2025 Healthy Eating for a Better Life

• What was studied: Whether kids who eat certain sweeteners (like aspartame, sucralose, glycyrrhizin, and added sugar) may face a higher risk of early puberty — especially when they carry genes that predispose them.

• How they looked at it: Data from 1,407 Taiwanese teens, using urine tests and surveys to measure sweetener intake, and a 19‑gene polygenic risk score for genetic predisposition.

• What they found: Children who consumed more of these sweeteners were more likely to develop central precocious puberty, with stronger associations in genetically susceptible boys and girls.

A new study presented at ENDO 2025, a global conference on endocrinology research,  discovered that many common sweeteners may be linked to earlier puberty in children. 

The risk rises if the child also carries certain genetic traits known to influence the timing of puberty. According to the findings, the higher the sweetener intake, the higher the observed risk of early puberty.  

“This study is one of the first to connect modern dietary habits — specifically sweetener intake — with both genetic factors and early puberty development in a large, real-world cohort,” researcher Yang-Ching Chen, M.D., Ph.D., said in a news release. 

“It also highlights gender differences in how sweeteners affect boys and girls, adding an important layer to our understanding of individualized health risks.” 

The study

The researchers analyzed data from the Taiwan Pubertal Longitudinal Study (TPLS), which began in 2018 and included 1,407 teen participants. Here’s how they researched it:

• Sweetener intake was tracked via validated survey questionnaires and urine biomarkers, allowing an objective estimate of actual consumption. This study looked specifically at sucralose, aspartame, glycyrrhizin, and added traditional sugar.

• Genetic predisposition was quantified using a polygenic risk score derived from 19 genes related to central precocious puberty. Central precocious puberty can lead to emotional distress, shorter adult height, and increased risk of future metabolic and reproductive disorders.

• Early puberty diagnosis involved medical exams, hormone level tests, and imaging scans that confirmed central precocious puberty in 481 adolescents.
  

Information on gender-specific effects was also gathered, revealing distinct patterns in how boys and girls were affected by different sweeteners. 

The results

Here’s a breakdown of what the study uncovered:

• Dose‑dependent risk: The study found that higher intake of any sweetener – not just one type – was associated with an increased likelihood of early puberty among boys and girls in the study.

• Gender‑specific associations:

  • Among boys, sucralose showed the clearest risk link for early puberty.

  • Among girls, glycyrrhizin, sucralose, and added sugars were associated with a higher risk of early puberty.

• Independent contributions: Both sweetener consumption and genetic predisposition increased the kids’ risk of early puberty — though they appeared to act independently, without interacting to amplify each other.
  

“This suggests that what children eat and drink, especially products with sweeteners, may have a surprising and powerful impact on their development,” Dr. Chen said.

“The findings are directly relevant to families, pediatricians, and public health authorities. They suggest that screening for genetic risk and moderating sweetener intake could help prevent early puberty and its long-term health consequences. This could lead to new dietary guidelines or risk assessment tools for children, supporting healthier development.”

• Rising obesity in more developed countries tracks closely with higher caloric intake — not a drop in physical activity.

• A study of over 4,200 adults across 34 global populations measured energy use and body fat using gold‑standard methods.

• After adjusting for size and lifestyle, diet (especially ultraprocessed food) explains most excess body fat — not differences in total energy expenditure.
  

When you hear obesity described as a consequence of inactivity, it might seem obvious: people eat too much and move too little. 

However, a groundbreaking new study from Duke University flips that mindset. 

The research found that as countries develop, people tend to eat more — but they don’t necessarily burn fewer calories. In fact, daily energy expenditure stays similar or even increases. 

That means that the real culprit behind rising obesity is diet — not lounging on the couch.

“Despite decades of trying to understand the root causes of the obesity crisis in economically developed countries, public health guidance remains stuck with uncertainty as to the relative importance of diet and physical activity,” researcher Herman Pontzer said in a news release. 

“This large, international, collaborative effort allows us to test these competing ideas. It’s clear that changes in diet, not reduced activity, are the main cause of obesity in the U.S. and other developed countries.”

The study

This global analysis involved more than 4,200 healthy adults aged 18–60, from 34 populations spanning six continents, covering hunter‑gatherers, pastoralists, farmers, and urban industrial dwellers.

Researchers measured total energy expenditure (TEE) using doubly labeled water, a gold‑standard method that directly captures how many calories your body burns, including resting and activity metabolism.

They also measured body fat percentage and BMI, and tied economic development to United Nations’ Human Development Index (HDI), which reflects education, longevity, and income levels. All data were carefully adjusted for differences in body size and composition to make fair comparisons across diverse groups.

The results

The study found that total and basal energy expenditure declined only modestly — as little as 6–11% — with economic development, and those differences explained just about 10% of the rise in body fat and BMI seen in wealthier populations. 

Meanwhile, dietary intake rose sharply in more developed settings. In populations with detailed food data, higher percentages of ultraprocessed foods in the diet strongly correlated with higher body fat — regardless of energy expenditure levels.

Researchers emphasize that physical activity still matters, but that eating more — especially processed, calorie-dense foods — is driving modern obesity. 

“Diet and physical activity should be viewed as essential and complementary, rather than interchangeable,” the researchers wrote. 

• Researchers looked at earlier cohort studies that found an association between midlife weight loss from lifestyle changes and a lower risk of developing chronic disease and all-cause mortality. 

• One of the goals of their study was to expand the scope of health benefits that people incur from weight loss beyond diabetes.

• The researchers hope that these findings inspire more people to make healthier choices to better their health and wellness long-term.  

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Helsinki explored the benefits associated with midlife weight loss that come strictly from lifestyle adjustments. 

Their work found that this type of weight loss was associated with overall longer life, as well as a lower risk of several serious health concerns, including type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and more. 

The study

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from three previous cohort studies – the Whitehall II study (1985-1988), the Helsinki Businessmen Study (1964-1973), and the Finnish Public Sector study (2000-2013). 

These datasets included information on over 23,000 participants between the ages of 30 and 50. Depending on the specific study, the participants were followed between 12 and 35 years, and their heights and weights were taken at various points throughout the studies. 

The researchers grouped the participants based on their starting weight and body mass indices (BMIs), and then their weight journey over the course of their studies – whether they lost weight, maintained the weight loss, or gained the weight back. They compared the groups to hospitalization and death records to determine the health risks and benefits. 

The researchers’ primary goal was to understand the health benefits associated with weight loss that come from lifestyle adjustments beyond diabetes. 

“The benefits of lifestyle-based weight management are widely discussed, even though studies have found it surprisingly difficult to demonstrate health benefits beyond the prevention of diabetes,” Professor Timo Strandberg said in a news release.  

The results

The biggest takeaway from the study was that maintained weight loss in middle age was associated with several health benefits. 

Ultimately, making lifestyle changes and losing weight was associated with several health improvements. Those who lost 6.5% of their body weight had a lower risk of developing several chronic diseases, as well as a lower risk of all-cause mortality. 

The researchers explained that maintenance of the weight loss was key – the participants who were able to keep the weight off were more likely to have the best health outcomes. 

“I hope the findings will inspire people to see that lifestyle changes can lead to major health improvements and a longer life,” Strandberg said. “This is particularly important today as more people are overweight than when the collection of our research data began 35 years ago.” 

What role do weight loss drugs play? 

These cohort studies were conducted before weight loss surgery had grown in popularity and before weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy were available. While these tools are valuable for health care, these findings indicate that lifestyle changes can also be effective. 

“In contrast to surgical or pharmacological interventions, where weight loss typically ranges from 20% to 25%, the relative weight reduction of 6.5% observed in our study was more modest,” they wrote. 

“Despite this, our findings highlight clinically meaningful long-term health benefits in the general population. Unlike our participants, individuals undergoing surgical or pharmacological interventions predominantly have obesity and are at higher health risk. It remains uncertain whether the long-term benefits observed in our study extend to these interventions, where greater weight loss may be accompanied by a concurrent and potentially significant loss of lean body mass, which could pose challenges over time.”

With a Health and Human Services secretary pushing for healthier food and beverages, soft-drink giant Pepsico is adding a healthier beverage to its portfolio. It has announced a definitive agreement to acquire poppi, a prebiotic soda brand, for $1.95 billion.

The acquisition may signal PepsiCo's push into the health and wellness beverage market, aligning with evolving consumer preferences – not to mention regulatory concerns. The purchase of poppi gives Pepsico a line of beverages known for their low-calorie, low-sugar content, infused with prebiotics, fruit juice, and apple cider vinegar.

"We've been evolving our food and beverage portfolio over many years, including by innovating with our brands in new spaces and through disciplined, strategic acquisitions that enable us to offer more positive choices to our consumers," Ramon Laguarta, CEO of PepsiCo said in a statement. 

"More than ever, consumers are looking for convenient and great-tasting options that fit their lifestyles and respond to their growing interest in health and wellness. poppi is a great complement to our portfolio transformation efforts to meet these needs."

Got its break on ‘Shark Tank’

poppi was founded by Allison and Stephen Ellsworth and gained national attention after appearing on ABC's "Shark Tank," where it secured funding from Rohan Oza and CAVU Consumer Partners. It promoted a "better-for-you" approach to soda, offering an alternative with no more than five grams of sugar per serving.

The beverages are popular with Gen Z consumers because poppi generally contains significantly less sugar and fewer calories than typical sodas. This is considered a positive factor for those trying to reduce their sugar intake.  The sodas also include prebiotics, which can support gut health by feeding beneficial bacteria.

According to the Detroit News, poppi was hit with a class-action lawsuit in 2024 that accused the soda maker of overstating claims about gut health.

“Defendant’s success is largely owed to its ability to preserve the flavor and sweetness of traditional sodas while claiming to be “gut healthy” due to its inclusion of “prebiotics”—a specific type of dietary fiber commonly found in food like bananas and whole grains,” the complaint said.

“However, Defendant’s Poppi soda only contains two grams of prebiotic fiber, an amount too low to cause meaningful gut health benefits for the consumer from just one can. Accordingly, a consumer would need to drink more than four Poppi sodas in a day to realize any potential health benefits from its prebiotic fiber.”

Lawsuit aside, Allison Ellsworth expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating, "We believe poppi is the soda that will be embraced for generations to come. 

Eating food is becoming riskier. A new report from U.S. PIRG shows that more Americans got sick from contaminated food in 2024 compared to the previous year. Even more alarming, the number of people who were hospitalized or died from foodborne illnesses doubled, according to U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s new report, Food for Thought 2025.

Key findings

• More than 500 people were hospitalized or died from contaminated food in 2024, up from about 240 in 2023.
• Recalls due to Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli increased significantly, making up 39% of all recalls.
• One-third of all food recalls were caused by undeclared allergens or ingredients that could make people sick.

In total, nearly 1,400 people got sick in 2024—98% of them from just 13 major outbreaks. Most of these outbreaks were caused by Listeria, Salmonella, or E. coli.

“This tells us that some companies aren’t doing enough to prevent bacteria from contaminating our food,” said Teresa Murray, Consumer Watchdog Director at U.S. PIRG Education Fund. She added that many companies also fail to test food properly, allowing contaminated products to reach consumers.

The numbers confirm that food safety was a big issue in 2024. Some major recalls made headlines, including Boar’s Head deli meats and McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. While recalls of meat and poultry decreased, the FDA saw a rise in recalls of other foods, including fruits, vegetables, and snacks.

“Once again, everything from soup to nuts threatened our health in 2024,” Murray said. “If food producers and packagers just focused more on being sanitary and labeling packages for allergens, our food would be so much safer.”

In the last year, GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic became so popular as weight loss drugs that there was a mid-year shortage. These drugs are also expensive.

Newly published research from the University of Colorado Boulder suggests there could be a low-cost alternative that doesn’t involve working out or starving yourself: beneficial bacteria.

Published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, the study found that animals injected weekly with a microorganism found in cow’s milk and soil were essentially immune to weight gain from a high-fat, high-sugar diet. 

"What is so striking about this study is that we saw a complete prevention of diet-related weight gain in these animals," said Christopher Lowry, the study's senior author and a professor of integrative physiology. 

“This suggests that exposure to beneficial bacteria can shield us from some adverse health effects associated with the typical Western diet.”

Reconnecting with ‘old friends’

Scientists say this research highlights the benefits of "old friends," a term for healthy bacteria that evolved alongside humans but have become less prevalent as societies have shifted to more sterile, urban environments. Lowry notes that losing contact with these bacteria has heightened our risk for inflammatory diseases.

In previous studies, Lowry demonstrated that Mycobacterium vaccae (M. vaccae), found in cow’s milk and soil, can prevent stress-induced inflammation and related health issues in mice. These findings have led him to explore the potential for a "stress vaccine" derived from these microbes.

In the current study, Lowry and PhD candidate Luke Desmond investigated whether M. vaccae could also mitigate brain inflammation and anxiety linked to poor diets. Adolescent mice were divided into groups, with some receiving a standard diet and others consuming a high-fat, high-sugar diet akin to junk food. Half of each group received weekly injections of M. vaccae.

Despite consuming similar calorie amounts, the untreated junk food group began gaining significantly more weight than the healthy eaters after six weeks. By the study's conclusion, they weighed about 16% more and had more visceral fat, which increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Remarkably, the junk food group that received M. vaccae injections showed no difference in weight gain compared to the healthy eaters and had less visceral fat.

"This finding suggests that M. vaccae effectively prevents the excessive weight gain induced by a Western-style diet," Desmond explained.

Practical implications

While more research is needed to understand how M. vaccae prevents weight gain and whether it can do so in humans, Lowry is optimistic. He hypothesizes that M. vaccae may directly influence immune cells to reduce inflammation, enhance fat health, and boost metabolism.

Future studies may explore whether oral consumption of M. vaccae has similar effects and if it could aid weight loss in overweight individuals. For now, Lowry advises reconnecting with beneficial bacteria by spending time in nature, gardening, and consuming fresh vegetables.

Despite the challenges of avoiding junk food, which Lowery says constitutes over half of grocery store offerings, the researcher emphasizes the potential of restoring exposure to these "old friends" to prevent weight gain and other health issues, even consuming a Western diet.