Health
Trump Administration Ends Global Health Research Program
An obscure but influential program that gave detailed public health information to about half of the world’s nations will fold as a result of the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid.
With funding from the United States Agency for International Development, the Demographic and Health Surveys were the only sources of information in many countries about maternal and child health and mortality, nutrition, reproductive health and H.I.V. infections, among many other health indicators.
The surveys collected data in 90 low- and middle-income nations, which then used the information to set health benchmarks at the local, national and global levels, including the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by member countries of the United Nations.
On Tuesday, the program’s administrators learned that it was being “terminated for the convenience of the U.S. Government,” effective immediately, according to an email viewed by The New York Times. They were ordered to “stop all work, terminate subcontracts and place no further orders.”
The Trump administration is dismantling U.S.A.I.D.; thousands of layoffs are expected in the coming days. Without future surveys, it will be nearly impossible to measure the impact of those foreign aid cuts on citizens in nations without substantial health infrastructure.
Some global health experts reacted to the program’s demise with dismay.
“It’s really challenging for me to understand how you could implement thoughtful programs in public health and monitor progress toward strategic goals if you don’t have the kind of data that are available from the D.H.S.,” Win Brown, a demographer at the University of Washington, said.
“You can’t keep track of what’s going on, you can’t form strategies, you can’t make adjustments based on how your data are changing,” he added.
It was unclear what might happen to the research that has been collected over past decades, or to the ongoing survey projects in 25 countries. “We need to figure out a way to salvage that data, and I think that’s feasible,” Livia Montana, the program’s technical director, said.
The surveys have been conducted since 1984. The funding totaled about $500 million over five years, about half of which came from U.S.A.I.D. and half from other donors, including the nations themselves.
Some countries, like India, had almost entirely taken over the financing of their own surveys. The research is widely seen as indispensable.
“The impact of these disruptions will reverberate across local, regional, national and global levels,” a group of dozens of experts warned on Feb. 13.
Some United Nations organizations assess child and adolescent health or census data in some countries, while others measure household income or agricultural output.
But the Demographic and Health Surveys, collected every five years, recorded all critical aspects of household health, including mortality data, height and weight and nutrition status of children and adults, education and literacy, as well as access to clean water and mobile phones.
“Malnutrition indicators are among the most important,” because they can reflect a range of societal factors, Dr. Montana said. The surveys also separately evaluated malaria indicators and health facilities.
Estimates of maternal and child mortality are crucially important in countries that do not have good death registration systems. The surveys also measured family size, which can indicate the availability of family planning but also reflect broader societal factors, including access to education for girls.
Dr. Brown has used the surveys, for example, to compare contraceptive use among women in countries like Egypt, Pakistan and India over decades. “In a survey like D.H.S., you’re on the ground talking to real people, on the stoop of their real houses in real communities,” he said.
Like other projects funded with foreign aid, the program was under a stop-work order before the termination. All but 11 of its staff of 80 were placed on leave without pay, and its relationships with contractors ended a few weeks ago.
Informed of the halt, some national governments expressed concern and empathy, and several asked if they could pay to finish the work. Others took it in stride, Dr. Montana said.
“It’s sort of like they have experienced more of this kind of thing where political winds change right away,” she said.
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Chicago health officials are warning residents to be alert for symptoms of meningococcal disease after several recent infections were reported in adults across the city.
Seven cases of Neisseria meningitidis infections have been identified since mid-January, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health.
Two people have died as a result of the infection, the department said.
FLU BY STATE: WHERE THIS SEASON’S HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VARIANT IS SPREADING THE MOST
Health officials have traced close contacts for all confirmed cases and provided preventive antibiotics to those who may have been exposed.
Meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis, a type of bacteria that can infect the bloodstream or the lining of the brain and spinal cord, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Chicago health officials are warning residents to watch for symptoms of meningococcal disease after seven infections were reported in the state. (iStock)
Transmission occurs through saliva and mucus during close or prolonged contact, such as sharing drinks, kissing, or being exposed to coughs and sneezes.
While cases remain relatively rare, meningococcal disease continues to pose a serious public health risk nationwide.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 503 confirmed and probable cases in the U.S. in 2024, based on preliminary data.
Infection is passed from person to person through saliva and mucus, usually during prolonged close contact. (iStock)
Symptoms of meningococcal disease can include fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, sensitivity to light, a stiff neck, and a skin rash that may appear as dark spots or bruising, per Cleveland Clinic.
Other signs may include confusion, irritability, difficulty walking, joint or muscle pain, and loss of appetite.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
“Chicago sees up to 10 to 15 meningococcal infections each year, typically concentrated around the winter months,” the department noted.
The disease most often affects seniors as well as adolescents and young adults, Chicago health officials said.
Symptoms can range from fever and headache to vomiting, diarrhea, and a rash that appears dark or bruised, Cleveland Clinic noted. (iStock)
To reduce risk, state guidelines recommend getting the meningococcal vaccine beginning at ages 11 or 12, with a booster dose at 16.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Meningococcal disease is treated with antibiotics, and doctors often begin immediate treatment if the illness is suspected because it can progress rapidly, Cleveland Clinic stated.
Patients with severe cases may also need additional treatments such as IV fluids, oxygen, blood pressure medications, or surgery to treat damaged tissue.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Anyone who develops symptoms or believes they may have been exposed is urged to seek medical care promptly. Health experts stress that early treatment is critical.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
An extreme, all-or-nothing fitness regimen is going viral again as millions seek rapid weight loss and mental toughness through its relentless daily rules. But as health experts warn the intensity may be unrealistic for many people, lighter versions of the challenge are also picking up steam.
Fueled by social media buzz and dramatic celebrity transformations, the viral 75 Hard challenge, created in 2019 by entrepreneur and podcaster Andy Frisella, requires participants to follow a rigid lifestyle regimen “without compromise.”
The rules include two 45-minute workouts each day — one outdoors — a strict diet with no cheat meals or alcohol, a gallon of water daily, 10 pages of nonfiction reading and a daily progress photo. Miss a single task in the 75 days, and the challenge resets to day one.
SIMPLE WEIGHT-LOSS QUIZ MAY PINPOINT WHY SOME DIETS FAIL — AND HOW TO BOOST SUCCESS
“The mental changes are 100x greater than the physical changes,” Frisella says on the challenge’s website. “This isn’t another temporary Band-Aid program,” he promises.
One of the daily workouts in the 75 Hard challenge must be completed outdoors. (iStock)
Supporters say the program builds discipline and accountability and has given many participants a clean slate at the start of the new year.
Experts, however, warn that extreme doesn’t always mean effective, especially for long-term weight loss and health.
3 SIMPLE LIFESTYLE CHANGES COULD ADD ALMOST A DECADE TO YOUR LIFE, RESEARCH SHOWS
“Any program that promises weight loss needs to take you into a calorie deficit,” said Dr. Milica McDowell, a Montana-based exercise physiologist and doctor of physical therapy. “If you are burning more calories than you are consuming, yes, you will lose weight.”
Experts say an all-or-nothing structure may not be sustainable for long-term weight loss. (iStock)
But she cautioned that the results often don’t last.
“The challenge with the 75 Hard workout is that when you stop doing it — which would mean burning fewer calories — and you do not change your eating and drinking behaviors, it is likely that whatever weight you lost during the challenge will come right back,” McDowell told Fox News Digital.
1 IN 5 AMERICANS GET NO EXERCISE OUTSIDE OF WORK; WHERE DOES YOUR STATE RANK?
“I do not consider this to be a sustainable way to lose weight,” she said.
The program requires participants to drink a gallon of water each day, a rule some experts say may be excessive for certain people. (iStock)
The Cleveland Clinic also says the program’s rigid, two-a-day structure may do more harm than good for people without a strong fitness base, particularly those with chronic medical conditions. Even drinking a gallon of water a day may be excessive for some people, depending on body size and health needs, it notes.
Medical professionals also urge caution for people with joint or heart problems, no exercise background, a history of eating disorders, or already demanding schedules.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
For those drawn to 75 Hard’s structure, experts suggest modifying the program to suit individual needs.
Variations like “75 Medium” and “75 Soft” have emerged that dial down the intensity with fewer workouts, more relaxed diets and simpler habit targets designed to be more sustainable.
The 75 Hard challenge has gained widespread attention on TikTok and Instagram, where participants document their progress. (iStock)
“A softer start lowers the activation energy for behavior change [and] reduces all‑or‑nothing thinking,” Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine physician scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, told USA Today.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The approach can reduce the risk of injury, exhaustion and people quitting altogether, Stanford said.
“I think people are realizing it’s OK to be gentle with yourself,” Morgan Manning, a 26-year-old media and marketing professional from New York City, told USA Today.
Softer fitness challenges build in rest days and flexibility to reduce burnout and injury risk. (iStock)
Her TikTok video announcing she was trying the “soft” version received over 60,000 views.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“These versions feel more human,” said Jesse Ramos Jr., a certified personal trainer and owner of BBT Fitness NYC. “They allow people to build discipline without burning out, getting injured or hating the process,” Ramos told Fox News Digital.
“Fitness shouldn’t feel like punishment,” he added.
Experts say long-term health comes from consistent, sustainable habits — not extreme challenges. (iStock)
Experts agree that consistency matters more than intensity when it comes to long-term weight loss and health.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Robin DeCicco, a certified holistic nutritionist from New York City, previously told Fox News Digital that she encourages clients to focus on sustainable habits like simply moving more, eating more whole foods and drinking more water than they were before, rather than following rigid rules.
“Healthy habits that change into long-term behaviors are what make people healthier into the future,” DeCicco said.
I Lost 31 Lbs on the Biblio Diet, Healed My Body and Found Joy—No Calorie Counting Required
Sunday Puzzle: Rhyme Time
Bill Gates says accusations contained in Epstein files are ‘absolutely absurd’
Top Kremlin official praises Trump’s push for peace in Ukraine as talks set to resume
Government shutdowns may be fewer, but they’re increasingly disruptive
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Government shutdowns may be fewer, but they’re increasingly disruptive
These European airports have scrapped the 100ml limit
Minnesota citizens detained by ICE are left rattled, even weeks later
Trump says Iran ‘seriously talking to us’ as military ships head to Middle East
Campaign to boycott Israel looks to future after Gaza ‘ceasefire’
-
Massachusetts20 hours agoTV star fisherman, crew all presumed dead after boat sinks off Massachusetts coast
-
Pennsylvania6 days agoRare ‘avalanche’ blocks Pennsylvania road during major snowstorm
-
Tennessee1 day agoUPDATE: Ohio woman charged in shooting death of West TN deputy
-
Movie Reviews6 days agoVikram Prabhu’s Sirai Telugu Dubbed OTT Movie Review and Rating
-
News1 week agoVideo: Jack Smith Defends His Trump Indictments During House Hearing
-
Politics1 week agoTrump’s playbook falters in crisis response to Minneapolis shooting
-
Health1 week agoCommon vitamin in everyday foods may control speed of digestion, study says
-
World1 week agoWhy is South Africa upset about Iran joining BRICS naval drills?