Good morning! In today's issue, we examine the topic of workplace violence and what can be done to prevent it.

This week's SmartBrief Reader Poll, below, touches on the subject as well. We invite you to share your input, and view the results of last week's poll on vaccine guidance.

Low-income individuals show a higher prevalence of eating disorders, challenging the stereotype that these disorders affect only the affluent, according to a study in JAMA Network Open. The research notes that food insecurity can lead to unhealthy eating patterns and mental health issues, and experts warn that recent cuts to nutrition programs could exacerbate the situation.

Young athletes are increasingly losing sleep due to smartphone use, with studies linking screen time to delayed bedtimes and reduced rest. This sleep deprivation can impair athletic performance by slowing reaction and recovery times and weakening focus, among other issues. Experts suggest keeping devices out of bedrooms and powering down before bedtime to mitigate these effects. Researchers offer recommendations to improve young people's sleep health.

A study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice found that children with early-onset atopic dermatitis are at an increased risk of developing moderate to severe asthma. The study evaluated 10,688 children aged 5 to 11 years and found significant associations between early atopic dermatitis and asthma severity, suggesting that early identification and monitoring of atopic dermatitis in children could be crucial for managing asthma risk.

Researchers have developed a tool to track measles at the county level in the US, noting more than 1,350 cases in 42 counties by mid-August, the highest in over 30 years. The tool, detailed in the Journal of the American Medical Association, provides real-time data and maps to aid public health interventions and vaccination efforts.

Eli Lilly and Co. and Novo Nordisk are set to introduce oral obesity drugs in the US next year pending regulatory approval. These daily pills are expected to broaden the use of GLP-1 medications, traditionally administered as weekly injections. While Lilly's orforglipron shows less weight loss efficacy compared with Novo's oral semaglutide, the market is optimistic about the potential impact of the oral versions.

Oracle has introduced artificial intelligence tools to make patient portals more user-friendly and interactive as part of a broader effort to transform clunky, underused platforms into effective tools for patient engagement. AI tools may also transform EHR systems into more than billing platforms and make portals more responsive to patient and clinician needs. On the payer side, Optum CEO Patrick Conway says AI agents will be able to handle calls and provide benefit reviews immediately.

The Mayo Clinic has reduced unnecessary thyroid function tests by 15% and concurrent orders by 19% after implementing a guideline-based cascade approach, starting with thyroid-stimulating hormone tests. Since researchers added a cascade algorithm and prompts to the EHR system, the clinic has saved nearly $50,000 a year, researchers reported at a meeting of the College of American Pathologists.