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After a full day of meetings at Julie, a startup that sells a morning-after pill, CEO Amanda E/J Morrison jumped a flight from New York to Boston and headed to a small, private college, where a trivia night awaited her. Dozens of students shuffled into a classroom with plates of chicken tenders, Texas toast, and bright blue boxes of the emergency contraceptive.Morrison had worked with the Planned Parenthood Generation Action club at Suffolk University to sponsor the event, part of Julie's efforts to win a new generation of consumers. However, she had another, more pressing reason for being there. Julie is doing more campus events to clear up some of the confusion about emergency contraception — namely, that it isn't medication abortion.Standing at the head of the classroom, Morrison read off a projector screen, "Emergency contraceptives like Julie are legal in how many states? 25, 48, 50, 37." Students tapped their answers into a quiz app. "It's 37," Lily, a spirited sophomore, whispered to her teammates.In a minute, the correct answer appeared on screen, and the quiet chatter rose to a clamor. Half the teams said 37 states."Fifty states, guys. It's everywhere," Morrison said.When asked why she said 37, Lily said, "Just the way things are going."In states that outlaw abortion, some patients and politicians worry that contraception could be in legal jeopardy, too. There's no federal law preserving access to birth control, rather, a patchwork of state laws and court decisions holding it in place. Another Trump term <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/29/trump-birth-control-contraception-00159555">could change that</a>.For Julie, "that's the million dollar question of this election," Morrison said.<div type="image" title="TK" height="2000" width="2667" msid="114460252" hostid="261" sizebytes="193282"></div>"We're not worried about some big ban happening in the first hundred days. But how those decisions trickle down — what is presented in Congress as a bill, how the Supreme Court reacts, what trickles down to the states — becomes a real secondary concern," she said.Founders of women's health startups feel doubly invested in this election, one of the closest presidential races of the century. Half a dozen founders and investors of women's health companies, all women, told Business Insider that if Vice President Kamala Harris wins, it's business as usual. They said another Trump victory creates uncertainty for reproductive health startups, from period trackers to online abortion clinics to embryo banks.<div type="image" title="TK" height="1610" width="2147" msid="114460254" hostid="261" sizebytes="109206"></div>While Harris's presidential campaign has been marked by unrelenting support for reproductive healthcare, including contraception and abortions, Trump's position has been a moving target.The former president suggested <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/29/trump-birth-control-contraception-00159555">in May</a> that he was "looking at" restrictions on birth control, then walked that position back in a social media post later that day. During the September presidential debate, he called himself a "leader" on IVF, a move that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/12/trump-ivf-gop-roe-abortion-00178760">angered</a> parts of his base that have sought to restrict fertility treatments. He said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-says-he-would-veto-federal-abortion-ban/">in October</a> that he'd veto a national abortion ban after deflecting the question for months but would support states ordaining their own abortion bans.Trump's waffling on reproductive rights has put founders of women's health startups on notice. "It is one of the major issues that we're discussing and that our CEOs are focused on — how to continue to provide care to women, especially women of childbearing age," said Trish Costello, founder of Portfolia, an investing platform that pools money from female accredited investors.The day after the presidential debate, Mika Eddy was vibrating with the weight of the election. The race's outcome could drastically change reproductive rights, foreign policy, gun safety, and climate law — all issues close to Eddy, a 35-year-old Californian and mother of two.But Eddy also has skin in the game as the chief executive officer of Malama Health, a startup helping women with gestational diabetes access better care. Its doula network assists patients on Medicaid with applying for benefits such as diabetes-friendly meals and medical transport.Eddy worries that if Trump wins, he would restrict access to the coverage and benefits that her users rely on, weakening one of Malama Health's key services."There is this common misperception that, 'we're in California, we're in a liberal state, and so we're safe.' And I don't think that's the case," Eddy said.For some founders of women's health startups, this election is more than a political contest; it has ramifications for their livelihoods. With so much at stake, they're planning how to handle a scenario where states or courts might impose more limits on reproductive rights.<div type="image" title="US Vice President Kamala Harris taking pictures with some young teen girls." height="3000" width="4000" msid="114460257" hostid="261" sizebytes="755478"></div><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/abortion-telemedicine-startup-hey-jane-roe-v-wade-2022-10">Hey Jane</a> is a telehealth startup that connects patients to medical providers who offer online appointments and delivers abortion pills to their doorsteps. A year after the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion, Hey Jane started selling birth control and treatments for urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and herpes, both oral and genital. The new products cushion the business against a "plan E" scenario of a national abortion ban, said Carli Sapir, a Hey Jane investor and founding partner of Amboy Ventures."We're thinking about how to make sure those other verticals are in a good place to continue carrying the company forward," said Sapir.This time last year, one of Hey Jane's rivals, Choix, shut down <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vcs-backing-online-abortion-sites-say-its-good-business-2021-9">after three years in service</a>. The company said in a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/choix-closes-virtual-doors-launches-130300919.html">press release</a> that "the stigma and politics surrounding abortion care posed significant fundraising challenges." It raised a $1 million seed round in 2022.While direct providers of abortion, like Hey Jane, could see major restrictions or shutdowns to their core businesses if Trump returns to the White House, a wider range of companies expect to feel the ripple effects. Startups that seem removed from the front lines, such as those involved with period tracking and fertility treatments, are also preparing for potential challenges.<div type="image" title="Then-President Donald Trump addresses the anti-abortion &quot;March for Life&quot;" height="750" width="1000" msid="114460247" hostid="261" sizebytes="53678"></div>If a national abortion ban were to occur, apps like Flo Health or Clue might face increased scrutiny, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-lux-capital-deena-shakir-wrote-childrens-book-2024-9">Deena Shakir</a>, a general partner at Lux Capital. These apps track when women have their periods and when they miss them. In today's post-Roe America, privacy experts worry that such data could be used to suggest that someone has had or is thinking about having an abortion, potentially putting women at risk of prosecution in certain states.The stakes could be equally high for companies involved with fertility treatments.The demand for services like in vitro fertilization, or IVF, and surrogacy has been climbing for years as people have kids later in life and infertility rates increase. That's birthed a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fertility-startups-booming-despite-market-downturn-2023-6">global fertility market</a> that includes companies that operate clinics to provide services like egg freezing and IVF, companies that run labs and tests, and firms that help people pay for the procedures.However, the industry's future is uncertain following attacks on abortion access. The end of Roe v. Wade opened up the legal terrain for states to interfere with access to other reproductive care, said Lauren Berson Sugarman, founder and chief executive officer of Conceive, a startup that offers personalized fertility guidance, including text support from nurses and peer groups.In Alabama, the state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos should be considered children. That put patients and fertility clinics on edge that they could be criminally charged for destroying extra embryos. A handful of Alabama clinics paused IVF treatments while patients throughout the South began moving their embryos to jurisdictions with more stable legal protections."We see a lot of patients come to us and say, should I move my embryos out of a red state? Because what happens if they come after IVF?" said Berson Sugarman.The push for "embryo rights" could have wide-reaching repercussions for startups like Maven Clinic or Carrot Fertility, which offer fertility benefits for employers, and TMRW Life Sciences, a biotech company creating robots for the safe storage of frozen sperm, eggs, and embryos.Moreover, it could influence the type of research that startups conduct and where. Alice Zheng, a principal at women's health investor RH Capital, explains how the shifting legal landscape might affect companies like Vitra Labs. As a biotech startup working on developing eggs from stem cells for IVF, "they're doing really cutting-edge research for fertility, but they need to think very carefully about where they set up shop," Zheng said. "Some of their research might involve certain types of tissue, which is more closely scrutinized in some areas than others."<div type="image" title="TK" height="2000" width="2667" msid="114460250" hostid="261" sizebytes="243576"></div>Two years ago, in the hours after the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to an abortion, Morrison's phone started ringing and didn't stop. Investors wanted to know if the ruling would kill Julie's launch in Walmart stores that fall. Job candidates wondered if the company would still exist in six months. Morrison's mom called, concerned for her daughter's future."For probably two weeks straight, I was just doing reassurance calls," Morrison said.While emergency contraception is not the abortion bill and is currently legal in all 50 states, it is continuously confused with the abortion pill, which can have damaging consequences. In June, the medical journal JAMA Network Open published a <a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2820370?%20utm_source=For_The_Media">study</a> that found retail pharmacy fills of Plan B, a leading morning-after pill brand, fell by 65% in states with near-total abortion bans the year after the Dobbs decision, partly due to clinic closures and confusion about its legal status.That confusion could threaten Julie's sales, and puts the onus of the company to better educate consumers. It sponsors events like trivia nights and sorority house brunches. It has enlisted TikTok influencers to share videos of their drugstore hauls showing how easy it is to buy Julie. In one video, a young woman going back-to-school shopping walks off with a two-count pack of the emergency contraceptive pill. The caption reads, "double majors, not double strollers."Other startups are urging consumers to fight for reproductive rights at the polls. Eddy's Malama Health has reminders to register to vote in its app and will tell users where their nearest polling station is closer to election day. The company asks for their ZIP codes during onboarding, Eddy explained."When you have a baby, you're like, 'I want to vote, but I don't know where to go,'" Eddy said. She hopes the emails will get more pregnant women and new moms to head to the polls. Eddy added that the emails won't support a candidate and are meant as a "nonpartisan resource."<div type="image" title="TK" height="2000" width="2667" msid="114460255" hostid="261" sizebytes="192114"></div>Julie's content isn't political, either. It's not trying to change any minds about abortion rights. The goal is simply to spread awareness among young adults that emergency contraception helps prevent pregnancy, not end it. This way, Morrison said, a woman who is anti-abortion and has unprotected sex can feel confident taking Julie knowing that she isn't compromising her abortion stance.It was past 9 o'clock on a weekday, and the competition at trivia night was heating up. Students in teams of two or three screamed with delight as they watched their names climb the leaderboard. They competed to win prizes like sex toys and T-shirts with the phrase, "A Better Morning After.""Morning-after pills end pregnancy. True or false," the club president called out.Thirty seconds later, the screen showed that every team had answered correctly.Morrison pumped both fists in the air, beaming her approval.<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/melia-russell">Melia Russell</a> is a senior correspondent at Insider covering startups and venture capital. She can be reached via the encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 603-913-3085 and email at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:mrussell@businessinsider.com">mrussell@businessinsider.com</a>.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/rebecca-torrence">Rebecca Torrence</a> is a correspondent at Business Insider writing about healthcare startups and venture capital. Send her an email at <a target="_blank" class="" href="mailto:rtorrence@businessinsider.com">rtorrence@businessinsider.com</a>.

'The million-dollar question of this election': Women's health startups are confronting a shifting legal landscape   

It’s not every day that a beloved doll-turned-movie star leaves an audience with questions that have them Googling <keyword id="20071779" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="medical-specialists" source="keywords">medical specialists</keyword>. But that’s exactly what happened after the <keyword id="20068788" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Barbie-movie" source="keywords">Barbie movie</keyword> hit theatres. Let’s dive into the curious case of why Barbie, of all things, sent the internet into a frenzy of <keyword id="22061992" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gynaecologist" source="keywords">gynaecologist</keyword> searches. But be warned, there might be some mild spoilers ahead. It all started with a cheeky line delivered right at the end of the Barbie <keyword id="6356021" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="movie" source="Orion">movie</keyword>. The film, which had already packed a punch with its social commentary and humour, closed on a note that caught everyone off guard. As Barbie herself stepped into a real-world scenario, the movie’s creators dropped a final joke: Barbie, with her classic pink flair and forever-young appearance, was off to see a gynaecologist. Cue the laughter, a few raised eyebrows, and then — wait, what? That was it. No more context, just the credits rolling and audiences left in a state of amused confusion. <h2>Spike in gynaecology-related searches</h2>That single line sparked a curious chain reaction. Within days of the movie’s release, Google saw a noticeable spike in searches for the term "gynaecologist." According to data from <keyword id="20126148" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Google-Trends" source="keywords">Google Trends</keyword>, searches for "gynaecologist" and related queries such as "what does a gynaecologist do?" spiked by over 500% globally in the week following the film’s release. This surge was particularly notable in regions where the Barbie movie saw the most viewership, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In the United States, the spike in searches was particularly dramatic, with a 400% increase in searches for "first time gynaecologist visit." In the United Kingdom and Australia, similar spikes were recorded. Notably, the search for "first time gynaecologist visit" saw a significant increase, suggesting that the film may have prompted people to consider aspects of their health they had previously overlooked. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112474200" title="Susan Wojcicki, YouTube CEO, died at 56 from a type of lung cancer that is often diagnosed late" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Interestingly, the spike in searches wasn’t just limited to general terms. Specific queries like "importance of regular gynaecologist visits" and "why women should see a gynaecologist" also saw significant increases. The movie had, in its quirky and comedic way, made the topic of women’s health more accessible and less taboo. <h2>Social and actual realities</h2>For many, the joke was a nudge toward an overlooked truth: Barbie, despite being an icon for decades, never had the anatomy to warrant a trip to a gynaecologist. This paradox was both hilarious and thought-provoking, prompting viewers to question their understanding of the doll’s physicality and, by extension, what it means to grow up with certain expectations about bodies and adulthood. Despite the noticeable spike in <keyword id="22539296" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-searches" source="keywords">online searches</keyword> for gynaecology-related information however, translating this curiosity into real-life healthcare actions appears more nuanced. According to insights from a study that examined these trends, while the movie successfully sparked interest and raised awareness about gynaecological health, there isn't conclusive evidence that this surge in searches led to an increase in actual appointments or visits to gynaecologists. The study’s authors noted that their research didn't track whether people who Googled these terms ultimately followed up with healthcare providers. Additionally, trends in other related search terms suggest that while many viewers were interested in learning more, this didn't necessarily translate into scheduling appointments or seeking medical consultations. This highlights a common phenomenon where increased awareness or interest, especially prompted by media, doesn't always result in immediate real-world actions. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112410033" title="&amp;#39;It Ends With Us&amp;#39; screenwriter on why Blake Lively&amp;#39;s character&amp;#39;s obsession with Ellen DeGeneres is left out of the movie" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>However, the real-life healthcare effect of the Barbie movie might still be unfolding. Even if immediate actions weren't taken, the film may have planted a seed of awareness that could influence future decisions. Sometimes, it takes repeated exposure to a health-related topic before individuals take concrete steps, and Barbie's joke might be just one of many influences that eventually lead people to prioritise their gynaecological health. But it is certainly irrefutable that the Barbie movie did more than entertain — it got people thinking, talking, and, yes, Googling. It’s not every day that a <keyword id="22805725" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cultural-icon" source="keywords">cultural icon</keyword> sparks a public health discussion, but leave it to Barbie to do just that, all with a smile and a wink. The findings of this research have been published in JAMA Network Open and can be accessed <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821491">here</a>.

Why did the Barbie movie make the internet start searching for gynaecologists?

<keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword>'s status as the most populous nation has propelled its development to unprecedented heights. However, the trajectory of the world's largest democracy is poised for a significant downturn due to a rapid decline in fertility rates. From an average of 6.2 births per woman in 1950 plummeting to merely two in 2021, India faces a staggering decline in fertility rates that could jeopardise future <keyword id="48933" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="population" source="Orion">population</keyword> stability. Yet, this predicament is not exclusive to India alone. A groundbreaking study by the <keyword id="20965687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="institute-for-health-metrics-and-evaluation" source="keywords">Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation</keyword> (IHME) forecasts a global demographic shift in the coming decades, with a substantial decline in <keyword id="31250" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="childbirth" source="Orion">childbirth</keyword> across most regions. Over three-quarters of countries are expected to struggle to maintain their population sizes by 2050, escalating to more than 97% by the century's end. This trend will create a stark contrast between regions experiencing declining birth rates and those witnessing a surge in childbirth, leading to what experts term a "demographically divided world." Industrialised nations grappling with shrinking birth rates will confront economic challenges stemming from a dwindling workforce and the burden of supporting ageing populations. Conversely, low-income countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan <keyword id="12925" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="africa" source="Orion">Africa</keyword>, anticipate a <keyword id="1227942" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="baby-boom" source="Orion">baby boom</keyword>, with the region projected to account for over half of the world's births by the century's close. While youthful population growth can drive economic and social progress, nurturing these burgeoning populations in resource-constrained settings, plagued by political instability and strained healthcare systems, presents formidable challenges. Several factors contribute to the declining fertility rates, including the economic strain of raising children and the empowerment of women through education and <keyword id="1110231" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reproductive-rights" source="Orion">reproductive rights</keyword>. However, safeguarding women's rights amidst the fertility crisis remains paramount, as nations may resort to restrictive measures that curtail reproductive freedoms. Natalia Bhattacharjee, study author, underscores the importance of upholding women's rights, which correlates with improved health outcomes and economic growth. The study underscores the urgency of proactive planning to address demographic shifts, suggesting policy interventions such as parental leave, childcare support, and financial incentives. Nonetheless, many countries, including India, are projected to fall below replacement levels, necessitating reliance on immigration to sustain economic vitality in the long run. The findings of this study have been published in The Lancet.

Nearly all countries will struggle to maintain population levels by 2100, thanks to crashing birth rates: IHME

<keyword id="22976106" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indoor" source="keywords">Indoor</keyword> <keyword id="19900550" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="air-pollution" source="keywords">air pollution</keyword> is a bigger <keyword id="21117961" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-risk" source="keywords">health risk</keyword> than <keyword id="20543591" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="outdoor" source="keywords">outdoor</keyword> air pollution in India, and sometimes cities are cleaner than nearby villages where <keyword id="22976772" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="household-pollution" source="keywords">household pollution</keyword> is higher, according to the country's two top policy experts. Addressing the India <keyword id="20445293" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="clean-air" source="keywords">Clean Air</keyword> Summit (ICAS) 2024, Principal Advisor, <keyword id="19904190" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Health-and-Family-Welfare" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ministry of Health and Family Welfare" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Ministry of Health and Family Welfare">Ministry of Health and Family Welfare</keyword>, Soumya Swaminathan said, "Studies done in Delhi have shown that women's average exposure to high levels of <keyword id="20827287" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="black-carbon" source="keywords">black carbon</keyword> (women <keyword id="19895006" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="WHO" source="keywords">who</keyword> are mostly at home) is as much as auto-rickshaw passengers going around outdoor exposed to the ambient air pollution in Delhi, resulting in high systolic blood pressure." "Cities contribute less than 20 per cent to the overall state emissions, wherever they have been assessed, but household emissions predominate, ranging between 20 per cent and 40 per cent. Across the country, we are seeing is that sometimes cities are cleaner than the surrounding villages where household air pollution predominates," she said at the summit organised by think-tank Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy. This builds a strong case for expanding the scope of India's National Clean Air Programme (<keyword id="20133150" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NCAP" source="keywords">NCAP</keyword>), which currently focuses on non-attainment cities. Air pollution is a major threat to public health and contributes to a significant amount of morbidity as well as mortality. Apart from PM2.5 and PM10, short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon, methane, ozone, and hydrocarbons have the potential to harm the environment and warm the atmosphere even more than CO2. Black carbon can cause chronic respiratory illnesses, lung cancer, emphysema, pneumonia, asthma, heart disease, and low birthweight. "In terms of reducing our life expectancy, globally, PM2.5 is contributing to about 2.3 years of life lost. Just below that is tobacco. In fact, there's so much attention on tobacco and global frameworks for control, but not the same level of attention has been paid to PM2.5 and certainly not the same level of commitments," Swaminathan said. The impact of air pollution is not limited to public health but has a significant economic cost as well. Recently, the World Bank published a study highlighting that air pollution has resulted in a loss of around USD 8.1 trillion in 2019, which is 6.1 per cent of the global gross domestic product (GDP). "We are always talking about air pollution as a problem but studies also show a strong economic case for action on clean air. There are significant positive consequences to investing in cleaning up the air in terms of the return on investments. We know air pollution is not just bad for our health, but it's also bad for agriculture, because it reduces the sunlight that's reaching the crops and it's bad for our economy or any country's economy as it deters people from coming and living or visiting those places," Swaminathan added. Kalpana Balakrishnan, Director, WHO Collaborating Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, said that the main barrier to shifting to clean cooking fuels that can help reduce household air pollution levels is finance. "If we give free LPG to women for two years, they are unlikely to shift back to biomass cooking even if you remove the subsidies," she said. Through Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) launched in May 2016, more than 100 million households in India received LPG cylinders by the end of March 2023. Studies shows over 50 per cent of the households that received new LPG cylinders under PMUY did not choose to refill it even once. Around a third of the world's population - 2.4 billion people globally (including 500 million people in India) - still lack access to clean cooking solutions. Although the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG) claims that the country's household LPG "coverage" stands at 99.8 per cent, the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2019-21 (NFHS-5) shows that 41 per cent of the population still cooks on biomass.

Indoor air pollution poses greater health risk than outdoor: Experts

Ashlee Wisdom left a toxic workplace environment after developing chronic hives.At the time, Wisdom was also getting her master's in public health at New York University, where she was learning about how social and political factors can affect specific groups' health.These experiences led her to build Health In Her HUE, a digital health platform that connects women of color to medical providers committed to serving their health needs."I had my own experience of seeing how racism impacts your health, and I saw all of this innovation happening in healthcare, but I didn't see anyone at that time building anything that addressed the specific pain points that Black women and women of color tend to have when they are navigating the healthcare system," Wisdom told Business Insider.Health In Her HUE is part of a surge in femtech, or technology companies that aim to support women's health and wellness. A report published last year by a consulting company called FemHealth Insights found that the sector was rapidly growing, with over 60% of femtech companies founded from 2017 to 2022.Historically, women's healthcare has been impaired by challenges like bias and a lack of specialized providers. But femtech offers a new way forward — one where connecting with a doctor doesn't require an in-person appointment and female founders are creating digital spaces that mirror the care they want to receive.<h2>Connectivity to close the women's health gap</h2>Increased access to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/5g-advanced-standalone-6g-qualcomm-huawei-mwc-2024-3">high-speed internet</a>, the expansion of telemedicine, and demand for women-centric healthcare are some factors behind the recent support for femtech platforms and apps."In 2020, because we were left with no alternative, there was a massive increase in online services, which created a culture shift for providers and clients," said Smisha Agarwal, the executive director of the Center for Global Digital Health Innovation at Johns Hopkins University.As a result, the US healthcare sector became less resistant to remote tools like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teledermatology-future-of-skincare-musely-ceo-jack-jia-2024-6">telehealth</a> and medical apps, and patients realized they enjoyed the relative privacy of talking with a provider in their home rather than at a clinic. "These tools can change the power dynamic in a clinical relationship," Agarwal said.Health In Her HUE says nearly 14,000 women have accounts and use the website to access medical information tailored specifically to women of color; virtual peer-support groups; and medical professionals who deliver healthcare in a way that meets patients' social, cultural, and linguistic needs.Black women often confront <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/women-crossing-state-lines-give-birth-black-maternal-mortality-crisis-2023-9">greater difficulties</a> in accessing affordable and quality healthcare, are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8020496/">disproportionately burdened</a> by chronic conditions, and are more likely to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-doctors-and-community-groups-are-promoting-health-equity-2023-11">experience discrimination</a> in medical settings. "I wanted to build a platform that helps Black women, and women of color more broadly, navigate healthcare and a system that is too often precarious for us," Wisdom said.<div type="image" title="A headshot of Ashlee Wisdom on a tan background." height="810" width="1080" msid="113135183" hostid="261" sizebytes="46492"></div>Through the platform, users can look up providers by the insurance they take, their specialties, and their ZIP code, and then meet with them in person or virtually, depending on the provider.In the beginning, Wisdom reached out to providers who seemed aligned with her mission and asked if they would participate in the project. Now providers looking to join can make an account, and once they commit to the company's health-equity pledge, they're added to the directory.Wisdom said one Health In Her HUE user who felt that other doctors had ignored her symptoms got a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome after meeting with a Health In Her HUE provider. Another told Wisdom that she drove three hours to meet with a gastroenterologist she found in the directory; she felt that "if a Black GI doctor saw her, they would take her symptoms more seriously," Wisdom said.For years, healthcare systems weren't <a target="_blank" href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/women-health-gap-davos-2023/">designed for women</a>, and there are still gaps in research and treatments for women's health issues. A study published in the Journal of Women's Health in 2021 found that funding from the US National Institutes of Health was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jwh.2020.8682">more likely to go toward conditions</a> that primarily affect men and less likely to go toward conditions that disproportionately affect women, like migraines and endometriosis.With this reality in mind, Joanna Strober cofounded Midi Health, a website designed to help people experiencing menopause and perimenopause access specialists. Described as a virtual care clinic, Midi Health allows people to make telehealth appointments with licensed nurse practitioners and doctors specializing in women's midlife health. Strober told BI she started the company after encountering barriers to finding menopause care."I also realized that the only way to scale this and give access to all women was to do it virtually," Strober said. "It's about connecting women to excellent care regardless of where they live."During a virtual appointment, patients can discuss perimenopause and menopause symptoms like hot flashes and brain fog. Interventions can range from lifestyle coaching to prescription medication, and Midi providers can refer patients to in-person treatments when needed. Some insurance plans cover care if the providers are in-network with PPO plans. Strober is focused on scaling insurance coverage so more women can use Midi.Strober said that as of August, about 100,000 women had used Midi in 2024. Most are between 40 and 50, and the average age is 46."It's growing really fast, and women are coming to us in increasing numbers for more issues than we originally expected," Strober said. She added that while Midi isn't intended to be a primary-care clinic, users' interest in speaking with providers about more than hormonal health demonstrates that "there are just not enough providers who are trained in women-centered care."Strober attributed an increased desire for digital platforms like Midi to improvements in telehealth technology and to women's demands for better care. The relative ease of virtual appointments is also a benefit.<h2>Investing in solutions</h2>A report by Silicon Valley Bank published last year said <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.svb.com/trends-insights/reports/womens-health-report/">venture-capital funding for women's health companies</a> had surged by 314% since 2018.But Strober believes that the industry has just taken off and that founders must convince investors that more money can be made. Midi Health is on its way toward doing that; the company closed a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/midi-health-raising-series-b-menopause-2024-1">$60 million Series B round</a> in April.Agarwal said that as more companies enter the healthcare industry, they'll need to consider patient needs beyond health, such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-hospitals-dont-have-policies-for-new-ai-tech-survey-2024-2">privacy</a>. She argued that minimizing data collection and communicating about data use are imperative."Digital solutions do not replace in-person services, but they are a brilliant addition to in-person care," Agarwal added.Wisdom acknowledged that virtual care isn't a cure-all and told BI that while Health In Her HUE's main goal is connecting women of color to culturally responsive clinicians, she hopes for a future where all providers offer that level of care."We don't want Black patients always to feel like they need to be seen by a Black healthcare provider," Wisdom said. "They should feel comfortable and confident knowing that any provider they engage with can provide them with high-quality care."But for now, Wisdom said, virtual care can be a path toward accessibility. Health In Her HUE raised <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/08/health-in-her-hue-closes-3-million-seed-round/">$3 million in a seed round</a> in January, and Wisdom and her team are hopeful about features they can build to create a space where users know they're getting accurate information from medical providers who understand their experiences. Wisdom and her team plan to create an app and possibly partner with a telehealth company to offer virtual appointments."It feels good to build a solution that's useful for my community," Wisdom said. "I'm glad my energy is being used for a mission that deeply resonates with me."

Women face bias and disparities in healthcare. Digital tools could help meet their needs.

Paul got his first bottle of pills from Hims in May. He said he didn't really need the generic Viagra, but after a friend bragged that he'd been using it for years to "go multiple rounds," Paul figured he'd give it a shot. So he signed in to Hims and found that the process of getting it from the direct-to-consumer telehealth company was almost disturbingly easy. Paul, who's in his early 40s, answered some multiple-choice questions online, a doctor supposedly reviewed his responses, and then a bottle of pills showed up in the mail a couple of days later.He's used the drug twice, though it doesn't really work how he thought it would. Nobody had explained what to expect, which probably wouldn't be the case in a regular healthcare setting. When I asked Paul (a pseudonym) why he didn't just go to his regular doctor for the issue, his answer was succinct: "Speed, convenience, positive my doctor would say no." His primary-care provider had mentioned a while back that he thought Viagra was overprescribed.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/booming-direct-consumer-healthcare-business-2018-10">direct-to-consumer health industry</a> has exploded in recent years. The pandemic accelerated the rise of telehealth, which these DTC companies are a part of both culturally and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dea-proposed-rules-controlled-substances-buprenorphine-startups-2023-3">legally</a>. Grand View Research estimates that the global telehealth market was worth $101.2 billion in 2023 and that it's growing rapidly. Multiple startups have popped up to capitalize on this growth, with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-investment-firms-vcs-making-most-telehealth-investments-2021-7">venture capital and investor dollars flowing in</a>. Hims &amp; Hers Health has a market cap of over $4 billion. Ro, one of the other main players in the industry, has raised over $1 billion and has a valuation of $6.6 billion, according to PitchBook.These companies sell a wide array of products to help with everything from weight loss to mental health. Much of their business proposition, however, is targeted specifically at young men and, more specifically, at their insecurities. Are you worried about your hairline? Your fertility? What about getting an erection? Are you scared to talk to a doctor face-to-face about any of this? Well, Hims promises you can "skip the awkward doctor visits" and offers "ED meds from your couch." A "healthy, handsome you" is only a click away."These platforms are basically set up to minimize the distance from advertising and hooking the consumer to getting a prescription in their hand," said Matthew McCoy, an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. "The advantage of that is efficiency — people, understandably, don't have a lot of time always to spend on these sorts of things. The downside of that is risks that you're not making fully informed decisions or that the kind of advice that you're getting is being colored by the company's financial incentives rather than a doctor's honest opinion of what's in your medical best interest."Those at the forefront of the DTC health revolution have American guys right where they want them: insecure, on edge, and ready to open their wallets.There are some variations in how these services work, but the gist is this: You go to a website (probably because you saw some ad for it), fill out a questionnaire about your condition, maybe chat with a doctor (though often you don't), and then voilà, a prescription is on its way to you in what's promised to be discreet packaging."It typically bypasses traditional healthcare settings, and often there's little to no involvement of a healthcare provider," said Ashwini Nagappan, a doctoral candidate at UCLA's Fielding School of Public Health who has studied DTC medicine and ethics.There is some altruistic appeal: DTC medication services can help with access for people who live in remote areas or can't easily get to a doctor. But for many clients, and especially young men, the upside is that it's simply more convenient than a traditional appointment."In general, men are less likely to utilize healthcare when compared to women," said Joshua Halpern, the chief scientific officer at Posterity Health, a male-fertility clinic, and an adjunct assistant professor of urology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. "And we know that many young men don't even have a primary-care physician to begin with, so the process of establishing care can be daunting, especially when it can take months to get an appointment."Even if they do have a relationship with a medical provider, it may not be the type where they feel comfortable bringing up sensitive or stigmatized issues. Research indicates that when it comes to seeking care for sexual-health concerns, privacy is a primary consideration for young men. A review of literature on DTC telemedicine and men notes that men who use DTC platforms <a target="_blank" href="https://wjmh.org/DOIx.php?id=10.5534/wjmh.230057">cite convenience</a> as an important motivation, as well as embarrassment and discretion. Financial factors, interestingly, aren't very much in play. A survey conducted in late 2019 and early 2020 found that men under 40 and in the middle-income range were <a target="_blank" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36310185/">likelier to use</a> DTC telehealth services than older, wealthier men.While DTC services may help with timely access and do some work on destigmatizing certain issues, there are substantial drawbacks. Men using these services might not get the comprehensive evaluation they need to uncover underlying conditions and address their overall health, Halpern said, and they may not be seeing a healthcare provider who is most appropriate for managing their condition."They can also end up paying more for care that would be more affordable elsewhere or even covered by their medical insurance," he said.His research suggests that some platforms may also be providing what's known as guideline-discordant care, meaning patients are getting unnecessary tests and inappropriate treatments, such as testosterone replacement for men who are trying to conceive, which can be detrimental in some cases. Plenty of doctors have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doctors-worry-about-how-startup-hims-prescribes-viagra-online-2019-2">sounded the alarm about DTC telehealth companies</a>, and some firms have gotten into legal trouble, too. The Department of Justice has charged the leaders of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-adderall-targeted-advertising-opioid-crisis-cerebral-purdue-pharma-2023-7">ADHD-focused telehealth company Done</a> with fraud over its Adderall prescription practices and advertising.For all the issues with DTC companies, it's fair to note that traditional healthcare settings are far from perfect. Patients can lie to their doctors in person. Providers don't always have a full view of their patients' health or everything they're taking. Navigating insurance and appointments is a hassle. But handing out drugs in a faceless manner across the internet is markedly different from what has happened in healthcare historically, and it presents different risks. "When you're in person or you're doing telehealth through a more established healthcare entity, there is a little bit more collection of your medical history," Nagappan said.While DTC platforms say they serve a valuable purpose in getting young men to address medical needs they would otherwise ignore, the monetary factors involved are different from those at a regular physician's office."These companies are in the business of selling drugs," McCoy said. "A medical provider ideally is in the business of providing the best medical care, which sometimes involves writing prescriptions for drugs, but sometimes involves alternative modalities or nothing at all."One man who got generic Viagra through Hims told me he went through the platform to avoid the "8 million" questions his doctor would ask — and he knew he'd probably be approved. "I mean, whenever you deal with these drug companies that are trying to do direct-to-consumer, you've got to know that their doctors are just checking a box," he said. "They're not going to give you too much crap. If you have a pulse, they're going to give you a prescription." (He was also concerned about privacy, but he said the packaging wasn't as discreet as he'd hoped — "Hims" was on the shipping label, and he knows his mail guy.)These companies make money if you buy something, and it's even better if you set up a recurring subscription, so advertising that leans into young men's fears can be especially fruitful."You might say that makes them a target for high-pressure, potentially even manipulative marketing in a way that we should worry about," McCoy said.The dynamic is similar to pharmaceutical ads on TV for drugs like Ozempic or Cialis. Instead of getting advice from disinterested parties, like their doctors, people are getting messages from quite interested parties — pharmaceutical companies — hoping they show up at their next medical visit and make an ask.A spokesperson for Hims said in an email that a "core tenet" of the company is "to help people address issues that may be hard to talk about, but are important for feeling good and being healthy" and that its platform and customer experience is "is designed to help customers bypass the various hurdles that come with getting the care and accessing necessary treatments." When asked how doctors are compensated, they said it's a time-based model that takes into consideration time spent and "certain efficiency metrics," but it's not about prescriptions written. The spokesperson emphasized that "the health and well-being of our customers will always be our top priority" and confirmed that fees are only charged if someone receives treatment. A spokesperson for Ro said that it's a "misconception" that its patient base skews younger and that 87% are over 30. They said that providers' prescribing decisions do not impact their compensation and provided a link to their operating system.DTC telehealth can play a role in people getting treatment they may otherwise not seek, whether for alcoholism or depression or hair loss, and at the very least it can help people realize they're not so alone in whatever issue that's ailing them. While I was reporting for this story, a friend told me he got a hair-loss prescription from Hims after his barber mentioned his bald spot — to me, that seems fine.But it's hard not to recognize these companies' financial incentives and the ways they may distort care. They're prescribing all sorts of drugs constantly and not asking too many questions in the process. That young guy listening to a hair-loss ad on his favorite podcast isn't just a patient — he's a customer.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/emily-stewart">Emily Stewart</a> is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.

Online health providers are preying on young men's worst fears

Women with hormonal condition <keyword id="20290460" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="PCOS" source="keywords">PCOS</keyword> could be at about 50% more risk of developing <keyword id="20066093" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="eating-disorders" source="keywords">eating disorders</keyword>, including bingeing, according to a new study. Affecting roughly one in eight to 10 women in their reproductive ages globally, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is marked by higher-than-usual testosterone levels and related symptoms, including irregular menstrual cycles and excess body hair. The analysis is the first to confirm "an increased risk of specific eating disorders, including <keyword id="22729705" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bulimia" source="keywords">bulimia</keyword> nervosa, commonly called bulimia, and binge eating disorder" among women affected by the hormonal condition, according to first author Laura Cooney, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin, US. Bulimia is marked by episodes of binge-eating, followed by resorting to means to avoid weight gain, which can include induced vomiting, excessive exercising or fasting. Women having PCOS are known to be at a higher risk of experiencing <keyword id="19946458" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="metabolic-disorders" source="keywords">metabolic disorders</keyword>, such as diabetes, and <keyword id="22729706" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reproductive-issues" source="keywords">reproductive issues</keyword>, including infertility. "Many women with PCOS experience weight stigma, and that can be detrimental to mental health generally, and contribute to disordered eating," Cooney said. For the study, published in The <keyword id="22729707" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="journal-of-clinical-endocrinology-and-metabolism" source="keywords">Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism</keyword>, the authors looked at results from 20 cross-sectional studies across nine countries. Data from close to 29,000 women with PCOS and over 2.5 lakh women not having the condition were included in the analysis. "Individuals with PCOS had higher odds of any eating disorder, which persisted in studies where PCOS was diagnosed by Rotterdam criteria," the authors wrote. According to the Rotterdam criteria, women are diagnosed with PCOS when they have two of these three key features -- increased numbers of ovarian follicles containing immature eggs (called polycystic ovaries) seen on ultrasound, slightly higher levels of testosterone or related symptoms like excess body hair, and irregular or no menstrual periods. Looking at the body mass indices (<keyword id="20014829" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BMI" source="keywords">BMI</keyword>) of women, the researchers found that both women with normal and those having a higher weight had a higher risk of disordered eating, suggesting that the risk of developing eating disorders did not depend on BMI. "Our findings emphasise the importance of screening women with PCOS for eating disorders before clinicians share any lifestyle advice," Cooney said. "The lifestyle modifications we often recommend for women with PCOS -- including physical activity, healthy diet and behaviour modifications -- could hinder the recovery process for eating disorders. Health care providers need to be vigilant about screening for eating disorders in this population," Cooney said.

Women with PCOS at higher risk developing disordered eating, study finds

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Women voters could prove key to Kamala Harris' election bid.</li><li>Women tend to register and vote at higher rates than men.</li></ul>With the US election drawing ever nearer, both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are turning their attention to a few specific voter groups in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/battleground-states-2024-presidential-election-road-white-house-2022-12">a number of key swing states that will likely determine who will be sitting in the White House come January</a>.One group where Harris will hope to make big gains is women, who tend to register and vote at higher rates than men.And it seems to be going well for the vice president so far.Since President Joe Biden dropped out of the running for the election in late July, a number of polls have shown women leaning increasingly toward the Democrats. A recent national Suffolk University/USA Today poll showed women favored Harris by 21 points.A key area closely connected to gender voting patterns — and which has helped tip elections toward the Democrats in recent years — is abortion rights.After the Roe v. Wade ruling was overturned in 2022, ending women's right to abortion nationally, the US saw a rise in reproductive rights activism as many states imposed abortion restrictions or bans. Harris' campaign has sought to build on their concerns and activism.Harris reshaped the election race by "advocating for women's health, reproductive freedom and abortion access more vocally and more powerfully than Biden did and than the Trump/Vance ticket is," Shana Gadarian, a professor of political science at Syracuse University, has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://news.syr.edu/blog/2024/07/25/not-all-women-will-vote-for-kamala-harris-but-a-lot-might/">said</a>."She ties access to reproductive care to a theme of progress and freedom in ways that Biden did not," she added.Women-led political action committees (PACs) and organizations have also been rallying behind the vice president over the issue.Ali Monge, the head of the Women for American Values and Ethics PAC, told Business Insider that in a post-Roe world, women "want our voices heard.""Women are fired up again, and [Harris] being a minority as well says a lot. It's pretty empowering and a lot of youth are excited about that," she added.Jessica Mackler, the president of EMILY'S List, another PAC that supports abortion rights, said, "The energy and excitement that we see around the vice president's candidacy are because she has led her whole life on issues that really matter to women voters and matter to voters across the country, like reproductive freedom."For his part, Trump seems well aware of the threat the gender gap poses to his election bid, and he has continued to try to walk a fine line on issues like abortion by keeping the Evangelical voters in his base enthused without sacrificing women who support abortion access. He has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-harris-contraception-debate-vance-2f11a66ab4619fcb3d9917ee51a9c060">avoided answering</a> repeated questions about whether he would veto a national abortion ban.In August, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "My Administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights" — that's despite his previous claims that he was the most "pro-life president" in history.<h2 id="93477451-47aa-4c91-8e85-5b4066e6e158">Greek life</h2><div type="image" title="Donald Trump and Kamala Harris at their first presidential debate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania." height="768" width="1024" msid="113548355" hostid="261" sizebytes="34600"></div>Harris is also looking to her sorority sisters for support as the election looms.The vice president is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the US's oldest Black sorority and part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council — more commonly known as the Divine Nine.The roughly 4 million members that make up the council could play an important role in drumming up support for Harris, with members having <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/11/09/933117256/in-harris-black-sororities-and-fraternities-celebrate-one-of-their-own">previously backed her</a> as she rose through the political ranks."We have nine organizations, and if we all mobilize as we have, we're going to get the vote out," Tonya Ly, a founding member of the Run Sister Run PAC, told BI."They've already sent out a statement to mobilize because they can't directly endorse a candidate, but they can mobilize and get voters out. So they're having voter registration drives. They're figuring out how to get people to the polls. This happens every year, but it's on a larger scale now because we want change in the country," she added.Black women are also getting behind Harris' running mate, Tim Walz, who has established himself as a reproductive rights messenger in his own right.As governor of Minnesota, Walz has signed legislation to establish a new Office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls and has also sought to protect abortion laws."He is the right white man for the job," Brenda Coles, a Virginia-based activist told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/21/black-women-tim-walz-00175662">Politico</a>.Walz has also opened up about his own family's fertility journey."Even if you've never experienced the hell of infertility, I guarantee you know somebody who has," Walz said at the DNC in August. "I remember praying each night for a call with good news, the pit in my stomach when the phone would ring, and the agony when we heard the treatments hadn't worked.""I'm letting you in on how we started our family because that's a big part of what this election is about—freedom," he added.Walz also offers a sharp contrast to Trump's VP pick, JD Vance, who has faced public backlash over a number of controversial resurfaced comments about women, including his now infamous labeling of Harris and other high-profile Democrats as "childless cat ladies."Announcing her endorsement of Harris on Instagram, pop star Taylor Swift made particular note of the two candidates' running mates, saying she had been "heartened and impressed" by Harris' selection of Walz as he had "been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman's right to her own body for decades."She also took the opportunity to take a jab at Vance, signing off her post: "Taylor Swift ... Childless Cat Lady."<h2 id="f2aedbc2-a106-42fb-82c5-614b14e86171">The Swift effect</h2><div type="image" title="A composite image of Taylor Swift smiling as she performs with a guitar onstage and of Kamala Harris speaking from a podium and pointing upward." height="1500" width="2000" msid="113548356" hostid="261" sizebytes="216592"></div>Harris has received a host of major celebrity endorsements since Biden dropped out of the race, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-kamala-harris-instagram-twitter-elon-musk-2024-9">big names like Swift</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hollywood-endorse-kamala-harris-george-clooney-charlixcx-2024-7">Billie Eilish</a>. Beyoncé has also seemingly shown her support for the vice president, allowing her to use her song "Freedom" for her presidential campaign — the same song <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beyonce-threatens-cease-and-desist-trump-campaign-freedom-video-1235084830/">she moved to block Trump from using</a>.While celebrity endorsements are typically unlikely to have too much of an effect on voting, there are exceptions.And Swift and Beyoncé have the kind of global followings that could generate a sizable impact.As Darrell West, a senior fellow in the Governance Studies program at the Brookings Institution <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-beyonce-and-taylor-swift-endorsements-could-help-harris/">writes</a>: "The musicians' strong followings among young people, African Americans, and women, combined with their demonstrated ability to amplify another individual's messages, would suggest they could be very helpful to Harris.""In a close race, little things matter so it is possible that Swift/Beyoncé endorsements could be decisive in areas where the vice president needs a boost," he continued, adding: "These superstar endorsements could matter in exactly the same way as when Winfrey helped Obama more than a decade ago."

How reproductive rights, Greek life, and celebrity endorsements could prove key to Kamala Harris' bid for women voters 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>97% of countries will fall below replacement level fertility rates by the end of the century, according to a new study.</li><li>Shrinking fertility rates pose economic challenges of workforces shrinking and aging populations.</li></ul>By 2100, over 97% of countries will have fertility rates below the replacement level, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00550-6/fulltext#cestitle300">a Lancet study forecasts</a>.With the fertility rates expected to fall below the necessary replacement level to sustain population size over time, experts warn we are approaching a "demographically divided world."The study, conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington's School of Medicine, projects significant economic challenges for many middle- and high-income nations grappling with a shrinking workforce and the escalating demands of aging populations.By 2050, 76% of countries and territories are projected to dip below replacement-level fertility rates, a figure expected to surge to 97% by the century's end.Per the study, from 1950 to 2021, the global total fertility rate dropped by over half, while annual live births peaked in 2016 and have since declined.A seismic shift in global birth patterns indicates that over half of all live births are expected to occur in low- and lower-middle-income countries by 2100.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-wrong-about-fertility-rates-global-warming-demographers-say-2022-9">Elon Musk has voiced concern about what he regards as impending "population collapse."</a> He has said humankind needs to at least "at least maintain our numbers" while describing dwindling population rates as a "bigger risk" to civilization than climate change.Low-income regions, including Sub-Saharan Africa in particular, are slated to witness a substantial increase in their share of global live births.The study calls for tailored policy interventions at both national and global levels to bolster access to modern contraceptives, and education could curb exponential birth rates. Conversely, pro-natal policies may prevent some countries from dropping to extremely low fertility levels.<div type="image" title="A crowded street in New York City" height="683" width="1024" msid="108755701" hostid="261" sizebytes="65800"></div>There is concern that declining populations might lead to measures limiting reproductive rights.National governments must plan for threats to economies, food security, health, and geopolitical security due to demographic changes.Fertility rates have halved globally over the past 70 years, with only six countries expected to have fertility rates above replacement level in 2100.Almost every country's population is expected to decrease by the end of the century.There is concern that declining populations might lead to measures limiting reproductive rights.As nations grapple with these projections, the study highlights the critical role of women's rights and reproductive health initiatives in shaping future demographic landscapes. The report also underscores the pressing need for international cooperation and innovative solutions to ensure sustainable development in an evolving world.A demographer and a geographer told Business Insider that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-wrong-about-fertility-rates-global-warming-demographers-say-2022-9#:~:text=Elon%20Musk%20says%20'population%20collapse,say%20that%20won't%20happen.&amp;text=Elon%20Musk%20is%20scared%20low,shrinks%20it'll%20be%20gradual">when the population shrinks it'll be gradual.</a>

The world faces a low-fertility future that will 'completely reconfigure' the global economy

Increased intake of refined rice and wheat as well as processed red meat, and low consumption of whole grains is causing a significant increase in the global cases of diabetes, according to a study. The study, published in the journal <keyword id="298915" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="nature-medicine" source="Orion">Nature Medicine</keyword>, showed that poor diet contributed to over 14.1 million cases of Type-2 diabetes, representing over 70 per cent of new diagnoses globally. They found factors such as drinking too much fruit juice and not eating enough non-starchy vegetables, nuts, or seeds, had less of an impact on new cases of the disease. "Our study suggests poor carbohydrate quality is a leading driver of diet-attributable type 2 diabetes globally, and with important variation by nation and over time," said <keyword id="319832" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="dariush-mozaffarian" source="Orion">Dariush Mozaffarian</keyword>, Professor of Nutrition and dean for policy at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. "These new findings reveal critical areas for national and global focus to improve nutrition and reduce devastating burdens of diabetes," Mozaffarian added. The analysis, based on a research model of dietary intake in 184 countries from 1990 and 2018, revealed that poor diet is causing a larger proportion of total Type-2 diabetes incidence in men versus women, in younger versus older adults, and in urban versus rural residents at the global level. Diabetes is linked to a number of diseases like the risk of heart attacks and strokes, nerve damage, blindness and kidney failure, among others. "Left unchecked and with incidence only projected to rise, Type-2 diabetes will continue to impact population health, economic productivity, health care system capacity, and drive health inequities worldwide," said first author Meghan O'Hearn, who conducted the research while a doctoral candidate at the Friedman School. "These findings can help inform nutritional priorities for clinicians, policymakers, and private sector actors as they encourage healthier dietary choices that address this global epidemic," she noted. According to the latest <keyword id="20905" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="international-diabetes-federation" source="Orion">International Diabetes Federation</keyword> (IDF), the global prevalence of Type-2 diabetes in adults was 536.6 million people (10.5 per cent) in 2021, and there would be 783.2 million people (12.2 per cent) living with diabetes worldwide by 2045. In India, there are estimated 77 million people above the age of 18 years are suffering from diabetes (Type-2) and nearly 25 million are prediabetics (at a higher risk of developing diabetes in near future), revealed data from the <keyword id="43588" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="world-health-organization" source="Orion">World Health Organization</keyword>. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/reliance-capital-resolution-process-completion-deadline-extended-to-july-16/articleshow/99580422.cms">Reliance Capital resolution process completion deadline extended to July 16</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/3bhks-are-the-new-2bhks-as-indians-yearn-for-a-study-room/articleshow/99578976.cms">3BHKs are the new 2BHKs as Indians yearn for a study room</a>

Refined grains, processed red meat behind global spike in diabetes

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Some people are rethinking whether to have children because of the climate crisis. </li><li>Over half the people in a recent survey said environmental concerns made them reconsider having kids.</li></ul>Amanda Opuszynski, 35, is trying to get pregnant with her first child. But amid the excitement and frustrations of trying to conceive, she is navigating another concern: deep worry about how the <a href="https://www.insider.com/climate-change-in-the-next-decade-2019-11">climate crisis</a> will affect the world her child grows up in. Sometimes, Opuszynski even wonders whether having a baby is the right choice at all."It's really scary to imagine the way things could be, the general uncertainty of it all," she told Insider. "I'm trying to weigh that fear against hope."Opuszynski isn't alone. Last year, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/learning/best-climate-change-books">climate-related</a> disasters reached <a href="https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2022/01/the-top-10-global-weather-and-climate-change-events-of-2021/">record levels</a>, with <a href="https://www.insider.com/colorado-wildfires-thousands-flee-600-homes-destroyed-2021-12">wildfires</a>, hurricanes, and heat waves causing billions of dollars in damage. That global turmoil is affecting families on the most personal level.In a <a href="https://modernfertility.com/blog/climate-change-and-fertility-survey/">poll</a> of 2,800 people, more than half the respondents said they were reconsidering having kids or having more kids because of climate concerns. Others — about 26% — said they were considering adoption instead of having biological children because of climate concerns. Bailey, 27, is among those who have changed their family planning because of climate concerns. She asked to go by her first name to protect her privacy."I am OK with being a dog mom, but if my partner really wanted to have children, I would consider adoption," she said. <h2>A tense conversation</h2>Choices about family planning are always fraught but even more so when family members have different views about the climate emergency and the importance of preparing for a grim future.Bailey's mom simply can't understand her daughter's decisions: the big ones, like not having a child, and the smaller ones, like her insistence on recycling and eating vegan."It has taken me a long time to accept that my values don't actually align with my family," she said.For Opuszynski, the friction is even closer to home. Her husband, Daniel, has two biological sons from a previous marriage. He would prefer not to have any more children because he has deep concerns about providing for his kids in a world where there are fewer resources and more instability."He feels a lot of fear that he won't be able to protect them or provide them with basic resources as things get bad," Opuszynski said.Daniel is more open to adopting, but Opuszynski has a strong desire for a biological child. She's been thinking about the reason for that a lot lately."Do I want this because I'm a woman, and it's socially ingrained in me that you're not a complete woman until you're a biological mother?" she said. <div type="image" title="Amanda Opuszynski and her husband" height="809" width="1080" msid="90710492" hostid="261"></div><h2>A more mainstream concern</h2>When Opuszynski got married more than two years ago, her friends thought that Daniel was extreme in his concerns about the environment and the influence they had on his family planning."Now, I find they're much more receptive," Opuszynski said. "I have had friends put off having children for similar reasons."Bailey said she believed the more people learned about the climate crisis, the more it would weigh on major life decisions."If my mom would have had more exposure to the resources to learn more about environmental concerns, she would have chosen a different path for us," she said.Opuszynski's mother insists that every generation has its challenges — whether it's war, famine, or social change. People have continued to have babies regardless, she says."I can see both sides," Opuszynski said. "I feel a little stuck in the middle."<h2>An uncertain future</h2>Parents never know what the future will hold, but the climate crisis is making that feeling more acute for people like Opuszynski."We have no idea what kind of world that child will grow up in," she said. "Not knowing how things will be makes it really hard to make a decision that you can't take back. I'm grieving the loss of simplicity."She can see a future where there are dire restrictions on resources and she regrets having a child to support, but she can also see one where people work toward solutions to lessen the effects of climate change and she regrets not having a baby.For Bailey, the answer is more clear-cut. "There is too much outside of my control to ensure my children have a peaceful and healthy planet to grow up on," she said.

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