A study presented at ObesityWeek found that adolescents who reduced their body mass index by at least 10% over 26 weeks by following a reduced-calorie diet had decreased fat mass but maintained lean mass and bone mineral content. The study involved 126 adolescents with severe obesity who followed a 1,200-calorie-per-day diet for a year.

A study from the University of Utah and Intermountain Health indicates that a watchful waiting strategy for children with acute otitis media can significantly reduce unnecessary antibiotic use without compromising outcomes. In the study, treatment failure and recurrence rates were low for both immediate antibiotic therapy and watchful waiting. "When watchful waiting was utilized, clinical outcomes were favorable as evidenced by the infrequent need for a new antibiotic prescription in the 30 days after the index visit," study authors wrote.

Identifying atypical motor patterns early opens the door to interventions that can completely change a child's developmental future. This accredited activity shows you how to spot delays using a 30-second, 4-position observational exam.

A study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice found that a 30-mg maintenance dose of peanut protein in oral immunotherapy may effectively increase tolerance in children with peanut allergies. The study, involving 51 children, showed that 76.5% of those on the 30-mg dose tolerated at least 443 mg of peanut protein, indicating potential for lower doses in treatment protocols.

Children whose fathers used the anti-seizure and mood stablizing medication valproate within three months before conception are more likely to develop neurodevelopmental disorders by age 12, compared with children whose fathers used lamotrigine or levetiracetam, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. The research found no increased risk of congenital malformations and has prompted precautionary measures in Europe for men using valproate.

The ongoing controversy surrounding the gut microbiome and autism is highlighted by a recent paper in Neuron, which critiques the evidence linking the two as weak and inconsistent. Researchers Dorothy Bishop and colleagues argue that existing studies suffer from small sample sizes and methodological issues, leading to unreliable conclusions. While some experts believe newer studies offer more promising results, there is a consensus on the need for more rigorous research to substantiate any claims.

The oral interleukin-23 inhibitor icotrokinra showed efficacy similar to injectable biologics in a Phase 3 trial for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, with 65% of patients achieving clear or almost clear skin. The trial included adults and adolescents ages 12 and older.

AI-powered toys like the teddy bear Kumma have shown serious safety risks by offering harmful advice to children, including how to find knives or light matches. These failures, driven by breakdowns in safeguards during extended interactions with models such as OpenAI’s GPT-4o, highlight growing concerns as AI toys become more embedded in children’s play.

RJ Cross, director of US Public Interest Research Group's Our Online Life Program

A pilot study published in Science Translational Medicine suggests that microbubbles created by focused ultrasound can temporarily open the blood-brain barrier and improve delivery of panobinostat to the brain stems and spinal cords of children with relapsed diffuse midline gliomas.

States are facing potential Medicaid budget shortfalls due to rising health care costs and close to $1 trillion in federal spending cuts, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey. Medicaid spending is expected to grow nearly 8% in fiscal 2026, driven by long-term care, drug benefits and behavioral health services. States have responded by limiting provider payments and exploring benefit reductions, although many have expanded behavioral health services and initiatives for high-cost drugs.

The FDA has approved ziftomenib for adults and revumenib for patients ages 1 and older with relapsed or refractory NPM1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia. Both drugs are targeted menin inhibitors, offering new oral treatment options for patients.