns. If you want to jump into a more ambitious project like I did, the Lion Brand Log Cabin Crochet Kitprovides a complete, beautiful project with all materials and instructions included.
💡 There’s plenty more crochet patterns and kits to choose from.
For Knitting Beginners: The Lion Brand also has beginner Knit Kits with all the essentials plus patterns with clear instructions designed specifically for people who’ve never picked up knitting needles before.
Choosing Your Yarn: The quality and feel of your yarn will significantly impact your experience. Working with scratchy, unpleasant yarn makes crafting feel like a chore. Depending on what pattern or kit you choose, it will come with a suggestion from the designer of what yarn to use.
If you want to use something different, be sure it’s the same weight as the original pattern.
Popular yarn options on Lion Brand include:
🦁 Lion Brand Wool-Ease: Soft, easy to work with, and widely available 🦁 Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling: Budget-friendly and durable 🦁 Lion Brand Landscapes Breeze: What I’m using. Beautiful color variations that add visual interest even in simple patterns.🦁 🦁 What About Hook and Needle Sizes? Most beginner projects use medium-weight yarn (also called worsted weight or size 4). The information on each pattern or yarn information page will suggest a hook size to use.
The Lion Brand kits include appropriately sized crochet hooks or knitting needles as add-ons, so you don’t ever need to guess.
Best Advice: Start Small for Success
I made this headband in just one afternoon! Proof that you can create beautiful things quickly. | Photo: Better Living
While I went straight for a blanket and don’t regret it, I genuinely believe you’ll have a better experience starting with smaller projects. After I became more skilled and confident with my blanket squares, I decided to complete a quick project with the Quick Crochet Ear Warmerfor Beginners from Lion Brand. I finished it in just one afternoon!
Here’s why:
Quick Completion = Motivation: Finishing something in a few hours or days provides immediate satisfaction and positive reinforcement. You experience the full cycle of starting, progressing, and completing a project, which builds confidence for larger works. You Can Build Skills Without Pressure: Small projects let you practice basic techniques without the commitment of months of work. If you mess up, you haven’t lost much time or materials. Variety and Experimentation: Completing several small projects lets you try different stitches, patterns, and yarn types. You’ll discover what you enjoy before committing to something major.
Ideal Starter Projects:
Dishcloths or washcloths (practical and forgiving)
Coasters (quick satisfaction, can experiment with stitches)
Simple scarves (straightforward repetition that builds muscle memory)
Small pouches or bags (slightly more complex but still manageable)
After you’ve completed two or three small projects and feel comfortable with basic stitches, then tackle that blanket you’ve been eyeing. You’ll approach it with skills and confidence, making the experience more enjoyable.
Create Your Own Wellness Routine
The key to experiencing lasting wellness benefits from yarn crafts is consistency. Like any wellness practice (meditation, exercise, journaling), the benefits compound over time. Just like building other healthy new year habits, starting a new craft practice works best when you set yourself up for success with the right tools and a sustainable routine.
I’ve found that dedicating about two hours most evenings to my crochet project has become a cherished ritual. It signals to my brain that the busy, productive part of the day is over, and now it’s time to slow down and be present.
You don’t need marathon crafting sessions. Even 20 to 30 minutes can shift your mental state and provide that sense of calm. Start where you are, with what feels sustainable.
5 Tips for Building Your Practice:
Create a Comfortable Space: Set up a cozy spot with good lighting. I work on my couch with music or a movie, but you might prefer a quiet corner or your favorite chair.
Keep Projects Accessible: Store your current project where you can easily grab it. If you have to dig through closets to find your supplies, you’re less likely to actually do it.
Don’t Stress Perfection: Mistakes are part of learning. My early squares weren’t nearly as neat as my recent ones, and that’s fine. The process matters more than perfection.
Track Your Progress: Take photos of your work-in-progress. It’s incredibly satisfying to look back and see how far you’ve come.
Join a Community: Connect with Lion Brand’s online community or local crafting groups. Staying social and sharing your enthusiasm can help you maintain motivation.
5 Things I’d Tell My “Before Crochet” Self
If I could go back two months and talk to the version of me who was considering trying crochet, here’s what I’d say:
Just start. Don’t overthink it. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or the perfect project. Grab a skein of yarn (a skein is a ball of yarn) and a hook to practice stitches with. Then order a kit, watch a few videos, and begin.
Consider starting with a smaller project to get the feel of it and enjoy that sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing something in the real world. But if you’re genuinely excited about a bigger project, go for it. Excitement sustains motivation.
The learning curve is easier than you think. With Lion Brand’s video tutorials and clear instructions, you’ll pick up the basics quickly. Your first attempts won’t be perfect, and that’s completely fine.
This will change your evenings in ways you don’t expect. It’s not just about the blanket or scarf you’re making. It’s about reclaiming time, attention, and a sense of agency over how you spend your leisure hours.
The wellness benefits are real. This isn’t just a nice hobby. It’s a practice that will genuinely support your mental wellbeing, reduce stress, improve your sleep, and give you something tangible to show for your time.
The Bottom Line: Crafting as Wellness Practice
The beautiful color shifts in Landscapes Breeze yarn. Each square tells its own story. | Photo: Better Living
Knitting and crochet aren’t just about making things, though the finished projects are wonderful. They’re accessible, affordable wellness practices that offer genuine mental health support backed by research involving thousands of practitioners.
The repetitive, rhythmic motions help activate relaxation responses in our bodies.
The focused attention provides relief from anxious, racing thoughts.
The creative process boosts mood and confidence.
They encourage mindfulness, focus, and a genuine sense of accomplishment.
The community connections reduce isolation. And a screen-free hobby can provide a much-needed break from digital overwhelm.
Whether you’re seeking stress relief, better sleep, a digital detox, a mindfulness practice, or something soothing and productive to do, yarn crafts deliver on all counts.
My current blanket needs 40 squares. I’ve completed over 30 of them in just two months. Every square represents an evening spent present, engaged, and creating something real. When it’s finished, it will be my first completed crochet project. Something I made with my own hands, from scratch, that other people can enjoy.
But honestly? The blanket itself is secondary. The real value is in what those two hours of crafting each evening have given me: calm, focus, accomplishment, better sleep, less screen time, and proof that I can create beautiful things when I slow down enough to try.
Looking back at these two months, I can genuinely say this simple hobby has transformed my evenings. The racing thoughts have quieted, my sleep has improved, and I have beautiful handmade squares to show for my time. Whether you’re looking to sleep better naturally or simply want to create something meaningful with your hands, I highly recommend giving yarn crafts a try.
When so much feels outside our control these days, the ability to transform a ball of yarn into something functional and beautiful is quietly revolutionary.
That’s worth far more than any finished blanket.
Ready To Start Your Own Wellness Journey With Yarn Crafts?
Lion Brand’s beginner kits make it easy to unplug, learn the basics, and create something beautiful right from your couch. Each kit includes yarn, clear patterns, and optional accessories – plus you’ll have access to comprehensive video tutorials and a supportive community to guide you every step of the way. Your evenings (and your wellness) are about to change for the better.
These are the direct sources that support the research in this article
Stress & Relaxation
Anxiety Relief
The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Knitting and crochet are not substitutes for professional mental health treatment. Please consult with a healthcare provider for any wellness concerns.
Better Living uses affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission (for which we are deeply grateful) at no cost to you.
Virtua Health and ChristianaCare have abandoned a planned $6 billion merger, the health systems announced Thursday.
The health systems – two of the largest in the area – signed a letter of intent in July to explore the possibility of joining forces. The plan would have merged 600 health care sites in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland into one system and would have affected about 30,000 employees. Merging would have generated an estimated $6 billion in annual revenue.
But the health systems “have mutually agreed to terminate the Letter of Intent,” they said in a statement. “After thoughtful evaluation, both organizations have determined that they can best fulfill their missions to serve their communities by continuing to operate independently.”
The health systems did not detail why they decided against merging, but their statement said they are “committed to providing high quality, compassionate care and advancing the health and well-being of the patients and communities they serve.”
Virtua Health, based in Marlton, has five hospitals in South Jersey. The health system operates two satellite emergency departments, 42 ambulatory surgery centers and 400 other sites. It has a cancer care affiliation with Penn Medicine and a pediatric partnership with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In 2019, Virtua took over Lourdes Health System, including its hospitals in Willingboro and Camden.
ChristianaCare is the largest health system in Delaware with four hospitals, a Level I trauma center and a freestanding emergency department.
Ahead of the holidays, cases in the U.S. are already increasing in most states, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Seasonal influenza activity continues to increase in most areas of the country,” the agency said in a weekly update. “Some indicators are elevated, but severity indicators remain low, and flu season is just starting.”
While the timing of the increased flu activity is similar to previous years, there is something unique about the season: a new variant.
The variant, called subclade K, has increased rapidly in Europe and several countries in East Asia, according to the Pan American Health Organization, or PAHO. The organization issued a call to strengthen surveillance and promote vaccination – particularly among older adults and people with risk factors.
“PAHO also urges countries to ensure timely clinical management of cases and prepare health services for the possibility of early, or more intense, respiratory disease activity,” it said.
Here is what to know about the flu season and new variant:
What’s Going on with Flu Season and How Does It Compare to Previous Ones?
Five jurisdictions are experiencing high or very high levels of influenza-like illness that includes fever plus a cough or sore throat: New York City, New York state, Louisiana, Colorado and New Jersey, the CDC reports.
Nearly 3 million people have caught the flu already this season, according to agency estimates. An estimated 30,000 people have been hospitalized, and 1,200 died from flu so far this season.
Lab-confirmed flu hospitalization rates are higher now than they were at this time last year.
“It’s very difficult to predict a flu season, but right now we’re at the beginning of what we probably are going to see as a pretty severe influenza season driven primarily by this clade K virus,” Andrew Pekosz, a microbiology and immunology professor at Johns Hopkins University, told reporters during a briefing Tuesday.
The CDC recently reported the first death of a child from the flu this season.
Less than 40% of children have gotten a flu shot this year, according to CDC data. That’s lower than this time during the previous six seasons. Last flu season was the deadliest flu season for U.S. children in more than a decade, with 280 fatalities.
What to Know About the Subclade K
The new variant, subclade K, “is part of the natural variation process of seasonal influenza viruses,” according to PAHO.
In positive news, health authorities in the countries seeing the variant’s spread have not reported any increases in the severity of influenza cases.
But more people might be susceptible to infection because the variant “has mutations that are making it less able to be recognized by your body’s immune response,” according to Pekosz.
This year’s flu shot is a mismatch for the variant, as the shot was created before the strain was identified by researchers. But officials still recommend getting the shot since it appears to protect against severe infections.
“Although evidence on vaccine effectiveness for the current season remains limited, preliminary data from Europe indicate that vaccination continues to provide protection comparable to previous years against severe disease, including hospitalization,” PAHO said.
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How to Protect Yourself from the Flu
The CDC “recommends that everyone 6 months and older who has not yet been vaccinated this season get an annual influenza (flu) vaccine.”
Early estimates from the flu season in England found that hospitalizations remained in the expected ranges for children and adults, “suggesting that influenza vaccination remains an effective tool in preventing influenza-related hospitalizations this season,” according to the agency.
When the vaccine is a mismatch with the circulating strains, “vaccine effectiveness may be reduced but influenza vaccination continues to provide benefits, including: 1) protection against severe influenza illness, hospitalization, and death; 2) protection against other circulating influenza viruses represented in the influenza vaccines; and 3) help to reduce the overall community spread of influenza,” the CDC said.
The agency also recommends avoiding close contact with sick people, covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands and avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois residents with terminal illnesses may choose to end their lives on their own terms under a law Gov. JB Pritzker signed Friday.
The Medical Aid in Dying act takes effect in September 2026 to give the Illinois Department of Public Health and other medical participants time to develop “stringent processes and protections” for implementing the provision, according to the Democratic governor’s office.
It is also known as “Deb’s Law,” honoring Deb Robertson, a lifelong resident of the state living with a rare terminal illness who has pushed for the measure’s approval and testified to the suffering of people and their families wanting the chance to decide for themselves how and when their lives should end.
Pritzker said he has been moved by stories of patients suffering from terminal illness and their devotion to “freedom and choice at the end of life in the midst of personal heartbreak.”
“This legislation will be thoughtfully implemented so that physicians can consult patients on making deeply personal decisions with authority, autonomy, and empathy,” Pritzker said after singing the measure in Chicago.
Eleven other states and the District of Columbia offer medical aid in dying, according to the advocacy group, Death With Dignity. Delaware was the latest, and its provision takes effect Jan. 1, 2026. Seven other states are considering allowing it.
In Illinois, patients 18 and older with physician-confirmed mental capacity to make medical decisions may request end-of-life medication if they have an illness that could be fatal within six months, as verified by two doctors; as well as have received information about all end-of-life care options, such as hospice or palliative care. Additionally, both oral and written requests for the medication must come from the patient, not a surrogate or proxy.
Sponsoring Sen. Linda Holmes, a suburban Chicago Democrat, said both her parents died of cancer.
“I’ll never forget the helpless feeling of watching them suffer when there was nothing I could do to help them,” Holmes said. “Every adult patient of sound mind should have this as one more option in their end-of-life care in the event their suffering becomes unbearable.”
The Illinois House approved the measure 63-42 in late May at the end of the legislative spring session. The Senate didn’t take it up until October, when it was approved 30-27. In both chambers, there were prominent Democratic “no” votes.
The Catholic Conference of Illinois, representing the state’s six Catholic dioceses, issued a statement disparaging Pritzker’s action, saying the law puts Illinois “on a dangerous and heartbreaking path.”
“Rather than investing in real end-of-life support such as palliative and hospice care, pain management, and family-centered accompaniment, our state has chosen to normalize killing oneself,” the Catholic bishops said. “This law ignores the very real failures in access to quality care that drive vulnerable people to despair.”
The conference also derided the idea that Illinois has legalized suicide for some while attempting to prevent it in others, particularly teenagers, among whom suicide is the second-leading cause of death. That sentiment was echoed by the nonpartisan advocacy and lobbyist group Patients Rights Action Fund.
“Assisted suicide plunges Illinoisans with disabilities and other vulnerable people into conversations about death, instead of the care and support they deserve from their medical teams,” said Matt Valliere, the group’s president and CEO.
Deb Robertson, the retired social worker from suburban Chicago who gave a name to the law, thanked Pritzker for signing the law providing “the full range of end-of-life options.”
Robertson added, “The end for me could be near, but I’m pleased to have been able to play some role in ensuring that terminally ill Illinois residents have access to medical aid in dying.”
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A new analysis from experts gathered by the World Health Organization found no link between vaccines and autism – countering a recently revised stance by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The conclusion reaffirms WHO’s position that childhood vaccines do not cause autism,” the organization said Thursday in a statement.
The analysis comes after the CDC under President Donald Trump last month changed its long-held stance that vaccines don’t cause autism, now saying on its website that the consensus is “not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.”
It adds that “studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities” and noted that the Department of Health and Human Services has “launched a comprehensive assessment of the causes of autism, including investigations on plausible biologic mechanisms and potential causal links.” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told The New York Times that he personally instructed the CDC to make the website change.
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Public health experts and groups strongly rejected the change, with the American Medical Association saying at the time that it “is deeply concerned that perpetuating misleading claims on vaccines will lead to further confusion, distrust and ultimately dangerous consequences for individuals and public health.”
WHO’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety analysis added to the chorus of objections in reaffirming its previous conclusions from 2002, 2004 and 2012 that vaccines do not cause autism.
“WHO advises all national authorities to rely on the latest science and ensure vaccine policies are grounded in the strongest available evidence,” the organization said.
The CDC did not respond to a request for comment on the analysis.
What Did the WHO Panel Analyze?
The committee of independent, international experts looked at 31 studies published between January 2010 and August 2025 that included data from multiple countries.
It found that the data “strongly supports the positive safety profile of vaccines used during childhood and pregnancy, and confirms the absence of a causal link with (autism spectrum disorders).”
The panel also analyzed the potential health risks associated with vaccines with aluminum adjuvants, which Kennedy has objected to. Some vaccines use small amounts of aluminum adjuvants to boost the body’s immune response.
The experts reviewed studies conducted from 1999 through 2023 as well as a recent study of children born in Denmark that Kennedy has demanded be retracted. They found no association between autism and aluminum adjuvants in vaccines.
What Has the CDC Said About Vaccines and Autism?
The CDC has long said that vaccines do not cause autism. But Kennedy and the Trump administration have shifted that position in recent months.
The splashiest development by far is the change to the CDC page on vaccines and autism. It prompted backlash from GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted for Kennedy’s confirmation after gaining several commitments from him, including one to not remove language on the CDC website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.
But the CDC found a way around that promise by adding an asterisk to the page’s headline: “Vaccines do not cause autism.”
The note at the bottom of the page says that the header “has not been removed due to an agreement with the chair of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that it would remain on the CDC website.”
But Cassidy said that vaccines protecting against childhood diseases are safe and don’t cause autism, and “any statement to the contrary is wrong, irresponsible and actively makes Americans sicker.”
“What parents need to hear right now is vaccines for measles, polio, hepatitis B and other childhood diseases are safe and effective and will not cause autism,” Cassidy said.
By Carlos Gershenson | Professor of Innovation, Binghamton University, State University of New York
In the past decade, AI’s success has led to uncurbed enthusiasm and bold claims – even though users frequently experience errors that AI makes. An AI-powered digital assistant can misunderstand someone’s speech in embarrassing ways, a chatbot could hallucinate facts, or, as I experienced, an AI-based navigation tool might even guide drivers through a corn field – all without registering the errors.
How exactly such prescribing would work if this or similar legislation passes remains to be seen. But it raises the stakes for how many errors AI developers can allow their tools to make and what the consequences would be if those tools led to negative outcomes – even patient deaths.
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For AI in particular, errors might be an inescapable consequence of how the systems work. My lab’s research suggests that particular properties of the data used to train AI models play a role. This is unlikely to change, regardless of how much time, effort and funding researchers direct at improving AI models.
Nobody – And Nothing, Not Even AI – Is Perfect
As Alan Turing, considered the father of computer science, once said: “If a machine is expected to be infallible, it cannot also be intelligent.” This is because learning is an essential part of intelligence, and people usually learn from mistakes. I see this tug-of-war between intelligence and infallibility at play in my research.
In a study published in July 2025, my colleagues and I showed that perfectly organizing certain datasets into clear categories may be impossible. In other words, there may be a minimum amount of errors that a given dataset produces, simply because of the fact that elements of many categories overlap. For some datasets – the core underpinning of many AI systems – AI will not perform better than chance.
For example, a model trained on a dataset of millions of dogs that logs only their age, weight and height will probably distinguish Chihuahuas from Great Danes with perfect accuracy. But it may make mistakes in telling apart an Alaskan malamute and a Doberman pinscher, since different individuals of different species might fall within the same age, weight and height ranges.
This categorizing is called classifiability, and my students and I started studying it in 2021. Using data from more than half a million students who attended the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México between 2008 and 2020, we wanted to solve a seemingly simple problem. Could we use an AI algorithm to predict which students would finish their university degrees on time – that is, within three, four or five years of starting their studies, depending on the major?
We tested several popular algorithms that are used for classification in AI and also developed our own. No algorithm was perfect; the best ones − even one we developed specifically for this task − achieved an accuracy rate of about 80%, meaning that at least 1 in 5 students were misclassified. We realized that many students were identical in terms of grades, age, gender, socioeconomic status and other features – yet some would finish on time, and some would not. Under these circumstances, no algorithm would be able to make perfect predictions.
You might think that more data would improve predictability, but this usually comes with diminishing returns. This means that, for example, for each increase in accuracy of 1%, you might need 100 times the data. Thus, we would never have enough students to significantly improve our model’s performance.
Additionally, many unpredictable turns in lives of students and their families – unemployment, death, pregnancy – might occur after their first year at university, likely affecting whether they finish on time. So even with an infinite number of students, our predictions would still give errors.
The Limits of Prediction
Thus, studying elements of the system in isolation would probably yield misleading insights about them – as well as about the system as a whole.
Take, for example, a car traveling in a city. Knowing the speed at which it drives, it’s theoretically possible to predict where it will end up at a particular time. But in real traffic, its speed will depend on interactions with other vehicles on the road. Since the details of these interactions emerge in the moment and cannot be known in advance, precisely predicting what happens to the the car is possible only a few minutes into the future.
Not With My Health
These same principles apply to prescribing medications. Different conditions and diseases can have the same symptoms, and people with the same condition or disease may exhibit different symptoms. For example, fever can be caused by a respiratory illness or a digestive one. And a cold might cause cough, but not always.
This means that health care datasets have significant overlaps that would prevent AI from being error-free.
Certainly, humans also make errors. But when AI misdiagnoses a patient, as it surely will, the situation falls into a legal limbo. It’s not clear who or what would be responsible if a patient were hurt. Pharmaceutical companies? Software developers? Insurance agencies? Pharmacies?
In many contexts, neither humans nor machines are the best option for a given task. “Centaurs,” or “hybrid intelligence” – that is, a combination of humans and machines – tend to be better than each on their own. A doctor could certainly use AI to decide potential drugs to use for different patients, depending on their medical history, physiological details and genetic makeup. Researchers are already exploring this approach in precision medicine.
But common sense and the precautionary principle suggest that it is too early for AI to prescribe drugs without human oversight. And the fact that mistakes may be baked into the technology could mean that where human health is at stake, human supervision will always be necessary.
NEW YORK (AP) — Pharmaceutical companies have agreed to slash the Medicare prices for 15 prescription drugs after months of negotiations, reductions that are expected to produce billions in savings for taxpayers and older adults, the Trump administration said.
But the net prices it unveiled for a 30-day supply of each drug are not what Medicare recipients will pay at their pharmacy counters, since those final amounts will depend on each individual’s plan and how much they spend on prescriptions in a given year.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. touted the deals as part of the administration’s efforts to address affordability concerns among Americans. The Medicare drug negotiation program that made them possible is mandated by law and began under President Joe Biden’s administration.
“President Trump directed us to stop at nothing to lower health care costs for the American people,” Kennedy said in a statement Tuesday evening. “As we work to Make America Healthy Again, we will use every tool at our disposal to deliver affordable health care to seniors.”
The announcement marks the completion of a second round of negotiations under a 2022 law that allows Medicare to haggle over the price it pays on the most popular and expensive prescription drugs used by older Americans, bringing the total number of negotiated drug prices to 25. The new round of negotiated prices will go into effect in 2027. Reduced prices for the inaugural round of 10 drugs negotiated by the Biden administration last year will go into effect in January.
Price negotiations apply to drugs treating diabetes, asthma, cancers and more
The latest negotiated prices apply to some of the prescription medications on which Medicare spends the most money, including the massively popular GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes drugs Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy. Some of the other drugs involved in the negotiations include Trelegy Ellipta, which treats asthma; Otezla, a psoriatic arthritis drug; and various drugs that treat diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome and different forms of cancer.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator, said the administration delivered “substantially better outcomes for taxpayers and seniors in the Medicare Part D program” than the previous year’s deals.
Under the first round of Medicare price negotiations, the Biden administration said the program would have saved about $6 billion on net covered prescription drug costs, or about 22%, if it had been in effect the previous year. The Trump administration said its latest round would have saved the government about $8.5 billion in net spending, or 36%, if it had been in effect last year.
It’s unclear exactly how much money the newly announced deals could save Medicare beneficiaries when they are buying prescription drugs at the pharmacy because those costs are determined by various individual factors.
A new rule that kicked off this year also caps out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries at $2,000, giving some relief to older adults affected by high-cost prescriptions. The administration said estimated out-of-pocket savings for Medicare beneficiaries with drug plans is about $685 million.
Spencer Perlman, director of health care research at Veda Partners, said the Trump administration’s improved outcomes probably resulted from the mix of drugs being negotiated and lessons learned from the first year of negotiations.
Net drug prices are proprietary, he said, but “if we take the administration at their word, I think it demonstrates that they have secured meaningful price concessions for seniors, meaning the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program is working as intended.”
Medicare recipients can’t get GLP-1 drugs for obesity, but the administration is making changes
The GLP-1 weight-loss drugs that were part of the negotiations have been especially scrutinized for their high out-of-pocket costs. Yet it’s still unclear to what extent Medicare beneficiaries who want to use the drugs to treat obesity will be able to do so.
Medicare has long been prohibited from paying for weight-loss treatments, but a separate deal recently announced between the Trump administration and two pharmaceutical companies included plans for a pilot program that will expand coverage for the drugs to additional high-risk obese and overweight people.
The Trump administration this year has also negotiated several unrelated deals with drug companies to lower the cost of their products for the wider population.
Pharmaceutical companies, meanwhile, have sued over the Medicare drug negotiations enabled by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and remain opposed to them.
“Whether it is the IRA or MFN, government price setting for medicines is the wrong policy for America,” Alex Schriver, senior vice president of public affairs at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, said in a statement. “These flawed policies also threaten future medical innovation by siphoning $300 billion from biopharmaceutical research, undermining the American economy and our ability to compete globally.”
Next year, Medicare will negotiate prices for another round of 15 drugs, including physician-administered drugs for the first time.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2025 (HealthDay News) — For many young adults, social media is where life happens: Friendships, news, stress, all rolled into a single screen.
But a new study suggests that stepping away, even for just one week, may help ease anxiety, depression and sleep problems.
Researchers tracked 295 young adults ages 18 to 24 who agreed to limit their social media use for seven days. Each participant was paid $150 to be in the study.
For the study, these young adults shrunk their average screen time from just under two hours a day on social platforms down to about 30 minutes a day.
After the week ended, participants completed mental health surveys. On average, the researchers found:
Anxiety symptoms dropped by 16.1%
Depression symptoms dropped by 24.8%
Insomnia symptoms dropped by 14.5%
The study, published Nov. 24 in JAMA Network Open, showed the biggest improvement in people who already had more serious depression symptoms.
However, participants did not report changes in loneliness.
Study co-author Dr. John Torous, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston, told The New York Times that cutting back on social media shouldn’t “be your first-line or your only form of care.”
“If you’re struggling with a mental health condition, and you have treatment already,” he added, “it’s likely worth experimenting to see whether reducing social media helps you feel better.”
He warned that the results aren’t a guarantee for everyone. Some participants felt much better, while others noticed little change.
“The averages are encouraging,” he said, “but they definitely don’t tell the full story, the variance was just so tremendous.”
One reason is that the study was not a randomized trial. Instead, people volunteered to take part, which means they may have expected improvements before the trial.
“The subjects would have known how they were expected to behave, and likely simply changed their responses accordingly,” Christopher Ferguson, a psychology professor at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida who was not involved in the research, told The Times.
Other experts, however, say the findings still add something useful to the ongoing conversation about social media and mental health.
Mitch Prinstein, chief science officer of the American Psychological Association, called social media breaks “a simple and free solution that seems to lead to quick improvement.”
“This is a solution that will empower most parents and young people themselves,” he said in a report published by The Times. “Use far less social media, and there is a reasonable chance that young people will start to feel a lot better.”
But experts in the field stress that results have been mixed in previous studies. Some research has found only small or no benefits from “digital detoxes,” and it’s uncertain whether the effects last long term.
By Ernie Mundell HealthDay ReporterTUESDAY, Nov. 25, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Women who stop taking a GLP-1 weight loss/diabetes medication just prior to a pregnancy appear to be at higher odds for excess weight gain and complications while pregnant, new research shows.
As the study authors pointed out, potential risks to the fetus of using a GLP-1 while pregnant remain unclear, so current recommendations advise discontinuing the drugs prior to or during a pregnancy.
However, doing so may bring about its own hazards, concluded a team from Mass General Brigham in Boston.
“Additional studies are needed on the balance of pre-pregnancy benefits of GLP-1s with the risks associated with interrupting them for pregnancy,” said study senior author Dr. Camille Powe. She’s a Mass General Brigham endocrinologist and co-director of the Diabetes in Pregnancy Program at Massachusetts General Hospital.
According to study lead author and pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Jacqueline Maya, the use of GLP-1s by women “has increased dramatically.”
Speaking in a hospital news release, she said the study focused on how GLP-1 “discontinuation affects weight gain and outcomes during pregnancy.”
To do so, the researchers tracked the medical records of almost 1,800 pregnancies cared for by the Mass General Brigham healthcare system between 2016 and 2025.
Most of these pregnancies occurred among women with obesity.
Outcomes for women who had received a GLP-1 prescription “within three years before and up to 90 days after conception” were compared to women who had not gotten a GLP-1 prescription during that time.
Differences in outcomes were significant.
Women who’d stopped the drugs prior to a pregnancy had an average weight gain during their pregnancy that was 7.2 pounds higher than women who hadn’t used a GLP-1, the researchers said.
The GLP-1 group also had a 32% higher odds that the amount of weight they gained while pregnant was unhealthy.
As for complications, women who’d discontinued a GLP-1 prior to pregnancy had a 30% higher risk of developing diabetes while pregnant, a 29% higher risk of blood pressure issues during pregnancy, and a 34% higher risk for preterm delivery, the study found.
The team saw no differences when it came to risks for high or low birth weight or Cesarean delivery.
Because the study was retrospective in nature, it couldn’t prove that GLP-1 discontinuation caused any excess in pregnancy risks, only find associations.
Still, Powe said the findings might put women with obesity in a quandary when debating whether to use a GLP-1 prior to a pregnancy.
“We need to do more research to find ways to help manage weight gain and reduce risks during pregnancy when stopping GLP-1 medications,” she said.
Find out more about how GLP-1 medications work at the Mayo Clinic.
SOURCE: Mass General Brigham, news release, Nov. 24, 2025
It’s the start of Thanksgiving week, the time when home cooks across America suddenly recognize the daunting task ahead.
More than 90% of people in the U.S. celebrate the food-centric holiday and more than 1 in 4 attend meals that include more than 10 other people, according to the Pew Research Center.
Under that kind of pressure, what host wouldn’t want the best tools to make sure the holiday dinner goes off without a hitch?
With that in mind, we asked national food safety experts which kitchen devices and aids are essential to ensure a safe and tasty Thanksgiving meal.
Here are their top four suggestions for aids that can make or break your holiday dinner, plus two bonus tips for after the meal:
Our panel of experts unanimously agreed that an instant-read digital thermometer is vital to making sure roast turkey and other dishes reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) to eliminate the risk of food poisoning from germs like salmonella and Campylobacter.
“This is non-negotiable,” said Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern University food safety expert. “A reliable thermometer ensures you’re not guessing, because guessing is not a food safety strategy.”
Color-coded cutting boards
In the hustle of a holiday kitchen, the risk of cross-contamination is real. That’s when germs from one food, such as raw turkey, may be spread to other foods, such as fresh vegetables or fruits.
It’s best to use dedicated cutting boards for each type of food, and color-coding — red for meat, yellow for poultry, green for veggies — can help, said Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University.
“I try not to use wooden cutting boards,” said Kowalcyk, noting that they can retain bacteria that thrive and grow to large enough quantities to cause illness.
As an emergency medicine doctor who has stitched up many Thanksgiving injuries, Dr. Tony Cirillo urges home cooks to make sure their kitchen knives are sharp.
A sharp knife cuts cleanly, while a dull knife requires more pressure that can cause dangerous slips, said Cirillo, a spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Pulling a hot turkey out of the oven is tricky, especially if the pan you cook it in is flimsy, Cirillo added. Use a sturdy metal roasting pan or, in a pinch, stack two foil roasting pans together for strength.
“I’m a big fan of double-panning,” Cirillo said. “Dropping the turkey is generally not good on Thanksgiving.”
Just as important as getting food to the table is making sure it doesn’t sit out too long, said Don Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University.
Use a cooking timer or clock alarm to make sure to pack away leftovers within two hours to prevent bacterial growth that can cause illness.
And when you’re storing those leftovers, make sure to put them in shallow containers, Schaffner said.
Measure using a ruler — or even the short side of a credit card — to make sure that dense foods like stuffing and sweet potatoes reach a depth of no more than 2 inches (5 centimeters) to allow for quick and complete cooling in the refrigerator.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
SAO PAULO (AP) — Simone Guimarães, a retired 52-year-old teacher in Rio de Janeiro, lost at least five relatives to COVID-19: her husband, sister, two brothers-in-law and the godfather of her grandchild. She also lost friends and neighbors.
“It’s a small beginning of justice starting to be served,” she said. “Impunity has to end at some point. And in his case, we endured a lot.”
Social media filled with posts Saturday remembering people lost to COVID-19, which also happened in September when the Supreme Court convicted Bolsonaro, even though the legal case had nothing to do with the former president’s pandemic response.
Guimarães followed every vote in Bolsonaro’s trial. She was at a hospital with her sister in 2021 when Bolsonaro, who was president at the time, mimicked patients gasping for air.
“I had my forehead against my sister’s. She said, ‘I can’t breathe,’” Guimarães recalled. Her sister later died. “I can’t even bring myself to say his name.”
She now feels indirectly vindicated, like many other Brazilians who lost relatives to the disease. They say Bolsonaro’s conviction and imprisonment cleansed their souls without delivering justice for their grief.
“I’m very afraid that this conviction for crimes related to the coup will lessen the convictions for other crimes committed during the pandemic,” said Diego Orsi, a 41-year-old translator in Sao Paulo, the nation’s largest city. “I feel a bit like the Nuremberg trials had convicted the Nazis for invading Poland, and not for genocide.”
Growing up and then apart
Orsi grew up alongside his cousin, Henrique Cavalari. They were like brothers. In old family photos, the two appear together blowing out birthday candles.
As teenagers, Cavalari introduced Orsi to rock bands. Politically, however, they drifted apart. Orsi considers himself progressive while Cavalari backed Bolsonaro.
“My uncle always leaned right, and my cousin grew up with that mindset,” Orsi said. “During the pandemic, he became convinced there was nothing to worry about, that social distancing restricted freedom and the priority should be protecting the economy.”
Cavalari ran a motorcycle repair shop and was a staunch Bolsonaro supporter. He couldn’t afford to close his shop and the far-right leader’s rhetoric resonated with the mechanics, who attended his rallies even during the deadliest months of the pandemic.
Orsi wasn’t 100% sure if Cavalari was at the motorcycle rally, but said his cousin attended previous similar events.
“He was newly married, paying rent on his business. He needed the money,” Orsi said, recalling he couldn’t visit Cavalari in the hospital intensive care unit because only immediate family was allowed. “But I was told one of the last things he said was to warn his parents to take care, that the disease was serious.”
Orsi’s family remains divided, much like the rest of Brazil, and he believes Bolsonaro’s conviction will not change public opinion or reconcile other families.
Feeling grief and vindication
Bolsonaro denied wrongdoing during his trial. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected an appeal from his legal team, though another may come this week. Before his arrest Saturday, he had been under house arrest since August.
“I would have preferred that he was arrested for allowing 700,000 Brazilians to die, many deaths that could have been avoided, perhaps by speeding up the vaccine rollout,” Orsi told The Associated Press. “But since he is being tried and convicted for other crimes, it cleanses our soul. It gives us a sense that justice has been served.”
There have been more than 700,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Brazil since 2020, the world’s second-highest toll after the United States.
In 2021, epidemiologists at the Federal University of Pelotas estimated 4 in 5 of those deaths could have been avoided if the Bolsonaro administration had supported containment measures and accelerated vaccine purchases.
Bolsonaro’s government ignored repeated pleas to sign additional vaccine contracts. He publicly questioned the reliability of shots and mocked contract terms, once suggesting Pfizer recipients would have no legal recourse if they “turned into alligators.” Brazil faced vaccine shortages and doses were released in phases by age and health risk.
Cavalari died just weeks before he would have been eligible for his first dose, Orsi said.
The same happened to the father of Fábio de Maria, a 45-year-old teacher in Sao Paulo.
“When he was admitted to the hospital, he was about 15 days away from being eligible for his first shot,” de Maria said. “That delay was fatal for him and many others.”
His father died in May 2021 at age 65. De Maria blames Bolsonaro and other officials he believes were complicit, but he said the former president’s conviction doesn’t bring justice.
“Many people feel vindicated, and I don’t blame them. Bolsonaro provoked a lot of anger in many people, including me,” he said. “But I don’t believe there has been justice for those who died of COVID-19, because that is not why Bolsonaro was convicted.”
Reaching a political turning point
The pandemic marked a change in course for Bolsonaro’s popularity. During the 2022 campaign, which he lost to Lula, television ads replayed footage of Bolsonaro mocking patients struggling to breathe, which is a common COVID-19 symptom, and highlighted comments widely seen as dismissive of victims and their families.
“Bolsonaro lost because of his denialist stance during the pandemic. The margin was very narrow,” said Eduardo Scolese, politics editor at the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper during Bolsonaro’s term and author of “1461 Dias na Trincheira” (”1461 Days in the Trenches”).
The federal government was expected to coordinate Brazil’s early response, Scolese said, but Bolsonaro consistently downplayed the crisis.
“No one knew how long it would last. Experts called for distancing, while he joined crowds,” Scolese said.
As the Brazilian leader resisted public health measures, state and local governments imposed their own. The dispute reached the Supreme Court, which ruled states and municipalities could enact distancing, quarantines and other sanitary rules.
“That’s when Bolsonaro lost control. He began to believe everyone was against him, especially the Supreme Court,” Scolese said.
The case sat dormant until September, when Supreme Court Justice Flávio Dino ordered police to expand the investigation. The case remains underway and sealed.
Eléonore Hughes reported from Rio de Janeiro.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterFRIDAY, Nov. 21, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Grieving families of Black murder victims are more likely to be denied their claims for victim compensation, a new study reports.
These families are more likely to file for victim compensation following their loss, but face disproportionately high denial rates, researchers recently reported in the journal Race and Justice.
“Victim compensation was designed to help grieving families, but current practices reinforce racial inequities instead of alleviating them,” lead researcher Daniel Semenza, director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center and associate professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health, said in a news release.
In the United States, the federal government compensates victims to help them recover from violent crime, and every state now runs its own victim compensation program, researchers said in background notes.
These programs typically reimburse crime victims directly for medical costs, mental health care, relocation assistance, lost wages, crime scene cleanup and funeral costs, researchers said.
For the new study, researchers examined nearly 60,000 compensation claims filed by the families of murder victims across 18 states from 2015 to 2023.
Families of Black murder victims filed the most claims, amounting to nearly 23,000 during the study period. By comparison, Hispanic families filed more than 14,000 claims, and white families more than 9,500.
This makes sense, given that Black Americans represent just under 14% of the U.S. population but account for 54% of all murder victims, researchers noted.
However, Black families were more likely to have their claims rejected, results show.
The approval rate for claims from Black families was just under 82%, compared to 87% for white families and 89% for Hispanic families.
“Families of Black homicide victims file the most victim compensation claims, but their claims are disproportionately denied,” Semenza said.
Researchers found that “contributory misconduct” — the victim’s involvement in a criminal act — was the cited reason for 30% of all denials, but represented more than 57% of denials for claims from Black families.
“This overrepresentation suggests that law enforcement’s assessment of victim behavior may disproportionately penalize Black victims and families, reinforcing racialized narratives of criminality and implicit victim blaming,” researchers wrote.
In essence, Black families are denied support following their loved one’s murder, despite the family having nothing to do with criminal activity, researchers said.
“This process pathologizes and punishes Black families, by suggesting that the victim’s alleged misconduct renders their family undeserving of support,” researchers concluded.
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, Nov. 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The United States has received another barely passing pregnancy health grade from the March of Dimes after another year in which 1 out of 10 babies were born prematurely.
It’s the fourth consecutive year the nation has received a historically low D+ grade, the March of Dimes said in its 2025 Report Card.
The national preterm rate remains at 10.4%, which means that nearly 380,000 babies were born prematurely in 2024.
That rate is among the highest of all developed nations, the March of Dimes said.
“As a clinician who has seen how much is possible when we get it right, these data are deeply frustrating,” Dr. Michael Warren, the March of Dimes chief medical and health officer, said in a news release.
“We have known about risk factors for preterm birth, including prior history or preterm birth, chronic disease, and unequal access to care, for years,” Warren said.
In the report card, the March of Dimes noted that:
Racial disparities are worsening, with preterm birth rates among Black moms nearly 50% higher than the overall rate.
Disparities also exist among women covered by Medicaid, who have a preterm rate of nearly 12% compared to under 10% for women with private insurance.
Fewer than 25% of pregnant women did not begin prenatal care in the first trimester — the fourth straight year of decline.
Conditions that contribute to premature births continue to increase among pregnant women, including high blood pressure by 6% and diabetes by 8%.
Infant mortality remained stable at 5.6 deaths per 100,000 live births, with more than 20,000 babies dying before their first birthday in 2023.
“This year’s report card shows that while we remain stalled in our progress on preterm birth, we are also losing ground in other critical areas of maternal and infant health,” Cindy Rahman, president & CEO of the March of Dimes, said in a news release.
Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Pacific Islander moms die at two to three times the rate of White moms during and after pregnancy, the report card said.
“Our country is stuck in a maternal and infant health crisis where too many families are being forgotten,” Rahman said. “We must confront the systemic inequities that leave families of color and those covered by Medicaid at higher risk, improve access to early prenatal care, and tackle the growing burden of chronic disease — because every mom and baby deserves the chance for a healthy start.”
The 2025 March of Dimes Report Card can be read here.
SOURCES: March of Dimes, news release, Nov. 17, 2025; March of Dimes Report Card, 2025
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — Ethiopia on Monday confirmed three deaths from the Marburg hemorrhagic virus that has been detected in an area neighboring South Sudan.
Health Minister Mekdes Daba said Ethiopia’s government, which declared a Marburg outbreak on Friday, had conducted tests in 17 suspected cases in the country’s south. The outbreak was reported in the Omo region.
The minister said there were no active cases but the government was taking preventive measures. A team from the World Health Organization and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been dispatched to support with testing and outbreak control.
South Sudan’s health ministry on Sunday issued a public health advisory to residents of four counties to wash their hands frequently and avoid contact with bodily fluids to prevent the spread of the virus. Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya last week called the outbreak a concern because South Sudan has a “fragile health system.”
Like Ebola, the Marburg virus originates in fruit bats and spreads between people through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or with contaminated surfaces, such as soiled bedsheets. Without treatment, Marburg can be fatal in up to 88% of people who fall ill.
Symptoms include fever, muscle pains, diarrhea, vomiting and, in some cases, death from severe blood loss. There is no authorized vaccine or treatment for Marburg.
Marburg outbreaks and individual cases have in the past been recorded in Rwanda, Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Ghana, according to WHO.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A 47-year-old New Jersey man is the first known person to die from an allergy to red meat caused by alpha-gal syndrome, a disease transmitted by various ticks.
A study published Wednesday in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology documented the man’s death and the increasing population of lone star ticks in the Northeast. The species is the most common carrier of alpha-gal syndrome, though deer ticks — the carriers of Lyme disease — also can carry it.
These developments warrant a “major need” for public education about alpha-gal syndrome, including its cause and symptoms, researchers wrote.
Here’s what to know about lone star ticks and alpha-gal syndrome, including how the allergy is treated and prevented.
What is alpha-gal syndrome?
Alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS, also is known as the red meat allergy or the tick bite meat allergy. It is caused by alpha gal, a sugar molecule found in the tissues of most mammals. The molecule is not naturally found in humans, but it can be passed to them through the tick’s saliva.
When a tick carrying this sugar molecule bites a person, it may be transferred into the bloodstream. This triggers an immune response, because the immune system recognizes it as a foreign substance and perceives it as a threat. When the person then consumes red meat or animal products containing the sugar molecules, the immune system may go into overdrive two or more hours afterward.
Symptoms of this allergic reaction may include hives, swelling, abdominal pain and nausea. Some people may go into anaphylactic shock.
The allergy’s severity can increase with additional tick bites or exposure to foods with the sugar molecule. Not everyone who is bitten by a lone star tick will develop AGS or have consistent reactions.
How did the New Jersey man die?
The man, whose name and hometown were not disclosed in the study, became ill after a family camping trip last summer. After eating a dinner of beef steak, he awoke in the middle of the night and experienced severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting.
The pain was so severe that the man told his son he thought he would die from it, but his condition gradually improved. Two weeks later, he ate a hamburger at a barbecue with his wife. Hours afterward, the man’s son found him unconscious on the bathroom floor and surrounded by vomit. He was pronounced dead that night, with the autopsy ruling the cause as a “sudden unexplained death.”
But the man’s wife pressed for answers, and a postmortem blood sample showed more than 2,000 nanograms per milliliter of tryptase, an enzyme that is released during an allergic reaction. She informed a medical team that her husband had had 12 or 13 chigger bites, which researchers said likely were the larvae of lone star ticks.
The man’s death is the first documented anaphylactic death tied to AGS in which symptoms started several hours after meat was consumed.
How common is AGS?
There were 110,000 suspected cases of alpha-gal syndrome identified in the United States between 2010 and 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2023. But as many as 450,000 people may have been impacted by AGS.
That’s because many people may not seek testing due to the ambiguity of the syndrome’s symptoms, and many medical professionals are unfamiliar with AGS or do not know how to diagnose it, the CDC found.
Some people may have AGS without realizing it, the Mayo Clinic says.
How is AGS diagnosed and treated?
To be diagnosed with AGS, people must undergo a physical examination and discuss their symptoms and medical history with a medical provider. A blood test may be ordered to confirm the presence of alpha-gal antibodies in the blood, but the Mayo Clinic notes that it’s possible to have the antibodies without developing AGS.
The only way to treat alpha-gal syndrome is to avoid eating red meat and other animal products that may trigger reactions, the Mayo Clinic says. Somestudieshave indicated that AGS reactions wane as people avoid additional tick bites and make dietary changes.
Allergy medications may help calm mild allergic reactions, the Mayo Clinic says. An anaphylactic response may require epinephrine and treatment in an emergency department.
Ticks typically thrive in grassy, wooded areas and often on animals. When outdoors, avoid densely wooded areas, and walk in the center of trails. Treating clothes and boots with permethrin also can help.
Conduct tick checks after being outdoors. Look for them on your body, clothes and pets. Showering shortly after coming inside can wash off unattached ticks.
At home, treat outdoor areas with pesticides and remove leaf litter. Clear away tall grasses and brush, and mow the yard frequently.
What are lone star ticks?
Lone star ticks are native to the southeast, but they have been spreading north and west over the last two decades. They were first observed in Pennsylvania in 2017, and now are widely distributed across the Northeast, South and Midwest.
The increased prevalence of ticks, including deer ticks, has been partially attributed to rising deer populations, which are common hosts for ticks. Ticks are commonly found in forests but also live in yards and urban parks.
Lone star ticks are larger and have longer limbs than deer ticks, also known as black-legged ticks. They are comparable in size to dog ticks, but have shorter limbs. Female lone star ticks have a white spot on their backs, which gives the species its name. But both male and females can transmit alpha-gal syndrome.
Stephen and Yurany Dexter, of Flagstaff, Arizona, said their 4-month-old daughter, Rose, had to be flown by air ambulance to a children’s hospital two hours from home and treated for several weeks this summer.
Michael and Hanna Everett, of Richmond, Kentucky, said their daughter, Piper, also 4 months, was rushed to a hospital Nov. 8 with worsening symptoms of the rare and potentially deadly disease.
The lawsuits, filed in federal courts in two states, allege that the ByHeart formula the babies consumed was defective and that the company was negligent in selling it. They seek financial payment for medical bills, emotional distress and other harm.
Both families said they bought the organic formula to provide what they viewed as a natural, healthier alternative to traditional baby formulas, and that they were shocked and angered by the suffering their children endured.
“I wouldn’t guess that a product designed for a helpless, developing human in the United States could cause something this severe,” said Stephen Dexter, 44.
“She’s so little and you’re just helplessly watching this,” said Hanna Everett, 28. “It was awful.”
Rose Dexter and Piper Everett are among at least 15 infants in a dozen states who have been sickened in the outbreak that began in August, according to federal and state health officials. No deaths have been reported.
Both received the sole treatment available for botulism in children less than a year old: an IV medication called BabyBIG, made from the blood plasma of people immunized against the neurotoxins that cause the illness.
Investigations into more potential botulism cases are pending after ByHeart, the New York-based formula manufacturer, recalled all of its formula nationwide on Tuesday. At least 84 U.S. babies have been treated for infantile botulism since August, including those in the outbreak, California officials said.
The company sells about 200,000 cans of formula per month. It can take up to 30 days for signs of infantile botulism infection to appear, medical experts said.
California officials confirmed that a sample from an open can of ByHeart formula fed to an infant who fell ill contained the type of bacteria that can lead to illness.
The lawsuits filed Wednesday could be the first of many legal actions against ByHeart, said Bill Marler, a Seattle food safety lawyer who represents Dexter.
“This company potentially faces an existential crisis,” he said.
ByHeart officials didn’t respond to questions about the new lawsuits but said they would “address any legal claims in due course.”
“We remain focused on ensuring that families using ByHeart products are aware of the recall and have factual information about steps they should take,” the company said in a statement.
Parents fretted as babies grew sicker
In Rose Dexter’s case, she received ByHeart formula within days of her birth in July after breast milk was insufficient, her father said. Stephen Dexter said he went to Whole Foods to find a “natural option.”
“I’m a little concerned with things that are in food that may cause problems,” he said. “We do our best to buy something that says it’s organic.”
But Rose, who was healthy at birth, didn’t thrive on the formula. She had trouble feeding and was fussy and fretful as she got sicker. On Aug. 31, when she was 8 weeks old, her parents couldn’t wake her.
Rose was flown by air ambulance to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she stayed for nearly two weeks.
Hanna Everett said she used ByHeart to supplement breastfeeding starting when Piper was 6 weeks old.
“It’s supposed to be similar to breast milk,” she said.
Last weekend, Piper started showing signs of illness. Everett said she became more worried when a friend told her ByHeart had recalled two lots of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. When a family member checked the empty cans, they matched the recalled lots.
“I was like, ’Oh my god, we need to go to the ER,” Everett recalled.
At Kentucky Children’s Hospital, Piper’s condition worsened rapidly. Her pupils stopped dilating correctly and she lost her gag reflex. Her head and arms became limp and floppy.
Doctors immediately ordered doses of the BabyBIG medication, which had to be shipped from California, Everett said. In the meantime, Piper had to have a feeding tube and IV lines inserted.
In both cases, the babies improved after receiving treatment. Rose went home in September and she no longer requires a feeding tube. Piper went home this week.
They appear to be doing well on different formulas, the families said.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Federal and state health officials are investigating 13 cases in 10 states of infant botulism linked to baby formula that was being recalled, authorities said Saturday.
ByHeart Inc. agreed to begin recalling two lots of the company’s Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, the Food and Drug Administration said in a statement.
All 13 infants were hospitalized after consuming formula from two lots: 206VABP/251261P2 and 206VABP/251131P2.
The cases occurred in Arizona, California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington.
No deaths were reported. The FDA said it was investigating how the contamination happened and whether it affected any other products.
Available online and through major retailers, the product accounted for an estimated 1% of national formula sales, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
People who bought the recalled formula should record the lot number if possible before throwing it out or returning it to where it was purchased, the CDC said in a statement.
They should use a dishwasher or hot, soapy water to clean items and surfaces that touched the formula. And they should seek medical care right away if an infant has consumed recalled formula and then had poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing or decreased facial expression.
Infant botulism is caused by a bacterium that produces toxins in the large intestine.
Symptoms can take weeks to develop, so parents should keep vigilant, the CDC said.
A ByHeart spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer signed a deal to purchase development-stage obesity drugmaker Metsera Inc., winning a bidding war against Novo Nordisk, the Danish drugmaker behind weight-loss treatments Ozempic and Wegovy.
Metsera, based in New York, has no products on the market, but it is developing oral and injectable treatments. That includes some potential treatments that could target lucrative fields for obesity and diabetes.
The deal comes as Phizer is attempting to develop its own stake in that market, several months after ending development of a potential pill treatment for obesity.
In a statement issued Friday, Metsera said Pfizer will acquire the company for up to $86.25 per share, consisting of $65.60 per share in cash and a contingent value right entitling holders to additional payments of up to $20.65 per share in cash.
Metsera cited U.S. antitrust risks in Novo’s bid, saying in its statement that the board has determined Pfizer’s revised terms represent “the best transaction for shareholders, both from the perspective of value and certainty of closing.”
Pfizer had also altered the offer it made in September of nearly $4.9 billion to provide more cash up front, Metsera had said.
New York-based Pfizer said in an email that it was happy with the terms of the deal, and expects to close the transaction shortly following the Metsera shareholder meeting on Nov. 13.
Novo’s proposed deal had involved paying $62.20 in cash for each Metsera share, up from its previous bid of $56.50. The Danish drugmaker planned to tack on a contingent value right payment of $24, another improvement from its previous bid, if certain development and regulatory milestones were met.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, Nov. 6, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The COVID vaccine is safer for kids’ heart health than if they become infected with the coronavirus, a new study has found.
Children who get COVID have an increased risk of rare heart complications including blood clots, heart inflammation and low platelet counts that lasts up to a year after their infection, researchers report in the December issue of the journal, The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health.
By comparison, COVID vaccination caused only a short-term higher risk in heart inflammation that lasted about a month, researchers said.
“Although these conditions were rare, children and young people were more likely to experience heart, vascular or inflammatory problems after a COVID-19 infection than after having the vaccine — and the risks after infection lasted much longer,” lead researcher Alexia Sampri said in a news release. She’s a senior health data scientist with the University of Cambridge in the U.K.
This is an early look that compares the longer-term risks of COVID vaccination with the risks posed by COVID infection, researchers said.
Prior research has shown that vaccination can cause rare cases of myocarditis among young people, but that risk hadn’t been held up against the heart health risks that come with infection, researchers said.
For the study, researchers analyzed health records for nearly 14 million children younger than 18 in England between 2020 and 2022, during the height of the COVID pandemic.
During that period, 3.9 million children and teens had a first COVID diagnosis, and 3.4 million were vaccinated against COVID using mainly the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, researchers said.
The team looked at a short list of specific rare complications that might occur following either COVID infection or vaccination:
Arterial and venous thrombosis (clots in blood vessels)
Thrombocytopenia (low levels of platelets in the blood)
Myocarditis or pericarditis (inflammation of the heart and its surrounding tissue, respectively)
Systemic inflammatory conditions
After being infected with COVID, kids’ risks for these conditions rose within the first month of infection, researchers found. They were:
2.3 times higher for artery clots and nearly 5 times higher for vein clots
3.6 times higher for low levels of platelets
3.5 times higher for myocarditis or pericarditis
Nearly 15 times higher for inflammatory conditions
Infected children’s risk remained higher for up to 12 months later for vein blood clots (39%), low platelet levels (42%), and myocarditis or pericarditis (42%).
On the other hand, the COVID vaccine increased only the risk of myocarditis or pericarditis by 84%, the study found. That elevated risk lasted for a month following vaccination, then returned to normal levels.
“Using electronic health records from all children and young people in England, we were able to study very rare but serious heart and clotting complications, and found higher and longer-lasting risks after COVID-19 infection than after vaccination,” said senior researcher Angela Wood, associate director of the British Heart Foundation Data Science Center.
“Whilst vaccine-related risks are likely to remain rare and short-lived, future risks following infection could change as new variants emerge and immunity shifts,” she added in a news release.
Overall, COVID infection led to 2.2 extra cases of myocarditis or pericarditis per 100,000 children, while COVID vaccination caused only 0.9 extra cases per 100,000, researchers said.
“Parents and carers have faced difficult choices throughout the pandemic,” researcher Pia Hardelid, a professor at University College London, said in a news release. “By building a stronger evidence base on both infection and vaccination outcomes, we hope to support families and health care professionals to make decisions grounded in the best available data.”
SOURCE: Health Data Research UK, news release, Nov. 4, 2025
The perfect evening ritual: tea, chocolate, and mindful knitting
