Professor Sean Cain thinks we might one day think of the way we use light in the same way we now think of smoking.
And that is because his research has found that poor light patterns – bright light at night and dim light during the day – increased the risk of premature death by 30 per cent, and Type 2 diabetes by as much as 40 per cent.
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On the flip side, it was found that greater exposure to daytime light seems to have a protective effect on our mental health and is associated with a lower risk of depression, anxiety and other disorders. Why? Light sets the time on our circadian clock. When our biological and behavioural rhythms are out of alignment, our systems are more prone to malfunction.
The trick is to get sunlight as soon as we wake up, try to get natural or bright light during the day, and dim the lights as the sun goes down.
Ozempic
Ozempic “alternatives” are flooding social media.Credit: Aresna Villanueva; Getty Images
Ozempic was the word on the tip of every celebrity’s tongue this year. Semaglutide, the generic name for drugs like Ozempic, is being increasingly prescribed and used for weight loss, but we’re still learning about its long-term effects.
What we do know is that those on Ozempic need to maintain a healthy lifestyle, particularly one focused on maintaining bone density and muscle mass. Such medication can also wreak havoc on the gastrointestinal system, and the short-term weight loss they can cause can be detrimental to health.
And as demand for weight-loss drugs increases, a swath of “natural”, copycat Ozempic supplements have cropped up.
The year of contrast exercise
Contrast exercise embraces gentler forms activity interspersed with high-intensity workouts.Credit: Getty Images
There is no best way to move except whatever gets you moving. But 2024 was the year of contrast exercise.
In reaction to the pedal to the metal exercise culture, people embraced gentler forms of exercise and the ability to change gears.
That means yoga or Pilates and longer, slower forms of exercise that can be maintained for longer periods, such as brisk walking or jogging, hiking, easy cycling, rowing or swimming.
It also means, shifting up a few gears several times a week with some high intensity interval training, sprint interval training or lifting heavy weights.
The trend reflects the knowledge that our bodies need different types of movement. Longer, slower exercise builds endurance, burns fat and offsets the risk of injury while the short hits of high intensity boost our cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and power.
The sober curious movement continues to grow
More of us are cutting back or ditching booze altogether to reap the social, mental and physical benefits.Credit: iStock
The trend of people reducing their alcohol intake – or ditching it entirely – will continue into 2025 as public awareness of the social, mental and physical effects of booze continues to grow. As a sign of this changing tide, some large corporations are banning workplace drinking while politicians including Barnaby Joyce are speaking up about going sober.
In August, a large study from Britain found that even light drinking was associated with an increase in cancer deaths in older adults, while more women are standing up against “mummy wine culture”.
Alcohol companies, of course, are taking note of this change too by expanding their offerings to include non-alcohol drinks. They’re also trying to capture health-conscious drinkers with low-sugar and low-carb options, but experts warn there’s “no such things as a healthy beer”.
Plastic, not fantastic
It’s not just the plastics we can see that are causing problems to our health and the environment.Credit: Getty
This was the year many of us started to question the non-stick pans we cook with, the half-melted black spatulas and other greaseproof, waterproof and plastic products in our lives.
Earlier this year investigative reporter Carrie Fellner won a Walkley Award for her reporting on the unfolding environmental and health crisis resulting from “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.
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PFAS are in our water supply, but also in our kitchens, our clothes, our furniture, cosmetics, sunscreens, shampoos, carpets, furniture, food packaging, menstrual products, dental products, and even in artificial turf.
Separate research found single-use plastics leach chemicals and shed microplastics into our environment. Chemical exposure increases if plastic is heated, and black plastic may pose a specific danger.
Instead, use glass or metal water bottles and containers; opt for cast iron, stainless steel or PFAS-free non-stick pans, reheat food on a ceramic plate or bowl; switch out plastic utensils for wood or stainless steel; and keep your home clean and well-ventilated.
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