Popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs linked to potentially deadly brain disorder

Researchers are warning about a rare but potentially life-threatening brain condition that may be linked to popular GLP-1 weight-loss medications.

A new study, published in Clinical Nutrition, identified 15 reported cases of Wernicke encephalopathy, a neurological disorder caused by severe vitamin B1 deficiency, in people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Most of the reported cases involved semaglutide, sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, or tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound.

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Researchers found 15 cases through the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), published medical literature and their own medical center.

Most patients reported gastrointestinal symptoms or nutritional issues, including weight loss, vomiting, loss of appetite or malnutrition, the study noted.

Reports of the disorder appeared more often among people taking GLP-1 medications than among those taking other drugs, the researchers found. They emphasized, however, that the study cannot prove the medications caused the condition.

Vitamin B1 plays an important role in brain function, the researchers said. Severe deficiencies can cause confusion, trouble walking, balance problems and vision changes. If left untreated, the condition can lead to permanent neurological damage or death.

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Karthik Achari, a Chicago-based clinician and founder of PepMD who was not involved in the study, said the findings should be viewed in perspective.

"Researchers went through adverse event reports and the medical literature and found a small number of cases, 15, of Wernicke encephalopathy in people taking GLP-1 drugs," Achari told Fox News Digital. "That's out of millions of people on these medications. So this is rare."

"But it's real, it's serious, and the mechanism makes sense," he added.

GLP-1 medications can reduce appetite while also causing nausea and vomiting, making it easier for some people to become deficient in vitamin B1, Achari said.

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"The drug shrinks your appetite. It doesn't shrink your body's requirements," he said. "You can now eat very little without feeling it, which is the point of the medication, but your need for protein, vitamins, and fluids didn't go anywhere."

People with persistent nausea and vomiting, those losing weight very quickly while eating little, people with a history of bariatric surgery and those who use alcohol heavily may face a higher risk, Achari said.

Erin Palinski-Wade, a New Jersey-based nutritionist and author of "The Sleepdemic Solution," said proper nutrition and hydration should be considered part of treatment while taking GLP-1 medications.

"GLP-1 medications can dramatically reduce appetite, but that also means people may unintentionally under-eat the very things their bodies need most, especially protein, fiber and fluids," she told Fox News Digital.

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Palinski-Wade said ongoing vomiting or diarrhea can increase the risk of dehydration and kidney problems. She urged patients to seek medical guidance if those symptoms continue for roughly 24 hours.

"Don't assume every side effect is just part of being on a GLP-1," Palinski-Wade said. "Severe or persistent symptoms deserve attention."

The researchers acknowledged that the study relied largely on reports submitted to the FDA and cannot prove GLP-1 medications caused the condition. They called for additional research, and experts said patients should not stop taking prescribed GLP-1 medications based on these findings alone.

Fox News Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and the researchers for comment.

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‘Food divorce’ trend among couples could drive them apart, experts warn

Between differing diet plans, food intolerances and conflicting work schedules, some couples are choosing "food divorce" — a term circulating on social media for partners who intentionally cook, order and eat their meals separately.

While taking separate paths at mealtime might solve logistical headaches, experts warn that splitting up at the dinner table can come at a cost to the relationship.

According to health institutions like Mayo Clinic, shared family meals can help people reconnect, build stronger emotional bonds and reduce stress. For couples, experts say regularly eating apart could become a concern if it reflects broader emotional distance or reduces opportunities to spend meaningful time together.

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Nutrition experts emphasize that the issue is often less about the food itself and more about the lost opportunity for a built-in daily checkpoint.

"I think it reflects many people's very busy schedules," Tanya Freirich, a North Carolina-based registered dietitian nutritionist, told Fox News Digital.

"Mealtime can be a time to unite, to communicate, to build social relationships and foster a connection," she went on. "If we're eating completely alone or at different times than important people in our lives, it may foster a little bit of disconnection."

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Experts say that eating separately can contribute to a "roommate dynamic." Without regular time to reconnect and discuss the day, couples may have fewer opportunities for communication.

The practice can also contribute to isolation, according to Freirich.

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"Communities all around the world for thousands of years have come together around mealtimes," she said. "If so many Americans are eating every meal alone for many days or most of their days, that certainly can't be great for mental health or well-being."

There can also be practical drawbacks, as preparing separate meals or ordering from different restaurants may increase grocery costs, preparation time and kitchen cleanup.

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Additionally, eating solo can impact individual dietary habits. Studies show people dining alone are more likely to eat quickly, mindlessly scroll on their phones, or settle for heavily processed convenience foods compared to when they share meals with others.

Couples can accommodate different dietary needs without preparing entirely separate meals. 

For those navigating specific calorie targets, plant-based diets or medical restrictions, Freirich recommends building "modular" or "choose your own adventure" meals as a more efficient method.

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"Something like a deconstructed taco night, grain bowls, a pasta or noodle night, or even a sheet pan meal where you're creating each food on its own," the expert suggested.

"So the protein, the carb, the veggies are being cooked separately. And then you get to decide your portions and make your own meal from those ingredients that can meet everyone's needs."

When conflicting schedules or caregiving duties make daily dinners impossible, experts recommend prioritizing quality over frequency. Even sharing a quick weekend breakfast or setting aside one designated night a week can help maintain connection.

"Be very intentional to connect when you can," Freirich suggested.

"Make that a really special meal. Be intentional with your connection. Put the phone away and actually enjoy the other person's company."

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Nighttime bathroom trips could reveal hidden health issues — here's when to worry

Getting out of bed once during the night to use the bathroom is common, but repeated trips could signal underlying issues, health experts warn.

Waking up more than once a night to urinate can meet the clinical definition of nocturia, which affects about half of adults over 50 and becomes more common with age, according to a recent StudyFinds report. The International Continence Society’s formal definition of nocturia includes even one nighttime trip, but frequency, disruption and a change from a person’s usual pattern all matter.

"Everyone has a baseline of what’s normal urinary frequency for them," Dr. Ali Dabaja, a urologist at Henry Ford Health in Michigan, told the outlet. "But if you wake at least twice to go to the bathroom during eight hours of sleep, that’s considered nocturia."

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Nocturia isn't simply a bladder issue, according to Dr. Jeffrey Chester, a licensed physician and medical director of The Ohana Luxury Addiction Treatment Center in Hawaii.

"A change in nighttime urinary patterns is definitely worth mentioning to a physician or healthcare provider, especially when it begins suddenly, becomes more frequent, or disrupts a person's sleep," Chester told Fox News Digital.

Alcohol and caffeine intake, the amount and timing of fluid consumption, and certain medications can all contribute, he added.

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Waking up once isn't a cause for concern, agreed Catherine Darley, a naturopathic doctor and founder of Skilled Sleeper in Seattle, but more than once can be "concerning," she told Fox News Digital.

Experts note that it can raise the risk of falls, especially for those with mobility or balance challenges. Research shows two or more nightly trips to the bathroom are linked to a higher risk of fall-related injuries, StudyFinds reported.

Sleep disorders can also be a factor, Darley said, including obstructive sleep apnea, which can affect hormones involved in suppressing urine production overnight. Restless legs syndrome could also contribute to nighttime urination and is more common with age, Darley added.

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She advised starting with your primary care provider to look for an underlying cause, and checking in with doctors and pharmacists to see if medications could be involved in frequent bathroom trips. In some cases, they could adjust the timing to prevent late-night wake-ups.

Other issues could be the cause, too, according to StudyFinds, including diabetes, an overactive bladder, an enlarged prostate and fluid buildup.

For some people, simple habits can help, including not drinking for roughly two hours before bedtime and stopping alcohol about three hours before bed, Darley said.

She also suggested keeping floors clear of rugs and clutter, using gentle amber lighting, sitting on the edge of the bed before standing to avoid getting dizzy and installing grab bars for extra support.

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Political fights can rip couples apart — therapist shares 3 ways to save a relationship

More than one-third of Americans report having ended a relationship over political differences, according to recent research – and experts say those divisions may also be straining some marriages.

Some high-profile couples, including Democratic strategist James Carville and his wife, Republican political consultant Mary Matalin, have remained together despite their differing views – but experts say navigating those differences isn't always easy.

Dr. Anna Elton, a licensed marriage and family therapist and clinical sexologist in Massachusetts, said she has counseled couples on different sides of the political aisle.

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"A lot of couples come in and they want to work on communication, and politics can come up in our sessions," Elton, author of "The Formula of Desire," told Fox News Digital.

"I work with a number of couples who are in this place where they have a family, they have kids, but they can't talk about politics."

For many singles, Elton said, political compatibility is now something they consider early in the dating process.

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She referenced a recent study that found younger adults tend to make assumptions about religion, gender roles, empathy and other characteristics based on political affiliation.

"So, before you get to know the person, you’ve already created this assumption of who this person is."

"I've definitely been hearing from my younger clients who are saying, ‘I want to know which political party this person belongs to, and then I'll see if I want to even be going on a date and wasting my time with this person.’"

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For couples who have been married for decades, today's political divisions may present challenges that didn't exist when their relationships began, Elton noted.

The expert offered the following three tips for navigating politically charged conversations with a partner in a healthy way.

Come up with rules for the conversation and set the tone before it starts, Elton suggested, noting that the first three minutes of a discussion typically predict the outcome.

Conversations that begin with a harsh tone or accusatory language are unlikely to be productive, she said. "So, before you talk, say, ‘Okay, these are our boundaries for this conversation.’"

Those boundaries can also extend to media habits, Elton said, including limiting how much political content couples consume, especially on social media.

"You read certain things and then all of a sudden, you keep scrolling on your social media and you see similar content coming up over and over and over again," Elton said. "And at this point, it creates an illusionary effect."

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Hearing the same information repeatedly may lead people to gradually accept it as true, according to Elton. "Now think about two people who are in their echo chambers, and they're exposed to certain information that is contradicting each other."

As a general rule, Elton said couples should be mindful not to spend more time on their phones than they do engaging with each other. Excessive screen time can reduce face-to-face connection, leaving less room for eye contact, conversation and other shared experiences.

Also, when someone is constantly consuming political content, it can become the primary topic they want to discuss, creating tension when partners hold different views, she cautioned.

To help reduce conflict, Elton recommended limiting when political news or posts are consumed. She also suggested setting aside one phone-free date night each week to encourage face-to-face connection.

While couples with differing political views are unlikely to agree on every issue, "agreeing to disagree" can help prevent hostility.

"We can still love each other," Elton said. "It's not going to affect our relationship."

"As soon as it gets to the point of seeing your partner through the lens of ‘if you believe this, this is who you are, and I can’t believe that I'm still in a relationship with you,’ that becomes a problem."

Elton urged couples not to take political disagreements personally and instead approach them with curiosity. She also recommended looking at the same information together, allowing each partner to ask questions and draw their own conclusions rather than jumping into a heated debate.

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The therapist also encouraged couples to focus on areas of common ground rather than viewing disagreements in black-and-white terms.

After a disagreement or failure to compromise, it’s important to always reconnect with your partner, she emphasized.

Sharing reassuring words like "I love you" and "you matter to me more than anything else" can be helpful, she said.

"I feel like you always need to say, ‘Hey, I hear what you're saying, but I'm not agreeing, and that's okay.’"

When politics come into play in a relationship, it can have an impact on more than just the couple.

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Elton encouraged partners to consider how sharing certain opinions can impact other loved ones, especially if one person confides in a family member or friend about the other's views.

"You can create this triangulation where you're connecting with someone against your partner, and you don't want that," she warned.

"Talk to your therapist, vent to your therapist … because if you start venting to your family and friends, then they start forming certain opinions about your partner, and it can affect how they talk to them, how they interact with them."

Before making any drastic decisions, such as ending a relationship over political discord, Elton suggested slowing down and returning to a more grounded state.

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"We hear certain things and we fill in the gaps," she said. "When we hear someone's political affiliation, we often make assumptions about who they are without really hearing them out."

Rather than making assumptions based on the media or podcasts a partner consumes, for example, Elton encouraged couples to ask questions, stay curious and remain open-minded.

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'Very hot' coffee and tea linked to higher cancer risk in nearly 1 million adults

Regularly drinking very hot tea or coffee may raise the risk of a type of esophageal cancer, according to a large study at the University of Oxford.

People who reported drinking beverages "very hot" had about three times the risk of developing oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a type of cancer that begins in the cells lining the esophagus, compared to those who drank warm beverages.

Drinking six or more hot drinks per day was associated with a 71% higher risk of the disease. The same link was not seen for esophageal adenocarcinoma (AC), a type of cancer that develops in the lower part of the esophagus.

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The study included nearly 1 million U.K. adults, making it the largest investigation of its kind to date, according to lead study author Keren Papier, a nutritional epidemiologist at the University of Oxford.

Roughly half of the participants were from the Million Women Study (MWS), who were followed for an average of 14 years, and the other half were from the UK Biobank (UKB), who were followed for 11 years.

"Compared with people who reported drinking their beverages ‘warm,’ those who drank them ‘hot’ had around a 1.7 times higher risk of SCC, while those who drank them ‘very hot’ had around a three times higher risk," Papier told Fox News Digital.

The study was published in the International Journal of Cancer.

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The researchers estimated that, if the observed association reflects a true cause-and-effect relationship, about 14% of SCC cases could potentially be prevented if people drank beverages "hot" rather than "very hot."

The biggest limitation, according to the researchers, is that beverage temperatures were self-reported rather than directly measured. Because people's tolerance for heat differs, participants may have classified similar temperatures differently.

"A limitation of our study was that, although we examined associations by self-reported preferred drink temperature, we did not have data on directly measured drink temperatures, and, therefore, cannot determine how self-reported drink temperature is likely to relate to absolute drink temperature," Papier noted.

"These findings don't mean people need to stop drinking tea or coffee. Just let your drinks cool down a little before drinking them."

An outside cancer specialist agreed the findings are biologically plausible but said they should be interpreted in context.

Dr. Aaron Sasson, chief of surgical oncology and co-director of the gastrointestinal oncology team at Stony Brook Cancer Center in New York, said it’s been known that drinking hot beverages or liquids can be irritating to the esophagus and that it could contribute to the development of esophageal cancer.

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The hotter the liquid, the higher the risk of a "thermal injury," the doctor told Fox News Digital.

"Similar to burning your hand, if you were to get a burn on your hand, you have an increased risk of getting squamous cell carcinoma of the hand, of the skin developing in the burned area," Sasson said. "So, think of that as constantly repeating a burn to the esophagus."

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The doctor reiterated that this study specifically looked at the risk of squamous carcinomas, not adenocarcinomas.

"In the United States, about 85% of all of our cancers are adenocarcinomas. So, the incidence of squamous carcinomas in the esophagus is quite low, just to put it into perspective," he noted.

The lifetime risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus in the U.S. is less than 1%, the doctor said.

Sasson agreed that there was no "objective measurement" of the drinks’ temperature, which poses an unknown variable.

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"If you are a heavy consumer of hot tea or coffee, maybe you'd want to cool it down a little bit," he advised. "But I think, for practical purposes, for most people, [it’s] not the predominant risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus."

Smoking, heavy alcohol use, acid reflux and obesity are among the better-established risk factors for esophageal cancer, Sasson said.

"If you were to limit alcohol consumption and eliminate cigarette smoking, you will have done wonders for your esophagus."

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Son who lost father in 9/11 attacks shares powerful lessons 25 years later: ‘I’m still here’

As the nation marks 25 years since Sept. 11, 2001, the weight of the loss of loved ones still looms.

Podcaster David Ferrugio, author of the new book "You're Not Dead Yet," joined Fox News Digital to discuss how his own grief persists 25 years after 9/11.

The host of the "DEAD Talks" podcast lost his father, David Frances Ferrugio, who worked at the World Trade Center, in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

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Ferrugio, who was 12 years old and living in New Jersey at the time, recalls watching television footage of the towers collapsing and "breaking down."

"It was like a dividing moment in my memory and my life, because I was one person on September 11th and then on September 12th. It was a whole new reality I walked into, which inspired what I'm doing."

After years of internalizing his emotions, Ferrugio discovered the power of sharing stories of grief. On his podcast, he invites guests to discuss their own experiences with death and loss.

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"Eventually, I got comfortable expressing myself and learning the importance of just sharing [my] story and telling people how I feel and opening up," he said.

Drawing from his own experiences, Ferrugio shares several lessons that have helped him navigate grief.

Although discussions of grief can be difficult, even decades after a traumatic event like 9/11, Ferrugio said "embracing the uncomfortable" and talking it out is "an important piece of this complex puzzle."

Sharing stories of loss can provide emotional release while also helping others feel less alone, he noted, adding that he's seen firsthand how those conversations can make a difference.

"Even when I have my days of just not feeling it, I'm reminded by the people who reach out and the way they share their story ... how much it is impacting so many people."

Finding a sense of community can be especially meaningful at a time when so many people are experiencing loneliness, whether they're grieving or not, Ferrugio added.

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"I've learned so much through the eyes of others, and I think the storytelling is just so vital."

Fear of judgment often keeps people from sharing their stories, even though doing so can bring a sense of "liberation," according to Ferrugio.

More than two decades after the attacks, Ferrugio shared that his mental health has improved after putting in "a lot of effort," including shifting his perspective on life and death.

"Life and death are the same coin, just two different sides – and there's a thin veil between them," he said.

"It’s completely shifted the way I live my life through seeing what other people are going through ... understanding the pain people are experiencing, how they manage it ... how they reframe it, and understanding that as alone as this life can feel, we're not as alone as we think."

Grief can reshape how people approach life, Ferrugio said, encouraging them to be more present, embrace the full range of emotions and give themselves grace, even during life's most difficult times.

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"Ultimately, all these conversations I've had are conversations about grief, but they're really conversations about how we can live this life."

When painful emotions or a wave of grief start to roll in, Ferrugio's go-to technique is to allow himself to feel it and "breathe it out."

"A lot of breath work works wonders for me," he said. "A deep breath is going to do more for you than you think."

Along with breath work, Ferrugio said exercising and spending time in nature have helped calm his nervous system, noting that what works best varies from person to person.

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"We forget to look inward, and we all have that intuition and that guttural feeling – we have to trust what we're saying to ourselves," he said. "What feels good? Does this feel like it's working?"

According to Ferrugio, it’s important to allow for moments of joy, even during times of grief.

"Give yourself permission to feel moments of levity, to feel moments of joy, even if it is for five seconds … just take those moments and cherish them, because the contrast of the joy and pain exists for a reason."

"It's not easy to feel however you feel, but it takes a lot of effort and discomfort to try to step out of that … Whatever we go through in life, it's an ebb and flow, and sometimes both are happening at the same time."

On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Ferrugio acknowledged that the pain of losing his father remains.

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"For anyone else who's been part of that day, I just hope they look back at the days they've gone through and see that they're still here," he said. "You're still with us, and you’re still grinding, you're showing up for the people in your life."

"It's important to zoom out and realize, ‘I've done this for 25 years, and I'm still here.’"

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Alcohol tied to surprising cancer death pattern in adults under 55, researchers find

Annual U.S. cancer deaths tied to alcohol consumption more than doubled over a three-decade period, according to a recent study led by researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

The findings, published in The Lancet Regional Health — Americas and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago, revealed that alcohol-attributable cancer deaths jumped from 11,361 in 1990 to 23,126 in 2023.

Researchers analyzed more than 30 years of data from the Global Burden of Disease study to track the trends.

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While alcohol has long been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, surveys show that awareness of its link to cancer remains limited.

"The most surprising finding was the breadth of alcohol’s potential impact across cancer types," Chinmay Jani, M.D., corresponding author of the study and chief fellow in hematology and oncology at Sylvester, told Fox News Digital.

"Although its relationship with liver cancer is widely recognized, its contribution to cancers such as colorectal, esophageal, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer is less understood by the public."

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The research showed that older adults and men bore the highest overall burden of alcohol-related cancer deaths. Among older men, liver cancer was the primary cause of alcohol-attributable mortality, followed closely by esophageal and colorectal cancers.

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Breast cancer was the leading cause of alcohol-related cancer deaths among women overall, the study found.

Among younger adults between the ages of 20 and 54, colorectal cancer emerged as the leading cause of alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in men and the second leading cause in women, surpassing liver cancer in both groups.

The authors noted that the findings carry significant weight for public health messaging, particularly because general awareness surrounding alcohol's connection to various cancers remains low compared to known risks like tobacco use.

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Because no minimum "safe" level of alcohol has been established, researchers said drinking less may help lower long-term cancer risk.

Because the study used existing national data rather than following individuals over time, researchers couldn’t determine each person’s exact drinking habits or account for every lifestyle factor.

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As a result, the findings show a strong association between alcohol use and cancer deaths, but they cannot prove that alcohol directly caused those deaths or establish a specific "safe" drinking limit.

"What this study makes clear is that alcohol-related cancer risk is not limited to one disease or one group of people," Gilberto Lopes, M.D., senior author and chief of the Division of Medical Oncology at the Miller School, told Fox News Digital.

"As physicians and cancer researchers, we have an opportunity to help patients understand that alcohol is a modifiable risk factor and that even small, informed changes can be part of a broader strategy to reduce cancer risk in our community."

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