Home-schoolers and MAGA acherents more likely to reject vaccines

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

A new study examines whether smartphone use on the toilet is linked to more hemorrhoids and longer sit-times

• About two-thirds of people in the study used their smartphones while sitting on the toilet, and those users were much more likely to stay there for over five minutes.

• After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, fiber intake, exercise, and straining, smartphone toilet-use was associated with a ~46% higher chance of having hemorrhoids.

• There were no major differences in constipation or frequency of straining between phone-users and non-users, suggesting that the extra sitting time (not straining) may be the link.

If you find yourself scrolling, checking social media, or catching up on news while sitting on the toilet, youre far from alone. But could that habit be doing more than just eating up your time?

A recent study conducted at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center raises the possibility that using a smartphone during bathroom visits may increase the risk of developing hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids are common, uncomfortable, and costly in terms of health care. While things like constipation, low-fiber diets, and pregnancy are established risk factors, researchers wanted to explore whether this modern habit of toilet scrolling also plays a role.

I was struck by this fantastic old study from 1989 in The Lancet on hemorrhoids and reading the newspaper on the toilet, researcher Dr. Trisha Pasricha said in a news release. They looked at how many patients read the newspaper on the toilet and then doctors had a look to see how many of them had hemorrhoids.

But that study did find that there was this association. More hemorrhoids were found amongst people who spent time reading on the toilet. Now in 2025, I don't think anyone's reading the newspaper, but we know everybody's on their phones in the bathroom. So I thought we needed to update this literature for the modern TikTok era.

The study

The study recruited 125 adults who were undergoing routine screening colonoscopies. Before their procedures, participants filled out detailed surveys about their demographics (age, sex, BMI), lifestyle (diet, physical activity), and specific bathroom behaviors: how often they used a phone while on the toilet, how long they stayed, and what they did with their phones (e.g. read news or use social media).

Doctors then checked for hemorrhoids during the colonoscopies. To ensure fairness and reduce bias, two independent endoscopists reviewed a subset of high-quality images to confirm internal hemorrhoids.

The analysis included adjusting for known risk factors like fiber intake, straining, exercise, etc., so the researchers could assess whether phone use was associated with hemorrhoids independent of those factors.

The results

Heres what they found:

• Prevalence of phone use: Roughly 66% of the participants reported using smartphones while on the toilet.

• Longer sit times: Among phone users, 37.3% stayed more than five minutes per toilet visit, compared with only 7.1% of non-users.

• Increased risk: After controlling for other factors, use of a smartphone on the toilet was associated with a 46% increased odds of having hemorrhoids.

• No difference in straining or constipation: The groups did not differ significantly in their reports of straining, constipation, or related gastrointestinal symptoms, suggesting that the extra sitting time may be the key factor.

• Demographics: Smartphone-users were younger on average ( 55 years) than non-users ( 62 years). Also, phone users had lower weekly physical activity.

What we can take away

The study doesnt prove cause and effect it can't show that phones cause hemorrhoids but it does suggest a strong association. If nothing else, it raises a simple habit-change possibility.

My colleagues and I in GI, we all tell our patients not to spend longer than a couple minutes on the toilet, Dr. Pasricha said.

I think whats happening is that time sort of slows down when youre scrolling, and people dont realize just how much longer theyre sitting there.

A recent study reveals whats going wrong and where with child car-seat and seatbelt use

• Nearly 70% of U.S. children under 13 in crashes involving a fatality were using restraints improperly or not at all.

• Common misuses include moving too soon to less protective restraints, seating children in the front, or failing to buckle them in.

• The risk is highest among older kids (412), in low-resources communities, and in certain geographic hotspots; stronger state policies seem to help.

We all know car crashes can be deadly especially for children. But a new study shows just how often safety fails when it comes to using child restraint systems (CRS), like car seats and seatbelts.

According to research out of Lurie Childrens Hospital, nearly 70% of children under age 13 involved in U.S. car crashes with at least one fatality were not in a properly used or age-appropriate restraint.

That means even when seats, belts and laws exist, the people entrusted with children too often arent getting it quite right. The implications are huge: safety isnt just about having the right gear, but about using it correctly, all the time.

Given the continued problem of suboptimal child passenger safety practices among children across the country, there is a need for innovative, targeted programs to promote correct and consistent use of age-appropriate car seats, restraints and seating locations, lead author Arthi Kozhumam, MScGH, said in a news release.

The study

To understand what went wrong and where, the researchers tapped into a massive data source: the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) a national database that records car crashes resulting in deaths.

Heres what they focused on:

• Who: Children under 13 years old involved in crashes with at least one fatality.

• What they measured: Whether the child was using an age-appropriate CRS, whether they were prematurely moved to a less protective restraint, whether they were unrestrained at all, and whether they were seated in the front seat.

• Where and when: The study covered crashes from 2011 to 2021 across the U.S., and also examined community-level factors such as resources (Child Opportunity Index) and geographic concentration (hotspots) of poor restraint use.

• Policy angle: They also checked how state laws (how strict the laws are, fines for first time seatbelt or restraint violations) related to correct restraint use.
  

The results

The findings are sobering. Among the ~50,000 children studied:

• 36% were moved too early to a less protective restraint (for example, transitioning from a car seat to a booster or booster to seatbelt before safe to do so).

• 20% were unrestrained no seatbelt, no CRS.

• 15% were riding in the front seat (which is less safe for younger children overall).

• Further, 9% of those front-seat riders were unrestrained.
  

Certain groups were at greater risk:

• Kids aged 4-7 and 8-12 had higher rates of suboptimal restraint use.

• Children in communities with lower resources (using the Child Opportunity Index as a measure) were more likely to be improperly restrained.

• Certain counties across the U.S. stood out as hotspots where improper practices are much more common.
  

On a brighter note, the study found that in states with stronger child restraint laws including larger fines for first-offense violations there were significantly lower odds of children being improperly restrained.

A novel contribution of this research is our finding of geographic concentrations of suboptimal child passenger safety practices. These areas can be targeted for interventions, especially in the most vulnerable age groups, senior author Michelle Macy, M.D., M.S., said in the news release.

In addition to identifying individual factors and geographic areas that can be targeted for interventions, we show that state policy makes a huge difference in promoting safer transportation practices for child passengers.

Many patients would prefer to take a few pills than give themselves injections

• Patients on daily pill lost about 17% of body weight in trial

• Results nearly identical to injectable Wegovy

• New obesity pill race could bring easier options for patients

A new option beyond shots

For patients hoping to avoid needles, a pill form of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy may soon be an option. Novo Nordisk said in a press release thatpeople who took the daily pill in a clinical trial lost an average of 16.6% of their body weight over 64 weeks almost the same result seen with the widely used Wegovy injection. By comparison, people taking a placebo lost just 2.7%.

The findings raise hopes that oral versions of GLP-1 drugs could make weight management easier for millions. Demand for injections like Wegovy and Eli Lillys Zepbound has already far outstripped supply.

Rivalry that benefits patients

The new pill isnt on pharmacy shelves yet the Food and Drug Administration is reviewing Novo Nordisks application, with a decision expected later this year. Eli Lilly is not far behind, with its own obesity pill, called orforglipron, also moving toward FDA submission.

In Lillys recent study of nearly 1,700 adults with Type 2 diabetes, orforglipron helped patients lose weight and lower blood sugar. Experts say that because it doesnt need to be taken on an empty stomach, it could be easier to use than Novo Nordisks pill, which must be taken before eating or drinking.

What patients should know

The results are striking: nearly a third of participants on Novo Nordisks pill lost at least 20% of their body weight. Even those who didnt follow instructions exactly still lost an average of 13.6%. Participants also reported improved activity levels and cardiovascular health.

But convenience comes with caveats. Side effects were common: nearly half of users experienced nausea and about a third had vomiting. Most cases were mild to moderate, but about 7% of patients stopped treatment because of side effects. Lillys pill showed similar issues, with about 10% of people on the highest dose dropping out.

Looking ahead

Analysts expect obesity pills to become a multibillion-dollar market, and both companies say they are working to ensure supply, after months of shortages for their injectables.

For patients, the developments could soon mean more options and less reliance on weekly shots though experts stress that healthy lifestyle changes will remain essential alongside any medication.

Consumer takeaway

Who might benefit:

• Adults who are overweight or obese and have struggled with diet and exercise alone

• People who are uncomfortable with injectable medications

What to ask your doctor:

• Am I a candidate for a GLP-1 weight-loss drug?

• How do side effects compare between shots and pills?

• Will my insurance cover it if approved?

What to watch out for:

• Common side effects include nausea and vomiting

• Pills may need to be taken on an empty stomach and with timing restrictions

• Long-term safety and availability are still being studied

Timeline: When could the pills be available?

• Early 2025: Novo Nordisk expects an FDA decision on its Wegovy pill.

• Mid-to-late 2025: Eli Lilly plans to seek FDA approval for its pill, orforglipron.

• If approved: Both companies say they are scaling up production to meet demand and avoid shortages that have plagued injectables.

• Pharmacy shelves: Widespread availability could begin as soon as late 2025, depending on FDA review speed and manufacturing capacity.