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The obesity medication tirzepatide has been found by researchers to activate brown adipose tissue that burns calories

Tirzepatide doesn’t just help people lose weight, but it also activates brown adipose tissue, representing a major milestone in obesity research, according to a study being presented at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago.

Brown adipose tissue was long thought to disappear after infancy and was only confirmed in adult humans through imaging studies in the late 2000s. It is markedly suppressed in obesity, and until now, moderate cold exposure has been its strongest known activator.

In a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial in premenopausal women with obesity, Herman and colleagues used cold-stimulated PET/CT imaging and MRI scans to measure brown adipose tissue activity before and after 24 weeks of treatment.

Tirzepatide increased PET/CT-detectable brown adipose tissue activity from 41.2% to 64.7% of participants, while no comparable change was seen in the placebo group.

The first drug that can delay the onset of type 1 diabetes is being made available on the NHS in England and Wales

Teplizumab is a form of immunotherapy that can give people three extra years before they develop symptoms and need lifelong insulin treatment.

The NHS medicines body described its decision as "genuinely exciting", with hundreds of children and young people likely to benefit each year.

Type 1 diabetes can develop at any time, but the most common age of diagnosis is in early teenage years.

Teplizumab must be given as an infusion (by drip into a vein) before symptoms develop, meaning patients first need a blood test showing the immune system has started attacking the pancreas.

Italy is the only country in the world that has a national screening programme for children and young people. In the UK, routine testing for the disease is not yet available on the NHS, although it is something diabetes charities are campaigning for.

Chewing sugar-containing gum enhances the cardiovascular benefits of nitrate-rich vegetables, according to researchers

For the first time, researchers at King’s College London have discovered a link between chewing sugary gum after consuming vegetables high in nitrate, such as beetroot, spinach and kale, and lowering blood pressure.

Nitrate is absorbed by vegetables from the soil, but it must be converted to nitrite by bacteria in the mouth before the body can use it. Nitrite has wide-ranging effects, including the relaxation and widening of blood vessels, which enables blood to flow more easily, lowering blood pressure.

With these cardiovascular benefits limited by bacteria in the mouth converting nitrate into nitrite, which the body can use, scientists are investigating how this process might be enhanced. A little-explored theory is that increasing the acidity in saliva could increase this chemical reaction.

To test this theory, researchers investigated whether chewing sugar-containing gum, which is acidic and lowers the pH in the mouth, increases nitrite production

People may benefit from higher levels of physical activity and protein consumption than current guidelines typically recommend

A new paper published in Frontiers in Nutrition argues that current public health recommendations for exercise and protein intake are largely aimed at preventing deficiency, not helping people achieve the best possible long-term health, independence, and quality of life.

The paper tackles several fundamental questions: How much protein do people really need? What types of exercise offer the greatest benefits? And what does the latest research show?

According to author Dr Chris Macdonald (Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, and Director of the Better Protein Institute), a growing body of evidence suggests that people may benefit from higher levels of physical activity and protein consumption than current guidelines typically recommend.

Importantly, the paper notes that higher protein consumption is not limited to meat-based diets. With thoughtful meal planning, plant-based diets can also provide sufficient protein, as demonstrated by the growing number of vegan powerlifters and bodybuilders.

44% of frontline NHS staff face weekly nutrition misinformation

Almost half of patient-facing NHS staff (44%) say patients bring up inaccurate or misleading nutrition or supplement information at least once a week, according to new analysis from World Cancer Research Fund.

The charity’s research also reveals a growing mismatch between confidence and understanding among the public, with those who rely on social media for news being more likely to feel confident about finding trustworthy nutrition information online, while at the same time being more likely overall to believe misleading claims about diet, supplements and cancer prevention.

World Cancer Research Fund says the findings highlight the current pressure on healthcare professionals, with confusion online making it harder for people to make informed choices about their health.

In response, the charity is calling on the UK Government to use the NHS Workforce Plan to strengthen support for evidence-based advice on cancer prevention, nutrition and physical activity. Plus, it is launching a simple new TRUST Test to help the public and healthcare professionals spot health misinformation online.

Men's Health Week 2026: men and pharmacy

The theme for Men's Health Week 2026 (15–21 June) is men and pharmacy. As part of this, Men's Health Forum is launching a new report called An Unfilled Prescription, looking at men and pharmacy, specifically how to improve their relationship to improve men's health.

It believes there is a "triple win possible" because "if the government uses pharmacy effectively as part of its men's health strategy, it could boost men's health by improving access, reduce pressure on the NHS and benefit the high-street pharmacy by increasing footfall".

Men's Health Forum also published new resources as part of Men's Health Week, including social media shares and posters encouraging men to use a pharmacy rather than, for example, ask an AI for health information.

You can also view its preview awareness day campaigns and other offerings, such as its new Men and Masculinity workshop by visiting the webpage and clicking the recommended links.

The first GLP-1 receptor agonist pill has been approved by the MHRA for weight loss and weight management in the UK

The UK’s first GLP-1 receptor agonist tablet for weight loss and weight management has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as of 11 June 2026.

Alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, the semaglutide (Wegovy) tablet may now be prescribed to adults in the UK with obesity, who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above, or who are overweight with a BMI between 27 and 30 and at least one weight-related comorbidity.

The starting dose for the semaglutide tablet is 1.5 mg once daily, increasing to 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg with a minimum duration of one month at each dose level.

Patients currently treated privately with a 2.4 mg semaglutide injection once weekly can be transitioned straight to semaglutide 25 mg tablets once daily.

Are shoppers being 'protein washed'? New study reveals hidden sugar levels in high-protein snacks

While demand for protein continues to grow alongside wellness trends, a new study suggests that snacks marketed as ‘high protein’ may not always offer the nutritional benefits or value for money consumers expect.

With the increasing use of GLP-1 medications in the UK, users are often advised to consume adequate amounts of protein to help preserve muscle mass during weight loss. However, the research suggests that many products marketed as ‘high protein’ may be misleading.

The study, conducted and funded by Oxford Online Pharmacy, analysed 88 ‘high protein’ snacks available in UK supermarkets. The findings suggest that protein yoghurts are among the most protein-dense and cost-effective options, while protein bars are among the least. Researchers also found that several products contained enough sugar to meet an adult's recommended daily intake in a single serving.