Health
Zero sugar, more problems? Study reveals surprising gut health effects
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Eliminating sugar from your diet may seem like the key to healthy eating, but research suggests it could have unintended effects on digestive health.
A study presented at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, suggests that a total lack of sucrose, or table sugar, may harm gut health and disrupt the body’s natural metabolism.
To explore how the total absence of dietary sugar impacts the body, researchers at the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait City conducted a 16-week study on two groups of mice. Both groups were placed on a low-fat diet, but with one critical difference.
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One group consumed a low-fat diet that included a standard amount of sucrose, while the other group ate a low-fat diet that was completely sugar-free, according to the study’s press release.
Throughout the trial, the scientists monitored a wide variety of physiological factors, including the animals’ weight, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, hormone levels, internal inflammation and the specific composition of their gut bacteria.
A total lack of dietary sugar can cause imbalances in the gut bacteria and lead to signs of fatty liver disease, even without any weight gain, researchers said. (iStock)
The study outcome suggested that completely removing sugar caused several unexpected health problems.
“Completely removing sucrose from a low-fat diet may unexpectedly disrupt gut health and promote inflammation and metabolic dysfunction,” Rasheed Ahmad, principal scientist and head of the Immunology & Microbiology Department at the Dasman Diabetes Institute, said in the release.
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Even though the mice on the sugar-free diet did not gain any extra weight compared to the control group, their internal health indicators deteriorated.
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The animals that lacked sucrose developed an imbalance in their gut microbes and increased inflammation within the intestines and liver.
They also showed signs of poor glucose regulation, insulin resistance and cellular changes associated with fatty liver disease, according to the research.
Future dietary guidelines may shift away from strict, absolute sugar bans and instead focus on overall gut health through balanced nutrition. (iStock)
“The findings suggest that complete removal of sucrose from a low-fat diet may negatively affect gut microbiota and metabolic health,” Ahmad concluded.
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While the risks of high-sugar diets are well-established, the researchers noted that little attention has been given to the effects of completely eliminating sugar from low-fat meals.
Scientists say these new findings highlight that dietary carbohydrates play a valuable role in supporting balance between the immune system and the gut microbiome.
Completely cutting sucrose from a low-fat diet can unexpectedly trigger gut inflammation and disrupt the metabolism, experts say. (iStock)
Because this research was conducted on mice over a relatively short 16-week period, further clinical trials are necessary to determine whether a completely sugar-free diet causes the same gut and liver inflammation in humans.
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Additionally, the study focused specifically on removing sucrose from low-fat meals, meaning the results might not apply to people eliminating sugar while following higher-fat or ketogenic eating plans, the researchers noted.
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The team believes that future dietary guidelines may shift away from strict, absolute sugar restrictions and instead place a greater emphasis on maintaining a diverse, healthy population of gut bacteria through balanced nutrition.
“In the long term, these findings could help improve strategies for preventing and managing metabolic disorders, fatty liver disease and chronic inflammatory conditions,” Ahmad said.
Health
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Health
Cure for certain cancers is ‘realistic’ goal in next decade, pharma lead says
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A cure for cancer could be on the horizon in the next decade, according to experts.
During the WSJ Leadership Institute CEO Summit in London last week, Johnson & Johnson Chairman and CEO Joaquin Duato reflected on the pharmaceutical company’s projections on the future of cancer treatment.
In the next 10 years, the goal is to “try to eliminate cancer,” Duato shared.
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“That’s a high goal, and we are already making significant progress in certain cancers,” he said.
Duato used multiple myeloma as an example, noting that the life expectancy is currently 10 years, when it was previously “only single years.”
Joaquin Duato, chairman and CEO of Johnson and Johnson, speaks at the Punchbowl News Conference at Union Station on March 10, 2026, in Washington, DC. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
“We have treatments now that utilize your own immune system to attack the cancer,” he said at the summit. “For patients who were already going into hospice, so they didn’t have any other alternative, they are [at] more than five years, with a single administration, in remission. That [is] spectacular.”
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“When patients see that, they cannot believe that because they have been coming to the hospital every week [for] a decade, having multiple therapies.”
The goal is to “try to eliminate cancer” in the next 10 years, the pharmaceutical executive said. (iStock)
According to Duato, Johnson & Johnson is working to understand the biology of cancer growth and to formulate new technologies to address it.
“It’s realistic to believe that we are going to cure certain cancers, and some others we’re going to turn into chronic diseases,” he predicted.
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“Cancer is an important thing – I cannot think about anybody who has not been touched by cancer,” he went on. “But there are many other opportunities for us to actually advance science, to address very important social problems.”
Duato called out dementia as another “important problem” in need of a solution.
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He predicted that life expectancy, which has risen steadily over the past century, will continue to increase as longevity technologies and solutions advance, improving quality of life along the way.
Duato commented that J&J has been optimistic about the role artificial intelligence will play in the future of healthcare, calling it a “force multiplier.”
Biomarkers and AI can help with the earlier diagnosis of cancer, as well as a more advanced and personalized approach to surgery, a doctor noted. (iStock)
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel agreed with Duato’s outlook on the future of cancer care, noting that certain cancers will turn into chronic diseases while others will find outright cures.
“Advances [will be] based on the use of AI to help guide targeted treatments with expanding knowledge of cancer mutations and how to target them,” he predicted, speaking to Fox News Digital.
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Siegel added that biomarkers and AI can help with earlier diagnoses, as well as a more advanced and personalized approach to surgery.
J&J recently acquired Firefly Bio, a biotech firm that produces drugs that enter cancer cells to “target certain proteins that contain difficult to treat gene mutations,” the doctor added.
Health
Ozempic users may be making a major weight-loss mistake, new study suggests
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Among those taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss, exercise rates are decreasing, according to new research.
The study, set to be presented at ENDO 2026 (the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting) in Chicago this week, found that adults with obesity who lost weight with a GLP-1, such as Ozempic or Wegovy, “significantly reduced” their physical activity.
In an Endocrine Society press release, study lead Sajana Maharjan, MD, of HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois, noted that GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide and tirzepatide reduce both fat and lean muscle mass.
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This means physical activity is “essential for preserving strength and long-term health,” she said.
The study, reportedly the first of its kind, considered data from a National Institutes of Health research program that linked participant records with fitness tracker activity.
Researchers analyzed data from 753 people with obesity who initiated a GLP-1 medication. The cohort was mostly female, at a mean age of 52.7 years.
Among participants, the average number of steps decreased from 5,047 to 4,487 per day. (iStock)
Comparing activity in participants before and after beginning treatment, the average number of steps decreased from 5,047 to 4,487 per day. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity fell from 28 to 22 minutes per day, the study found.
The largest declines were observed in men and in those with joint or muscle pain. Other factors like age, heart failure or prior stroke did not change results.
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Although many people might assume that losing weight with these medications would lead to increased physical activity, the study found no evidence that it did, according to Maharjan.
“The findings in our study reinforce that exercise cannot be optional for people taking these medications,” he said. “People need targeted interventions that encourage physical activity alongside medication for obesity.”
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The study was retrospective and observational, meaning it could only display an association, not a direct cause. The participants were also mostly middle-aged women, which could limit the scope of who is most impacted, the researchers noted.
Other factors that were not measured include exercise habits before starting treatment, motivation levels and guidance from a physician.
Although many people might assume that losing weight with these medications would lead to increased physical activity, the study found no evidence that it did, according to the researcher. (iStock)
Dr. Peter Balazs MD, a hormone and weight-loss specialist practicing in New York and New Jersey, echoed in an interview with Fox News Digital that weight loss does not automatically lead to increased mobility or greater motivation to exercise.
“In fact, being in a calorie deficit can cause the body to conserve energy, resulting in a lower metabolic rate,” he said.
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“Additionally, side effects of weight-loss medications, such as nausea, fatigue or gastrointestinal discomfort, may further reduce a person’s ability or desire to be physically active,” the expert added.
For GLP-1 users, Balazs stressed that exercise “is not optional.” Patients must incorporate resistance training and regular daily movement, like walking, into their routine to “preserve lean muscle mass, maintain metabolic health and support long-term weight management,” he advised.
Exercise supports bone and joint health and enhances cardiovascular fitness, the researcher said. (iStock)
“Exercise plays a critical role during weight loss,” Balazs said. “Without adequate physical activity, a significant portion of weight loss may come from muscle rather than fat.”
The expert noted that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach, as the timing, intensity and type of workout should be individualized based on a person’s fitness level, health status and body composition.
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“This is particularly important for patients with a high BMI who may have mobility limitations or lower baseline fitness levels,” Balazs said. “It’s important to consider injury risk, long-term adherence and the potential for early burnout.”
Contrasting views
Board-certified internist and longevity expert Dr. Amanda Kahn said she disagrees with this study’s conclusions, as they do not reflect what she is seeing in her own clinical practice.
“Weight loss often serves as the impetus that motivates patients to become more physically active and more engaged in their overall health,” the New York-based expert told Fox News Digital.
Successful treatment requires regular follow-up, monitoring of protein intake, monthly weight checks, quarterly body composition scans and routine laboratory testing, an expert advised. (iStock)
“The success of GLP-1 therapy is directly tied to the expertise of the provider,” she went on. “When these medications are prescribed thoughtfully – with attention to nutrition, resistance training, body composition and laboratory monitoring – they can help patients lose weight while becoming healthier, stronger and more motivated to exercise.”
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Kahn, a peptide prescriber, does not recommend simply prescribing a GLP-1 medication and allowing the patient to “self-manage.”
“In my practice, if a patient is unable to exercise, is not meeting protein goals or shows concerning muscle loss on body composition analysis, I will often hold or adjust the medication – because preserving strength, function and metabolic health is just as important as weight loss,” she said.
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If a GLP-1 patient becomes too fatigued to exercise, develops nutritional deficiencies or loses excessive muscle mass, Kahn warned that this reflects a “monitoring problem” rather than a medication problem, as these medications “require close clinical oversight.”
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