Currently More Dangerous to the Male of the Species?

 

Being obese/overweight increases the risks for several medical conditions. The list includes type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke. Longevity declines. A recent Polish study, of more than 2,400 subjects with a mean age of 50, now suggests that married men are 3.2 times more likely to be obese than their unmarried counterparts. That increased obesity risk, wasn't evident in married women. When married, however, both men (62%) and women (39%) showed increased risks of being overweight. These results broadly fit with other studies in China and the UK. Divorce, predictably, causes males to lose weight  (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/12/marriage-triples-obesity-men-women-study).  After marriage, men may tend to gain weight as a result of  increased portion sizes, social eating and reduced physical activity. Women may, however, remain more conscious of body weight due to societal pressures. Single men, looking for a partner, may also have a stronger incentive to appear fit, than already married counterparts. These results shouldn't be over-interpreted. Simply concluding that marriage is unhealthy for males and can be 'cured' by divorce, is obviously wrong. Putting on excess weight occurs for a complex mix of social, psychological and wider environmental factors. Messaging (on food intake and exercise), needs to encourage all folk, married or not; male and female, to maintain healthy body weights. 

Seeing the Changes 2123

                                   Cherry blossom time in Llanelli

Seeing the Changes 2122

 

Lots of activity in the Wildfowl and Wetland's Millennium Wetlands. Bracket fungus and Dandelion (Taraxacum vulgare). Insects included Bluebottle (Caliphora vomitoria); Drone fly (Eristalis tenax) and home-seeking Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). Wild water birds included Common shoveler (Anas clypeata); European pochard (Aythya ferina) and Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Carrion crows (Corvus corone corone) were checking out land-based food sources.

Salty Snackers

 The number of saltwater crocodiles in Australia's Northern Territory has surged from less than 3000 in 1971 to more than 100,000. These cold-blooded apex predators each consume fewer prey than warm-blooded  equivalent (e.g. lions). Their numbers, however, mean that, whereas they consumed less then 20 kg of prey per square kilometre in 1979, in 2019 that figure rose to 180 kg. Crocs are now largely taking land animals, including feral pigs, cattle and Asian water buffalo, rather than feeding on fish. This has led, over a 50 year period, to massive increases in nitrogen and phosphorus (186 and 50 fold, respectively) released into Northern Territory waterways. There's consequently a much increased probability of eutrophication. This substantial algal growth, removes oxygen from the water, killing many organisms including fish  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/12/northern-territory-growing-saltwater-crocodile-population-gorging-on-nine-times-more-prey-than-50-years-ago). It's, of course, very difficult to determine an appropriate density of saltwater crocodiles in this area. Too few apex predators can also be problematic. Feral pigs, cattle and Asian water buffalo are all relatively recent alien introductions to this Australian location. Their numbers need to be controlled.

Spot the Measles Outbreaks

Measles is one of the most infective viruses afflicting humans. Outbreaks were formerly kept in check by the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, given in childhood. This was a situation where 'herd immunity' occurred, benefiting the entire population.  A combination of Covid19-induced delays in routine vaccinations and rampant vaccine misinformation has now allowed measles to take hold again in a number of locations. For example, measles cases doubled in Europe in 2024 (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/13/wake-up-call-measles-cases-doubled-europe-last-year-who-unicef).Things may be becoming even more problematic in the USA. Their health honcho, Robert F. Kennedy junior, suggests treating with vitamin A and providing good nutrition (beneficial actions, in themselves) will prevent measles infections (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/04/rfk-jr-vitamins-measles-outbreak). A cognate measles virus might 'think' (they don't), Kennedy's just trying to prepare a viral paradise in humans. Humans, with their numbers and their jet-setting lifestyles, are excellent hosts for any infective micro-organism. For example, the US Center for Disease and Prevention is expecting the measles outbreak in West Texas (Gaines County) to spread. It's already killed 2 people (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/12/texas-measles-outbreak-spread). There's also been 250 measles cases in Pennsylvania, California and Oklahoma, with a further 2 deaths (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/13/measles-outbreak-spread). Andrew Wakefield's, much debunked claim of a link between MMR vaccine treatment and autism, still seems to hold sway in some circles. Perhaps this is because there are always risks (intended to be tiny) associated with any medical treatment (the side-effects are listed in the notes with your medication). For some parents of small children, the 'sin of commission' (getting their child vaccinated ), outweighs the 'sin of  omission'  (not getting their child vaccinated). In the former, you might be blamed or blame yourself if your child gets (or seems to get) an adverse reaction. In the latter, the child is unprotected from infection and 'herd immunity' breaks down. You , however, didn't directly do anything to your child. I remember the UK 'infection parties' in  working class areas in the 1950s. Parents with infected kids would invite their neighbours with children to 'bring them round'. The idea, in these pre-MMR days, was to get the inevitable infections 'over and done with'.

Slushie By Name: Slushie By Nature?

Icy, garishly-coloured, slushie drinks have zero health benefits. In order to maintain their texture,  some contain glycerol. A 'glycerol intoxication syndrome' has now been described in some young children consuming slushies. The victims, often had reduced consciousness and low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia). All documented, were between 2 and 8 years of age. Glycerol-containing slushies are not recommended for children under 4. In the light of these new observations, it's been suggested that children should be at least 8 before being exposed to them (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/12/under-eights-should-not-drink-slushies-containing-glycerol-say-doctors). It would actually be better if children avoided slushies entirely. None of their ingredients, except water, are unproblematic. Sugars can cause reactive hypoglycaemia  (low blood sugar levels due to stimulating an insulin surge) and mainly dyes appear to alter behaviour. Slushies are also likely to encourage dental decay.

'Weather Whiplash' Hits the World's Big Cities

 

Globally, more than 4.4 billion folk currently live in cities. Urbanization is very much a growing trend.  A study, involving Bristol and Cardiff Universities, looked at  the recent tendency of weather systems in cities to flip from dry to wet extremes or vice versa'. The analysis examined 100 of the most populous global cities (along with 12  'selected' cases). Ninety-five percent showed trends towards wetter or drier weather. Floods blocked access to clean, potable water and sanitation, as well as imperiling food supplies.  Lucknow (India), Madrid (Spain) and Riyadh (Saudi  Arabia) are undergoing major changes in their weather patterns (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/12/global-weirding-climate-whiplash-hitting-worlds-biggest-cities-study-reveals). Extreme weather events will make life more difficult for city folk in many locations. Adaptations to deal with these events will prove extremely costly. Obviously, coping with floods and droughts is much more difficult in poorer locations. Karachi and Khartoum are already especially badly hit by this 'weather whiplash'.