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Excess body weight is linked to at least 13 types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, kidney and endometrial cancers. Obesity does not mean someone will develop cancer, but excess fat can promote chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, hormonal changes and other metabolic disturbances that may support abnormal cell growth. The duration of obesity may also matter, particularly when excess weight begins during adolescence or early adulthood. Importantly, BMI alone may not tell the whole story. Abdominal and visceral fat, blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure can provide additional insight into metabolic health. For South Asians, these risks can occur at lower BMI levels. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, eating a fibre-rich diet and avoiding tobacco can help reduce overall cancer risk.

Intestinal worm infections can remain silent, allowing people to feel completely healthy while parasites live in the intestines. Symptoms may be absent with a low parasite burden, while heavier infections can cause abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea, appetite changes or nutritional deficiencies. Hookworm infections can be particularly concerning because they may cause iron-deficiency anaemia, fatigue and reduced physical capacity. Subtle clues such as unexplained anaemia, increased eosinophils or persistent digestive problems may warrant further evaluation, especially after exposure to contaminated food, water or soil. Diagnosis commonly involves stool testing, and repeated samples may improve detection because parasite shedding can be intermittent. Rather than self-medicating, persistent symptoms should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Peppermint oil may offer an unexpected benefit for people with mildly elevated blood pressure. In a small study, adults who took a low dose of peppermint oil twice daily for 20 days experienced an average 8.5 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure, while the placebo group showed little change. The findings suggest peppermint oil could potentially have a role as an additional approach to blood-pressure management. However, more research involving larger and longer-term clinical trials is needed before it can be considered an established treatment. People with hypertension should not replace prescribed medication with peppermint oil without medical advice. Its potential benefits need to be weighed against safety, dosage and individual health conditions.

Stopping alcohol use may not immediately erase the brain changes associated with addiction. In a study of mice, animals that developed compulsive drinking after a period of abstinence showed more than twice the activity in a brain region linked to stress and addiction. Importantly, this heightened activity appeared before the animals resumed drinking, suggesting it may be an early warning signal for relapse risk. The findings could help scientists understand why relapse can occur even after a period without alcohol and potentially identify biological markers of vulnerability. However, the research was conducted in mice, so further studies are needed to determine whether the same brain signal predicts relapse in humans.

Short bursts of intense exercise may produce surprisingly powerful changes inside the body. In a recent study, just six 30-second sprints altered nearly a quarter of the blood proteins measured and more than 200 metabolites. By comparison, 90 minutes of moderate cycling produced much smaller immediate changes. Several proteins influenced by sprinting were also linked with lower risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic conditions. The findings suggest that exercise intensity can strongly influence how the body responds to physical activity. However, the study looked at short-term biological changes, not long-term disease prevention. Sprint workouts may be efficient, but they should be introduced gradually according to individual fitness and health.

Alcohol is only one piece of the liver-disease puzzle. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), insulin resistance, obesity, sedentary habits and long-term medication use are increasingly important contributors. Because early liver damage often causes few obvious symptoms, signs such as persistent fatigue, brain fog, digestive changes, severe itching, swelling or unusual skin changes can easily be overlooked. Metabolic health therefore plays a major role in protecting the liver. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, staying physically active and undergoing appropriate health checks can help identify problems early. Recognising these less obvious risk factors may help prevent liver disease from progressing to more serious complications.

A daily 30–60 minute workout can improve cardiovascular fitness, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and weight management, but it does not completely cancel out the effects of sitting for 8–10 hours. Experts describe this as being “active but sedentary”—exercising regularly while remaining inactive for much of the day. Prolonged sitting can affect circulation and glucose and fat metabolism and contribute to cardiovascular risk. The solution is not necessarily more intense exercise, but more movement throughout the day. Cardiologists recommend standing or walking every 30–60 minutes, taking stairs, walking during phone calls and adding short walks after meals. The ideal routine combines structured exercise with frequent everyday movement.

Honeybees appear to have a surprisingly sophisticated way of managing their nutrition. Researchers found that bees can detect when pollen contains an unhealthy balance of essential nutrients and adjust how much they consume to avoid potentially harmful excesses. Inside the hive, bees take this strategy even further by processing pollen into a carefully balanced food source for their developing larvae. This suggests that honeybees are not simply eating whatever food is available but actively regulating their nutrient intake according to their biological needs. The findings reveal an impressive level of nutritional decision-making in social insects and highlight how bees can transform variable food sources into a more balanced diet for the next generation.

Scientists have engineered probiotic bacteria to act as tiny drug factories inside pancreatic tumors, offering a promising new approach to cancer treatment. In animal studies, the modified bacteria were able to enter pancreatic tumors and stimulate cancer-fighting immune cells, helping slow tumor growth. The treatment became even more effective when combined with conventional therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy. By delivering therapeutic activity directly within the tumor environment, engineered probiotics could potentially overcome some of the challenges of treating pancreatic cancer, which is often difficult to target and highly resistant to treatment. However, the approach remains experimental, and further studies are needed to determine its safety, effectiveness, and potential for use in human patients.

For beginners trying to lose weight, running may burn more calories per minute, but walking can often be the more sustainable choice. Experts say long-term weight loss depends on maintaining a consistent energy deficit rather than relying on intense workouts. Brisk walking places less stress on the joints, reduces injury risk and allows people to exercise for longer periods. Gradually building up to 45–60 minutes of brisk walking most days can improve fitness, insulin sensitivity and help reduce visceral fat. Once a person can comfortably walk briskly for 30–45 minutes, short running intervals can be introduced. The key is to choose an activity that can be repeated consistently and maintained for months.