Is your teenager skipping breakfast? Why is that happening and what can you do? As per the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which surveyed adolescent health and well-being found that 1 in 4 students in high school ate breakfast, which means 3 in 4 high school students are not eating their breakfast. This data is as per the 2023 survey.

What Did The Study Intend?

The report describes a 10-year long trend and also recent changes among the two years. The study delved deeper into adolescents' dietary, physical activity and sleep behaviors. The study is also based on a national youth risk behavior survey of a representative sample of students from grade nine to 12.

What Did The Study Find?

The study found that while high school students drank slightly less soda and sports drinks and consumed more water, other healthy eating habits declined. In 2023, only 27% of students ate breakfast every day in the past week. The numbers were even lower for female students, with just 22% eating breakfast daily, compared to 32% of male students. Boys were also more likely to eat fruits and vegetables daily and drink water at least three times a day. Poor mental health and lack of physical activity have also been linked to skipping breakfast.

The other findings included a survey across 10-year period, where a decrease in the percentage of students eating fruits from 65% to 55%, eating vegetables, from 61% to 58%, and having breakfast daily from 38% to 27% was noted.

However, there was a positive trend among this, which was in children drinking plain water at least three times a day, which increased from 49% to 54% from when the survey began in 2015.. There were fewer students who also said that they drank soda in 2023 than in 2013. On an average, in 2013, around 22% students avoided soda, whereas in 2023, 31% students avoided it.

The report also emphasized that a healthy diet, along with daily physical activity and sufficient sleep further contributes to a healthy lifestyle. “The 10-year trends from 2013 to 2023 also show a decline in healthy dietary, physical activity, and sleep behaviors,” the survey reported.

Why Do High School Students Skip Breakfast?

While there is no one straightforward answer to it, psychologists and those who study children, believe that for many high school going kids, it is the easiest time to skip a meal. This is because they are caught between rushing to school, or not just that hungry in the morning. So for them, to sit down to have a breakfast may seem hassle and something they would have to take time out from their busy schedule. They at this age also prioritize their extra-curricular activities.

There has also been a shift in their circadian rhythm, and most teens cannot fall asleep before 11 pm, or even at midnight. Which means they wake up tired and struggle to do things right in the morning, which is why they choose to skip breakfast or give extra minutes to any other activities.

There is of course another, more popular reason, to lose weight. While experts and studies, like the one published in the Journal of Nutrition that found skipping breakfast leads to higher levels of hunger hormones, the students still feel the need to do this. However, it could lead to a slow metabolism, prompt the body to conserve energy and burn fewer calories, weight gain and deprive yo off the essential nutrients like calcium, iron, and vitamin D.

Without a morning breakfast, your blood sugar might drop too, which can increase irritability and stress, along with including the risk of depression in teenage.

The makers of blockbuster weight-loss drugs Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are locked in a legal battle after Novo accused its rival of misleading advertising by claiming its obesity and diabetes medicines outperform Novo's treatments.

Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has filed a lawsuit against Eli Lilly in the US District Court in New Jersey, alleging the company violated federal and state false advertising and unfair competition laws, including the Lanham Act, through nationwide advertising campaigns for its obesity drug Zepbound and diabetes treatment Mounjaro, media reports said.

Novo Alleges Ads Used Outdated Comparisons

Novo claims Lilly's advertisements:

• Compared the highest approved doses of Zepbound and Mounjaro with lower doses of Novo's Wegovy and Ozempic.
• Omitted data on the newer 7.2 mg dose of Wegovy, which, as per Novo, delivers greater weight loss.
• Relied on older clinical trial data that no longer reflects current approved dosing.

"The ads are maliciously and deceptively false because Lilly knowingly cites outdated clinical trials that compare the highest doses of the Lilly medicines to lower doses of Novo Nordisk's medicines," Novo said in its complaint.

Also read: Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 Drug Wegovy Approved for Fatty Liver Disease in India

What Did Eli Lilly Say

Eli Lilly rejected the allegations, saying its advertisements accurately reflect findings from its SURMOUNT-5 clinical trial.

According to the company:

• The study, completed in 2024, compared 10 mg and 15 mg doses of Zepbound with 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg doses of Wegovy.
• Novo's 7.2 mg Wegovy received US FDA approval only in March 2026, after the trial had concluded.

"Rather than compete on the merits of its products, Novo is asking a court to stop Lilly from communicating the results of that trial," an Eli Lilly spokesperson said. "We will continue to focus on the science and defend against this lawsuit vigorously."

Battle For Expanding Obesity Market

The lawsuit comes as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly compete for dominance in the rapidly expanding US obesity drug market, which analysts expect to exceed $100 billion by 2030.

Both companies dominate the GLP-1 medicine market:

• Novo Nordisk's medicines contain semaglutide.
• Eli Lilly's medicines contain tirzepatide.

These medicines:

• Mimic the GLP-1 hormone.
• Slow digestion.
• Help regulate blood sugar.
• Suppress appetite.

Beyond weight loss, studies have shown that GLP-1 medicines can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, and may also lower the risk of several cancers.

WHO Guidance on GLP-1 Therapies

In December 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued its first guideline on the use of GLP-1 therapies for obesity, describing the condition as a chronic, relapsing disease affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide. It recommends:

• GLP-1 therapies may be used for long-term obesity treatment in adults, excluding pregnant women.
• Treatment should be combined with structured lifestyle interventions, including a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and behavioral support to improve outcomes.

Will Patients Be Affected?

For now, patients are unlikely to be affected. The lawsuit does not challenge the safety, effectiveness, or FDA approval of the medicines. Instead, it focuses solely on how Eli Lilly marketed its products.

Patients prescribed the medicines Wegovy and Ozempic (Novo Nordisk) or Zepbound and Mounjaro (Eli Lilly) can continue taking them as directed.

Any outcome of the case is more likely to influence how pharmaceutical companies advertise and compare their medicines than the availability of these treatments.

France has passed landmark legislation banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media, becoming the first country in the European Union to adopt the policy.

The move comes amid growing global concern over the impact of social media on young people's mental health, online safety, and overall well-being.

The law, approved by both houses of the French Parliament on July 21, is expected to come into force on September 1, 2026, before the start of the new school year.

The move arrives after months of debate over increasing rates of cyberbullying, excessive screen time, exposure to harmful online content, and the effects of social media on children's mental health.

France Bans Social Media For Children Under 15

Children younger than 15 will no longer be allowed to create or maintain accounts on social media platforms.

Tech companies operating these platforms will be required to implement watertight age-verification systems as well as remove existing accounts belonging to underage users.

French President Emmanuel Macron who has repeatedly voiced concerns about the effects of excessive screen time and social media on children and adolescents, described the legislation as "a major step towards protecting our children" and said the aim is to help young people grow into "responsible citizens" in an increasingly digital world.

The legislation is aimed at reducing risks associated with:

• Anxiety and depression
• Cyberbullying
• Self-harm and suicide-related content
• Sleep disruption
• Exposure to inappropriate or harmful material
• Social media addiction

Also read: Rain = No Playground; How Reduced Outdoor Activity During Monsoon Affects Children's Immunity, Weight & Mental Health

Although the law has received political support, experts say implementation may prove challenging. Technology companies have long argued that verifying users' ages at a large scale is technically complex and raises concerns over data protection.

The legislation may also face legal scrutiny regarding compatibility with European Union digital regulations and constitutional protections before full implementation.

France is not the first nation to tighten restrictions on children's social media use. Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban for children under 16 on platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.

Several European nations, including Greece, Germany, Denmark and Spain, are considering similar measures.

Can A Social Media Ban Positively Impact Children's Mental Health?

HealthandMe spoke to Dr. Nivedha P, MD Psychiatry, Athulya Geriatric Care Hospital, about the impact social media has on young, developing brains and if a ban can truly improve their mental health.

She says, "As a psychiatrist, I understand why countries are becoming concerned. Today, children are growing up in a digital world, and social media has become a part of their everyday life. But at the same time, we’re seeing more anxiety, low self-esteem, sleep problems, cyberbullying, and even symptoms of depression among young people. So, the concern is definitely real.

Talking about if a social media ban for pre-pubescents and teenagers could help, she says that a ban alone is not enough to regulate screen time among children.

Also read: Babies Without Vitamin K Shot At Higher Risk Of Brain Bleeding: Study

She explains, "It may help to some extent because it reduces early exposure during a very sensitive stage of brain development. But I don’t think a ban alone is the answer."

The expert says that technology isn’t going anywhere. The goal shouldn’t be to make children afraid of technology, but to help them become emotionally mature enough to use it wisely. The best approach, according to her, is a combination of sensible regulations, parental guidance, digital literacy, and creating safe online spaces.

She adds, "If a child doesn’t learn how to use technology in a healthy way, they’ll eventually face the same challenges when they gain access later. So, instead of only saying ‘don’t use social media,’ we should also teach children how to use it responsibly."

The Quality Of Offline Life Matters

According to the expert, parents also have a huge role in ensuring children do not get addicted to social media. Many children don’t need more screen time, they need more conversations, more play, more family time, and adults who model healthy digital habits.

Dr. Nivedha says, "We often focus on what children are doing online, but we should also ask what kind of offline life we’re creating for them."

At the end of the day, protecting children’s mental health is not just the responsibility of governments. It’s a shared responsibility between parents, schools, healthcare professionals, technology companies and society as a whole.

She adds, "A ban may buy us some time, but what truly protects a child’s mental health is teaching them emotional resilience, healthy relationships and responsible digital habits."

Paul Alexander woke up inside a 600-pound giant metal tube and never left until he died. Paul depended on an iron lung for every breath, a machine that had largely disappeared from modern medicine.

Known as "the man in the iron lung," Alexander spent more than seven decades living inside the metal cylinder after contracting polio as a child. Paul became a symbol of resilience, determination, and the life-saving power of vaccines. His remarkable story is recalled even after his death in March 2024 at the age of 78.

Who Was Paul Alexander?

The doctors placed him inside an iron lung, a mechanical ventilator that kept him alive by helping his lungs expand and contract.

Although everyone initially believed he might not survive, Alexander defied expectations. He went on to graduate from college, earn a law degree, become a practicing attorney, publish a memoir, and inspire millions through interviews and social media.

Also read: Who Was Martha Lillard? Last U.S. Polio Survivor To Depend On An Iron Lung Who Breathed Her Last At 78

Life Beyond The Iron Lung

Paul Alexander refused to let the machine define him. Doctors taught him a technique called "frog breathing" or glossopharyngeal breathing. By using the muscles of his mouth and throat, he learned to gulp air into his lungs in small amounts.

This helped him to leave the iron lung for short durations, attend school, pursue higher education, and eventually work as a lawyer. Still, he depended on the iron lung for most of his life, especially while sleeping.

Despite his conditions, Alexander earned a bachelor's degree, graduated from law school, practiced as a lawyer in Texas, and wrote his memoir - Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung.

His determination challenged and defied assumptions about disability and demonstrated that severe physical limitations need not prevent education, work, or meaningful relationships.

Also read: Even Light Exercise Could Help People With COPD Live Longer, Study Finds

Iron Lung Is An Obsolete Technology In Medicine

An iron lung, also called a negative-pressure ventilator, is a large cylindrical machine that helps people breathe when the muscles controlling respiration become paralyzed.

Unlike today's ventilators, which push air directly into the lungs through a tube or mask using positive pressure, an iron lung works by changing air pressure around the patient's body. The patient lies inside an airtight metal chamber with only the head remaining outside.

The machine then repeatedly lowers the air pressure inside the chamber. This causes the chest to expand naturally, drawing air into the lungs. The pressure then returns to normal. The chest relaxes, allowing air to flow back out. This cycle mimics normal breathing and can continue around the clock.

Iron lungs became obsolete eventually after polio vaccines and modern ventilators were developed.

The introduction of effective polio vaccines in the 1950s and 1960s dramatically reduced cases of paralytic polio worldwide.

The positive-pressure ventilators we use today are smaller, more portable, and better suited to intensive care. They deliver oxygen directly into the lungs, replacing bulky iron lungs.

Paul Alexander's life is more than a remarkable survival story. It serves as a reminder of the devastating impact infectious diseases once had before vaccines transformed public health.