PFAS Limit in Water? Novo Nordisk to Cut Insulin Prices; Cosmetic Endo Trending

The Biden administration proposed the first-ever limit on PFAS in drinking water. If finalized, the nationwide limit on the endocrine-disrupting chemicals PFOA and PFOS would be capped at 4 parts per trillion. (The Hill)

Over the past 20 years, prevalence of metabolically healthy obesity significantly increased from 3% to 7%, according to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. (JAMA Network Open)

Following in Eli Lilly’s footsteps, Novo Nordisk announced plans to cut the price of several of its insulin products by up to 75% next year. (Reuters)

And by cutting insulin prices, Eli Lilly may now potentially save millions of dollars it would have paid in rebates to state Medicaid programs, health policy experts said. (Politico)

Muscle mass loss: it’s one of the unintended side effects some patients on semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) are experiencing. (Insider)

Hypothetically, if all Medicare beneficiaries with obesity used semaglutide for weight loss, “the cost would exceed the entire Part D budget and would be greater than the total excess healthcare spending associated with obesity for people of all ages,” said health economists in a New England Journal of Medicine perspective.

Women — especially those 60 and older — may be overdiagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism when using manufacturer-recommended reference ranges for serum TSH, free thyroxine, and free triiodothyronine. Instead, age- and sex-specific reference ranges should be used, researchers said. (Thyroid)

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed an executive order supporting gender-affirming healthcare. Meanwhile, a bill is awaiting votes to make Minnesota a “trans refuge state.” (AP)

Some parents are turning to “cosmetic endocrinology” to help their otherwise healthy kids grow with human growth hormones. (New York Post)

Air pollution may speed up osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, particularly with nitrogen oxide’s effect on lumbar spine bone mineral density. (eClinicalMedicine)

WeightWatchers is moving into the diabetes and obesity drugs market via a telehealth deal. (Wall Street Journal)