News You Can Use – July 2025

This month’s episode of “News You Can Use” on Healthcare NOW Radio features news from the month of July 2025.

The show that gives you a quick insight into the latest news, twists, turns, and debacles going on in healthcare with my friend and co-host Craig Joseph, MD (@CraigJoseph) Chief Medical Officer at Nordic Consulting Partners and myself, where every diagnosis comes with a side of humor. We hope you stay curious, stay engaged, and keep seeking the truth in healthcare in a world that thrives on information.

Buckle up as we dive into the ER of excitement, the ICU of irrationality, and the waiting room of wacky wisdom in this months show that features a review of:

• Antibiotic Use and Obesity
• Open Evidence
• Are we Over-Trusting AI, and
• HRT is back in

This month, we throw down our stethoscopes and pick up the threads of news to dissect three head-spinning topics in medicine: antibiotics, hormones, and AI’s growing ego. First up, the childhood obesity mystery possibly linked to… over-prescribed antibiotics? Turns out nuking little Johnny’s gut flora with amoxicillin for every sniffle might be setting him up for a lifetime of elastic waistbands. But is it………once again we find ourselves stressing the difference between “interesting correlations” and “actual science,” or in other words

Correlation vs Causation

 

Hot Flashes, Cold Facts

I go on a mini go full hormone vigilante as I rant about the hormonal horror story caused by the 2002 WHI study, which sent HRT prescriptions for menopausal women off a cliff. My impassioned defense of common sense and estrogen, he calls out the lingering dogma that keeps women needlessly suffering—despite overwhelming evidence supporting the benefits of HRT when used appropriately. So impassioned am I that Craig is left almost speechless and, importantly, in agreement. No bonus points for using the phrase “bee in my bonnet” while burning down medical myths with evidence and exasperation.

DK Theory

Finally, we tackles the love-hate triangle between doctors, AI, and gullibility. Craig gives OpenEvidence kudos for making ChatGPT into ChatMD and citing actual literature (imagine that). But our cautionary tale as we warn against AI’s confident lies and the “technical Dunning-Kruger effect”—where the machine sounds smart but is often just bluffing. Dr. Craig even drops the acronym “DK Theory,” because clearly, this podcast now doubles as a TED Talk in disguise. Buckle up for humor, outrage, and just the right dose of gut-checks—pun 100% intended.

Frequent Early-Life Antibiotic Use Associated with Increased Likelihood of Childhood Obesity

Children prescribed 5 to 9 courses of antibiotics before age 5 are 7% more likely to be obese at age 6 compared to those with no antibiotic exposure. Those prescribed 10 or more antibiotics before age 5 are 14% more likely to become obese at age 6. Limited antibiotic exposure (1-4 courses) before age 5 was not significantly associated with obesity at age 6.

We hope you enjoy our take on the latest news and developments in healthcare and want to help you keep untangling the web of information, dodging the sensational pitfalls, and emerging victorious, albeit a little dizzy, on the other side. In the end, the stories we uncover, and the discussions we ignite, all shape the narrative of our shared future. We want to hear from you especially if you have topics covered or questions you’d like answered. You can reach out directly via the contact form on my website, or send a message on LinkedIn to Craig or me.

Until next month keep solving healthcare’s mysteries before they become your emergencies.

This article was originally published on the Dr. Nick – The Incrementalist blog and is republished here with permission.

News You Can Use gives you a quick insight into the latest news, twists, turns and debacles going on in healthcare with Dr. Nick and Dr. Craig and where every diagnosis comes with a side of side-splitting humor. Your hosts are Dr Nick a long-time host, innovator and healthcare wizard who can prescribe a digital dose of innovation to cure even the most ailing operational inefficiencies. And Dr. Craig Joseph is the healthcare guru who can diagnose both patient and software glitches with equal precision, making sure hospitals run smoother than a well-oiled robot doc.

So buckle up, because we’re diving into the ER of excitement, the ICU of irrationality, and the waiting room of wacky wisdom.

Stay curious, stay engaged, and keep seeking the truth in a world that thrives on information. Because in the end, the stories we uncover, and the discussions we ignite, they all shape the narrative of our shared future.

And keep laughing at the absurdity, keep rolling your eyes at the headlines, and keep spreading the news like your favorite gossip. Who knows, maybe someday you’ll be the breaking news story we’re all talking about!

Weekdays at 4:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 8:00 pm ET.

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