It’s been known for some time that the body mass index (BMI) has some limitations.

A new study from Johns Hopkins University shows waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC) should be included when assessing patients with abdominal fat for risk of cardiovascular disease.

Guest/s

• Dr Michael Blaha, Professor of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for Cardiovascular Disease

References

• JACC: Risk Reclassification Beyond BMI by Waist Circumference and Waist-to-Hip Ratio Across 9 Cardiovascular Outcomes: Results From the Cross-Cohort Collaboration

Iron deficiency is one of the world’s most common nutritional disorders, affecting millions of women and children globally. The way we test for it now is time consuming, expensive and inaccessible for many.

A new rapid 'lateral flow' test is being trialled in the hope it will provide faster and more accurate results to help detect and treat deficiencies.

Guest/s

• Emily Eriksson, Senior Research Officer in immunology and infectious diseases, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute 

References

• Rapid test breakthrough could transform iron treatment worldwide

A recent study shows a lack of access to medical abortion care for women living in rural and remote areas, as discussed in our earlier story, Access to medical abortion still lacking.

We followed up with the college that upholds best practice in rural and remote care, to see how this is being addressed.

Guest/s

• Dr Rod Martin, President, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine

References

• BMJ: Longitudinal trends and characteristics of medication abortion provision in Australian general practice: a national open-cohort study using Medicine Insight, 2014 to 2021

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.

You can email us at [email protected]

• Pregnancy choices Tasmania

In the news:

• An increase in hospitalisations and overdose deaths is being driven by use of methamphetamine, cocaine and stimulant medications, particularly in men.
• A study looking at the global burden of disease from Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol shows the impact of LDL is falling in rich countries but going up in poorer countries.
• Pioneer of nutritional psychiatry, Professor Felice Jacka has been awarded a prestigious prize for her work.
• Vitamin B6 supplements are still being widely purchased, despite warnings of potential side effects. Does the TGA need to be acting more quickly to crack down on manufacturers?

Guest

• Deakin Distinguished Professor Felice Jacka OAM, Director, Food & Mood Centre, Deakin University

References

• Rise in drug-related deaths and hospitalisations driven by stimulants, annual NDARC reports find
• Global Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol—Leveraging Estimation for Action | Cardiology | JAMA | JAMA Network
• Laureates of the 2026 L'Oreal UNESCO for Women in Science International Awards
• Vitamin B6: too much, too little, too late? An analysis of salestrends in Australia from 2023 to 2025

‘Kate’ has a history of anorexia nervosa and was once hospitalised for the condition. Yet she was able to access GLP1s to control her weight via a telehealth provider, without being screened for an eating disorder. 

She says it was “criminally easy” and is speaking out to protect others. 

While Australian data on this issue is not yet published, a study from the United States shows a person with an eating disorder is twice as likely as someone without one, to access GLP1s for weight loss. According to their data, one in five people with eating disorders in the study were currently using them. 

An Australian clinical psychologist and expert says awareness of the need for eating disorder screening amongst general practitioners is patchy and that more needs to be done to educate about the risks of prescribing weight loss injections to patients.

If you or anyone you know needs help with an eating disorder: 

• Butterfly Foundation on 1800 334 673
• National Eating Disorder Collaboration
• Lifeline on 131 114  

Guest/s

• ‘Kate’ person with lived experience of anorexia nervosa  
• Dr Cheri Levinson, Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville and Director of the Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) lab
• Dr Nicholas Peiper, Professor, Epidemiology & Population Health, and  Chief Scientist, Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) Laboratory, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Louisville
• Dr Sarah Trobe, clinical psychologist and National Director of the National Eating Disorder Collaboration (NEDC)  

References

• AHPRA statement on Telehealth providers
• JAMA Psychiatry: Use and Misuse of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Among People With Eating Disorders

Surveys of acute pancreatitis are currently underway around Australia, in response to an increase in cases globally. 

A study from South Australia shows some surprising results with an increased incidence in young people, women and those from a higher socio-economic background.

Guest/s

• George Baretto, Professor of Surgery, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University 

References

• Epidemiological time trends in acute pancreatitis – A 16-year experience from South Australia

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.

You can email us at [email protected]

In the news:

• Getting an endometriosis diagnosis is difficult in more ways than one. A new saliva test developed overseas is being trialled as a way to help those living with the condition. If it works in real world trials, it will indicate the probability of endometriosis, to detect whether or not more invasive testing is needed.
• Misinformation about Vitamin K injections for newborn babies is rife on social media. We look at the evidence.
• People are travelling to South Korea to get a full medical work-up including scans, blood tests and endoscopies. The trip might be fun, but is all that testing really necessary?

References

• Saliva test for endometriosis lacks real-world evidence, Australian experts say
• Vitamin K Prophylaxis in Newborns and Bleeding in Infancy
• Blood tests and ultrasounds: Korea is becoming one of the world's global healthcare hubs

Diagnosing Alzheimer's disease currently requires either a PET scan or a lumbar puncture, both of which can be expensive and inaccessible for those with symptoms. 

Clinicians, researchers, government and industry partners have come together in a new arrangement to trial a blood test that uses biomarkers for the disease, in the hope it will aid diagnosis.

Guest/s

• Professor Matthew Kiernan, Chief Executive Officer and Institute Director, NeuRA (Neuroscience Research Australia) 

References

• Test that could identify signs of Alzheimer's disease 20 years earlier greenlit for trials