Where did the 10,000 steps recommendation come from? Why has it proven so stubborn? What's the science behind the new recommendations? How strong is the evidence?

Professor Melody Ding joins Gavin to talk about her new systematic review published in The Lancet Public Health, examining the relationship between step counts and health outcomes. We also explore the challenges of measuring physical activity, the importance of inclusive research, and the role of environmental and policy interventions in promoting population health.

Read the article from The Lancet Public Health here:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(25)00164-1/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_tlv_podcast_August_25_lanpub

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It’s no exaggeration to say that the past decade has revolutionized how we think about and treat obesity. Drugs like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) have dominated headlines, enabling significant weight loss at speeds once considered unthinkable. The market for innovative weight loss medications is booming, with pharmaceutical companies investing heavily in hopes of developing the next blockbuster drug.

However, amid this race for market dominance, many experts are questioning whether the amount of weight loss alone is the best measure of these drugs’ usefulness. How can the next generation of obesity treatments meaningfully improve upon the powerful options already available?

Joining The Lancet editors Callam Davidson and Miriam Sabin to discuss this question is Professor Steven Heymsfield from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. This wide-ranging conversation covers exciting pharmaceutical advances and limitations of these treatments, including the significant disparities in access, and why these breakthroughs may have broader societal implications.

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The sustainability of our existence relies on the health of every human, every animal, and the environment we all share. Published today, "The Lancet One Health Commission: harnessing our interconnectedness for equitable, sustainable, and healthy socioecological systems" highlights challenges like climate change, food security, and antimicrobial resistance to lay out the One Health approach to informing and implementing solutions.

Senior Executive Editor at The Lancet Pam Das is joined by lead Commissioners, Andrea Winkler and John Amuasi, to explain the past, present, and future of the One Health concept.

You can read the Commission here:

https://www.thelancet.com/commissions-do/one-health?dgcid=buzzsprout_tlv_podcast_lancetonehealth25_lancet

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Professor Adam Kucharski joins Gavin & Jessamy to discuss the intersection of mathematics, epidemiology, and truth, off the back of his new book, Proof. How do we generate scientific knowledge? How can we communicate uncertainty? What is the impact of social media and artificial intelligence on public trust in science?

Adam also tells us about the importance of public engagement, the nuances of misinformation, the importance of transparency in policy, the future of scientific communications, the need for adaptable definitions of proof, and the value of pragmatic, transparent approaches to decision-making in health and science.

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How safe is it to use period tracking and digital contraception apps? Who is your data being shared with? What regulation actually exists in this area to protect app users?

Femtech offers women digital tools for tracking reproductive health. Gavin and Jessamy are joined by Dr. Catriona McMillan, Senior Research Fellow in Medical Law and Ethics at the University of Edinburgh, to talk about how accurate these apps actually are, significant concerns about data privacy, and what regulatory oversight exists and can be applied.

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Richard, Jessamy, and Gavin reflect on developments at the 78th World Health Assembly, including the passage of the pandemic agreement and shifting dynamics in global health leadership. What's next for WHO without US engagement? How has WHA changed over the years?

We also address the importance of recommitting to adolescent health following our new Commission, and discuss a controversial recent study about the pace of scientific innovation.

You can read the second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health & Wellbeing here:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00503-3/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_icw_podcast_lancetadolescenthealth25_lancet

This is the paper on the pace of scientific innovation discussed on the podcast:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01548-4

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Gavin, Richard, and Jessamy return to the studio to discuss some publications that caught their eye this month, and in doing so set themselves the lofty goal of examining how meaning, purpose, optimism, and social context shape our understanding of health beyond traditional clinical measures. We also ponder the future of research and higher education in the face of funding challenges in both the US and the UK.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

The Global Flourishing Study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-025-00423-5

The second Lancet Commission on adolescent health and wellbeing: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00503-3/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_tlv_podcast_May_25_lancet

Standing up for gender justice: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00679-8/fulltext?dgcid=buzzsprout_tlv_podcast_May_25_lancet

How the United States became a science superpower: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01146-4

Universities grip financial crisis – but at what cost to the nation?: https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/creating-voice-our-members/media-releases/universities-grip-financial-crisis-what

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Gavin and Jessamy welcome Dr. Hugh Alderwick from the Health Foundation to The Lancet Voice as we explore the impact of the Labour government's health policies since coming to power in the UK. What might the anticipated 10-year plan for the NHS look like? What are the implications of dismantling NHS England? Will any government get a handle on social care?

Hugh also provides expert analysis on the balance between funding and reform, the role of AI in health care, and the pressing issue of improving access to primary care.

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