Latest News

Patients regain weight rapidly after stopping weight loss drugs – but still keep off a quarter of weight lost

Approximately half of all patients who begin taking weight loss drugs discontinue their use within the first year, while three-quarters have stopped after two years. A team of students at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, investigated the impact of stopping the medication, modelling the trajectory of weight regain over 12 months and beyond.

They found that a year after stopping taking weight loss drugs, people regain on average 60% of their lost weight – but beyond this, their weight regain plateaus, with individuals managing to keep off 25% of the weight lost to treatment. What isn’t clear is whether the weight regain constitutes both fat and muscle or mainly fat. Previous studies have suggested that lean body mass – including muscle – can constitute up to 40% of total weight lost during treatment

Genetic study links vitamin B1 metabolism to gut motility and IBS risk

Scientists studying genetic data from over a quarter million people have uncovered clues about what controls how fast the gut moves. The researchers used a large-scale genetic strategy to look for common DNA differences linked to bowel movement frequency.

The analysis uncovered 21 regions of the human genome that influence bowel movement frequency, including 10 regions that had not been identified before. Many of the genetic signals pointed to biological systems already known to regulate gut motion.

The most notable discovery emerged when researchers focused on two high-priority genes connected to vitamin B1 biology. The effect of thiamine intake on bowel movement frequency depended on genetic variation in the SLC35F3 and XPR1 genes. This suggests that inherited differences in how the body handles thiamine may shape how vitamin B1 intake influences bowel habits.

Virtual treatment research brings benefits for eating disorder patients

People with severe eating disorders are most at risk of becoming unwell again in the first two months after leaving the hospital. New research from Oxford Health shows that this difficult period can be supported in a different way, using a virtual treatment service delivered in people’s own homes.

Oxford Health is pleased to announce the publication of an evaluation of Step Care in the Journal of Eating Disorders.  This is the first prospective study to look at a fully virtual, intensive treatment service, using multi-disciplinary, integrated enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT-E), designed to support people as they move between inpatient care and community services.

The evaluation showed high levels of engagement and completion, including among people who had been unwell for a long time.

Slow NHS rollout of weight loss drugs risks pushing Londoners to unsafe alternatives

A new report from the London Assembly Health Committee warns that the vast majority of people are currently obtaining weight loss drugs privately. While around half a million Londoners could be eligible for the medicines, only around 3,000 people in London were receiving them on the NHS as of November 2025. Meanwhile, tens of thousands are estimated to be buying them privately.

The report highlights serious risks linked to the rapid rise in demand, such as counterfeit or unregulated ‘skinny jabs’ sold through informal settings, which can pose significant health risks. Evidence suggests that more than 18,000 illegal weight-loss medicines were seized at UK borders between 2024 and mid-2025. Clinicians and patients have stressed that medication must be accompanied by ‘wraparound care’.  To address the issues, the Committee is calling for faster NHS rollout plus stronger safeguards across public and private provision.

‘Hidden’ group of bacteria (CAG-170) in our gut appear to be key to good health, finds global study

TIn a global study led by University of Cambridge researchers, a single group of bacteria has repeatedly shown up in high numbers in the gut microbiomes of healthy people. CAG-170 is a group of gut bacteria known only from their genetic fingerprints, as scientists have never been able to grow most of them in the lab.

Using diverse computational approaches, the team looked for CAG-170’s genetic fingerprint in gut microbiome samples from over 11,000 people. They found CAG-170 was consistently higher in healthy people than in those with diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, obesity and CFS. Further analysis of CAG-170 revealed they have the capacity to produce high levels of Vitamin B12, and enzymes that break down a wide range of carbohydrates, sugars and fibres in our gut.

What are the health and safety risks of bubble tea? New research raises multiple concerns

An investigation by Consumer Reports found elevated lead levels in some bubble tea products in the US, raising concerns similar to past warnings about cassava-based foods. 

Additionally, the pearls themselves can cause digestive problems. As they are dense and starchy, eating large amounts can cause gastroparesis, or in rare cases, a complete blockage. Guar gum may also contribute to constipation when consumed frequently.

Other health concerns around bubble tea found include increased risk of kidney stones and the danger of choking on tapioca pearls, as well as the high levels of sugar, which sometimes exceed those of a can of Coca-Cola.

Largest study of vegetarian diets and cancer shows lower risk of five cancers

The study found that vegetarian diets are associated with lower risks of several cancers ‒ breast, prostate, kidney and pancreatic cancers, and multiple myeloma ‒ but a higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus.The study was led by researchers at Oxford Population Health’s Cancer Epidemiology Unit and funded by World Cancer Research Fund. It was published in the British Journal of Cancer.

The researchers pooled data from more than 1.8 million people from three continents through the Cancer Risk in Vegetarians Consortium. It compared the risk of 17 different cancers across five diet groups: meat eaters, poultry eaters (do not eat red or processed meat), pescatarians (fish eaters), vegetarians (eat dairy and/or eggs), and vegans.

Link between sugary drink consumption and anxiety in adolescents

Researchers at Bournemouth University were part of a team involved in reviewing the findings of multiple studies investigating diet and mental health to establish common findings. The results consistently found a link between high levels of sugary drink consumption and anxiety. Their results have been published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.

The researchers emphasise that the nature of the studies they investigated means the findings do not provide direct causal evidence. It is also possible that symptoms of anxiety lead some young people to consume more sugary drinks. Or there could be other common factors like family life and sleeping disorders.