Health
‘Gender-affirming’ treatments don’t benefit youth, says pediatricians group: ‘Irreversible consequences’
A national organization of pediatricians and other health care professionals claims that “gender-affirming” therapies have not been shown to benefit adolescents with gender dysphoria.
The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds), based in Florida, released a position statement on Feb. 7 stating that “social transition, puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones have no demonstrable, long-term benefit on the psychosocial well-being of adolescents with gender dysphoria.”
“A review of at least 60 research papers demonstrates no benefit to social affirmation, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones or surgical interventions for these youth,” lead author and vice president of ACPeds, Dr. Jane Anderson, wrote in an email to Fox News Digital.
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All 60 of the reviewed studies focused on the mental health of adolescents struggling with gender dysphoria.
The position statement was voted on and passed by the ACPeds board and members, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
A national organization of pediatricians and other health care professionals claims that “gender-affirming” therapies have not been shown to benefit adolescents with gender dysphoria. (iStock)
In a fact sheet summarizing the findings, ACPeds noted that “youth whose perceived gender identity does not align with their biological sex have high rates of mental health problems regardless of any affirmation of their gender identities.”
Adolescents who identify as “gender-incongruent” often have existing mental health illnesses, including depression and anxiety, according to Anderson.
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ACPeds also stated that over half of LGBTQ+ sexual minority individuals experience “adverse childhood experiences,” including child abuse.
Transgender youth reported the highest levels of abuse and neglect, the data showed.
The researchers said their review “casts doubt on claims that social affirmation (like using desired pronouns) of transgender-identified youth helps their long-term psychosocial well-being.”
The researchers found that the use of puberty-blocking drugs — medications that delay puberty in children — did not have significant benefits for young people experiencing gender dysphoria. (iStock)
“Adolescents have immature brains and should not be allowed to make decisions with lifelong implications, such as decreased fertility, when they are so young,” Anderson told Fox News Digital.
In terms of specific therapies, the researchers found that the use of puberty-blocking drugs — medications that delay puberty in children — did not have significant benefits for youths experiencing gender dysphoria.
“Adolescents have immature brains and should not be allowed to make decisions with lifelong implications, such as decreased fertility, when they are so young.”
“A study [that] purported to show a ‘lifetime suicidal ideation’ reduction in those who received puberty blockers actually found twice as many serious suicidal attempts in participants who received the blockers than in those who just wished they had received them,” the study’s fact sheet noted.
Cross-sex hormonal interventions — treatments that trigger a transition to a desired gender — were also shown to have “little mental health benefit” and were even linked to a higher need for psychiatric care, ACPeds stated.
The data shows that a large percentage of gender-dysphoric adolescents will ultimately identify with their birth sex — which means in those cases the treatments are proven unnecessary, a doctor said. (iStock)
The review also discovered that many teens who pursue gender-affirming therapy — whether surgical or hormonal — ultimately revert to their biological gender.
“There are individuals who now express regret regarding their transition,” Anderson told Fox News Digital.
Doctors react to the report
Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert, was not involved in the analysis but shared his input on the topic, which he said is “often fueled by political bias and religious undertones.”
“I agree with the position statement of the ACPeds,” he told Fox News Digital. “Namely, a holistic approach with intense psychiatric interventions should be adopted prior to any gender-altering therapeutic.”
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The data shows that a large percentage of gender-dysphoric adolescents will ultimately identify with their birth sex, which means in those cases the treatments are proven unnecessary, the doctor noted.
“Medical professionals should strive to address gender dysphoria primarily through a holistic psychological approach — involving both the patient and family — before more invasive pharmaceutical or surgical measures,” Osborn told Fox News Digital.
Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert, said he agrees with the position statement issued by the ACPeds. (Dr. Brett Osborn)
While taking hormone-altering therapies or transitioning to the opposite sex has become “all the rage,” he said, the data suggests there is no long-term mental health benefit.
“In addition, those opting for hormone-altering therapies are potentially interfering with not only sexual development, but also brain development,” Osborn warned. “Testosterone and estrogen, the hormones primarily manipulated with such therapies, are integral to memory formation and mood.”
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The doctor also noted the dangers associated with “gender-affirming” surgeries.
“Adolescents, prior to undergoing intense psychiatric therapy, are opting for sex-change operations in an almost whimsical manner,” he said. “But this is short-sighted, and the decision is often tainted by ongoing psychological issues.”
He added, “Such surgeries permanently alter one’s physical appearance, carrying with them irreversible consequences, such as infertility and sexual dysfunction.”
“Adolescents, prior to undergoing intense psychiatric therapy, are opting for sex-change operations in an almost whimsical manner,” a doctor said. (Cyberguy.com)
Adolescents haven’t lived long enough to make such high-level decisions, according to Osborn.
“They’re confused,” he said. “An alternative must be sought.”
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, was also not involved in the ACPeds study, but commented on the findings of what he described as a “conservative advocacy group.”
“Hormone-altering therapies are potentially interfering with not only sexual development, but also brain development.”
“I am in favor of a more conservative approach as well in minors,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Long-term effects of puberty blockers may include bone loss, trouble concentrating, interference with learning and interference with fertility.”
Siegel added, “I think it makes sense in most cases to treat underlying mental health concerns before jumping into treatments, including surgery, that may be difficult to reverse.”
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, warned of the long-term effects of puberty blockers. (Fox News)
The doctor also emphasized that gender issues should not be overly politicized.
“This means not superimposing an ideology or pushing physicians to act in a certain way or under pressure,” Siegel said.
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“The welfare of the child must come first. In this case, it means going very slowly and providing support to a child or teen with gender dysphoria.”
Siegel also pointed out that many U.K. and European countries, from Sweden to France, have restricted gender-affirming care for adolescents in favor of mental health support.
Organizations in favor of gender-affirming procedures
The American Medical Association (AMA) states on its website that “improving access to gender-affirming care is an important means of improving health outcomes for the transgender population.”
“Receipt of gender-affirming care has been linked to dramatically reduced rates of suicide attempts, decreased rates of depression and anxiety, decreased substance use, improved HIV medication adherence and reduced rates of harmful self-prescribed hormone use,” the organization claimed.
Many U.K. and European countries, from Sweden to France, have restricted gender-affirming care for adolescents in favor of mental health support. (iStock)
The AMA also said it supports public and private health insurance coverage for the treatment of gender dysphoria.
The Office of Population Affairs (OASH), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, released a similar statement in support of gender-affirming care, calling it a “supportive form of health care that may include medical, surgical, mental health and non-medical services for transgender and nonbinary people.”
“The welfare of the child must come first.”
“Research demonstrates that gender-affirming care improves the mental health and overall well-being of gender-diverse children and adolescents,” the statement continued.
OASH claimed that gender-affirming care allows “transgender and nonbinary children and adolescents” to focus on social transitions and can increase their confidence in navigating the health care system.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also has expressed support of gender-affirming care, stating on its website that it recommends “providing youth with access to comprehensive gender-affirming and developmentally appropriate health care.”
The AAP also calls for electronic health records, notifications and research files to be updated to reflect the patient’s desired gender identity.
Fox News Digital reached out to the AMA, OASH and the American Academy of Pediatrics requesting comment on the ACPeds study.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
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The key to feeling better in a fast, overstimulated world might be surprisingly simple: Live a little more like your grandparents.
A growing social media trend, dubbed “nonnamaxxing,” draws inspiration from the slower, more intentional rhythms associated with an Italian grandmother.
The lifestyle is often linked to activities like preparing home-cooked meals, spending time outdoors and making meaningful connections.
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“Nonnamaxxing is a 2026 trend that embraces the slower, more intentional lifestyle of an Italian grandmother (a Nonna). Think cooking from scratch, long family meals, daily walks, gardening and less screen time,” Erin Palinski-Wade, a New Jersey-based registered dietitian, told Fox News Digital.
Nonnamaxxing, derived from the name for an Italian grandmother, is a trend that incorporates lifestyle habits hundreds of years in the making. (iStock)
Stepping away from screens and toward real-world interaction can have measurable benefits, according to California-based psychotherapist Laurie Singer.
“We know that interacting with others in person, rather than spending time on screens, significantly improves mental health,” she told Fox News Digital, adding that social media often fuels comparison and lowers self-esteem.
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Living more like previous generations isn’t purely driven by nostalgia. Cooking meals from scratch, for example, has been linked to better nutrition and more mindful eating patterns.
Adopting traditional mealtime habits can improve diet quality and support both physical and mental health, especially when meals are shared regularly with others, Palinski-Wade noted.
One longevity expert stresses that staying healthy isn’t just about food — it’s also about joy and community. (iStock)
There’s also a psychological benefit to slowing down and focusing on one task at a time. Anxiety often stems from unfinished or avoided tasks, Singer noted, and engaging in hands-on activities can counteract that.
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“Nonnamaxxing encourages us to be present around a task, like gardening, baking or knitting, or just taking a mindful walk, that delivers something ‘real,’” she said.
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Palinski-Wade cautions against turning the trend into another source of pressure, noting that a traditional “nonna” lifestyle often assumes a different pace of life.
The key, she said, is adapting the mindset, not replicating it perfectly.
Nonnamaxxing, derived from the name for an Italian grandmother, is a trend that incorporates lifestyle habits hundreds of years in the making. (iStock)
The goal is to reintroduce small, intentional moments that make you feel better.
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That might mean prioritizing a few shared meals each week, taking a walk without your phone or setting aside time for a simple hobby, the expert recommended.
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Singer added, “Having a positive place to escape to, through whatever activities speak to us and make us happy, isn’t generational – it’s human.”
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Feeling lonely may take a toll on older adults’ memory — but it may not speed up cognitive decline, according to a new study.
Researchers from Colombia, Spain and Sweden analyzed data from more than 10,000 adults ages 65 to 94 across 12 European countries and found those who reported higher levels of loneliness did worse on memory tests at the start of the study, according to research published this month in the journal Aging & Mental Health.
Over a seven-year period, however, memory decline occurred at a similar rate regardless of how lonely participants felt.
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“The finding that loneliness significantly impacted memory, but not the speed of decline in memory over time was a surprising outcome,” lead author Dr. Luis Carlos Venegas-Sanabria of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Universidad del Rosario said in a statement.
Loneliness may be linked to memory performance in older adults, a new study suggests. (iStock)
“It suggests that loneliness may play a more prominent role in the initial state of memory than in its progressive decline,” Venegas-Sanabria said, adding that the findings highlight the importance of addressing loneliness as a factor in cognitive performance.
The findings add to debate about whether loneliness contributes to dementia risk. While loneliness and social isolation are often considered risk factors for cognitive decline, research results have been mixed.
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The study looked at data from the long-running Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), which tracked 10,217 older adults between 2012 and 2019. Participants were asked to recall words immediately and after a delay to measure memory performance.
Social isolation and loneliness could play a surprising role in cognitive health among seniors. (iStock)
Loneliness was assessed using three questions about how often participants felt isolated, left out or lacking companionship.
About 8% of participants reported high levels of loneliness at the outset. That group tended to be older, more likely to be female and more likely to have conditions such as depression.
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Researchers found that those with higher loneliness had lower scores on both immediate and delayed memory tests at baseline. Still, all groups — regardless of loneliness level — experienced similar declines in memory over time.
The results suggest loneliness may not directly accelerate the progression of memory loss, though it remains linked to poorer cognitive performance overall.
Researchers look at a brain scan at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)
Experts warn, however, that the findings should not be interpreted to mean loneliness is harmless.
“The finding that lonely older adults start with worse memory but don’t decline faster is actually the most interesting part of the paper, and I think it’s easy to misread,” said Jordan Weiss, Ph.D., a scientific advisor and aging expert at Assisted Living Magazine and a professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
“It likely means loneliness does its damage earlier in life, well before people show up in a study like this at 65-plus,” Weiss told Fox News Digital.
By older age, long-term social patterns may already be established, making it harder to detect when the effects of loneliness first took hold, an aging expert says. (iStock)
He suggested that by older age, long-term social patterns may already be established, making it harder to detect when the effects of loneliness first took hold.
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“By the time you’re measuring someone in their late 60s, decades of social connection patterns are already baked in,” he said.
Weiss, who was not involved in the research, added that loneliness may coincide with other health conditions, and noted that participants who felt more isolated also had higher rates of depression, high-blood pressure and diabetes. The link, he said, may reflect a cluster of health risks rather than a direct cause.
“While they can go hand-in-hand, it’s not clear that loneliness contributes to dementia,” a psychotherapist says. (iStock)
Amy Morin, a Florida-based psychotherapist and author, said the findings reflect a broader pattern in research on loneliness and brain health, and that the relationship may be more complex than it appears.
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“The evidence shows there’s a link between loneliness and cognitive decline but there’s no direct evidence of a cause and effect relationship,” she said. “So while they can go hand-in-hand, it’s not clear that loneliness contributes to dementia.”
Morin added that loneliness, which can fluctuate, may not be the root of the problem, but rather a symptom of other underlying mental or physical health issues.
Researchers suggested screening for loneliness be incorporated into routine cognitive assessments as one way to support healthy aging. (iStock)
She said staying socially and mentally engaged is crucial for overall brain health.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“It’s important to be proactive about social activities,” Morin said. “Joining a book club, having coffee with a friend, or attending faith-based services can be a powerful way to maintain connections in older age.”
The researchers also suggested screening for loneliness be incorporated into routine cognitive assessments as one way to support healthy aging.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.
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