Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Australia's aged care sector braces for powerful inquiry

A public inquiry into mistreatment of the elderly in Australia's A$20 billion ($14 billion) aged-care industry begins hearings on Friday, with investors expecting damaging testimony to be followed by tighter regulation and a possible sector shakeout. The powerful Royal Commission, called after a slew of reports of assaults on patients, predatory pricing and poor care, will be similar to the inquiry that exposed widespread wrongdoing in Australia's financial sector last year.

Invest in health for global security and growth, Gates urges donors

Donating billions of dollars to global funds that fight poverty and disease is one of the best investments governments can make to boost security and economic growth, philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates said on Thursday. Ending epidemics of infectious diseases such as malaria, polio, HIV and malaria is proving tough, they said, but dramatic progress made by global aid mechanisms recent decades means the world's people are now healthier and more productive.

No quick fix for physician burnout, depression

Close to 44 percent of U.S. physicians are burned out, and 15 percent are depressed and thinking about suicide, according to a survey conducted by Medscape. More than one doctor per day commits suicide - a rate higher than in any other profession and more than twice that of the general population, Medscape reports.

Japan Tobacco ratchets up smokeless war with new products

Japan Tobacco Inc on Thursday unveiled two "heat-not-burn" products, as it races against market leader Philip Morris International Inc for a larger share of the vaping space with conventional cigarettes steadily falling out of favor. Despite commanding 60 percent of the local cigarette market, Japan Tobacco has been caught on the wrong side of the rising popularity of heat-not-burn (HNB) alternatives and has lagged in the category in its own backyard versus the Marlboro maker.

Slim but sedentary might face same heart risks as overweight

Adults with a healthy weight but a sedentary lifestyle may have the same risk for heart attacks or strokes as people who are overweight, a recent study suggests. Researchers found that normal-weight people who spent much of the day sitting but still hit minimum recommended weekly exercise targets of 150 minutes of moderate activity had about a 58 percent lower risk of a heart attack or stroke than overweight people.

Hearing aid users often do not see doctors to ensure devices help

In 2020, a new U.S. law will allow people to buy hearing aids over-the-counter, but that may not improve access to hearing care, a new study suggests. Researchers found that many older people who already wear hearing aids don't see doctors to check that the devices are achieving optimal results.

Scientists reveal 'ideal diet' for peoples' and planet's health

Scientists have unveiled what they say is an ideal diet for the health of the planet and its populations - including a doubling of consumption of nuts, fruits, vegetables and legumes, and a halving of meat and sugar intake. If the world followed the "Planetary Health" diet, the researchers said, more than 11 million premature deaths could be prevented each year, while greenhouse gas emissions would be cut and more land, water and biodiversity would be preserved.

Amgen's postmenopausal osteoporosis drug wins FDA panel backing

An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday that benefits of Amgen Inc's osteoporosis treatment for postmenopausal women at high risk for fracture outweighed its risks and overwhelmingly voted for the drug's approval. The panel voted 16-1 in favor of the monthly injection developed jointly with Belgium-based UCB SA. The drug, Evenity, helps reduce the risk of fracture by increasing bone formation and inhibiting break down of bone minerals.

The few who follow U.S. 'MyPlate' guidance have healthier diets

Fewer than one in four U.S. adults follow the agriculture department's "MyPlate" dietary guidelines, but those who do have much healthier eating habits. For the study, researchers examined nutrition data on a nationally-representative sample of 3,194 adults who were surveyed about their eating habits between 2011 and 2014. Overall, just 731 participants, or about 23 percent, followed MyPlate dietary guidelines or MyPyramid, an older version of these recommendations.

U.S. shutdown taking toll on FDA, USDA inspection roles: experts

The partial government shutdown is taking a toll on key safety inspection duties performed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Department of Agriculture, food safety experts said on Wednesday. Workers in public health laboratories are reporting disruptions in the analysis of DNA from food samples involved in foodborne outbreaks, and have raised concerns about a USDA program that tests agricultural commodities for unsafe levels of pesticides, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)