Yuki Noguchi

The obesity rate in the U.S. is about 10 times higher than in Japan, another wealthy developed nation. As part of NPR's series Living Better, we look into why that's the case.

President Biden unveiled a set of new rules for health insurance companies designed to push the industry to cover treatment for mental health problems on par with how it covers medical care.

President Biden has endorsed plans he says will get insurance to pay for mental health care more often.

Virtual access to doctors is a huge plus for patients. But it's a lot of new work for physicians. And the health care business model hasn't caught up with this new reality.

The FDA cracked down on the nicotine devices, yet they're stocked on many store shelves. The reason has to do with burgeoning overseas production, lack of clear rules, and lax enforcement.

Disposable and fruit and candy flavored vapes can't be sold legally in the U.S., yet they're still readily available. Why? The answer is complex and has concerned parents wringing their hands.

The recent, abrupt shortage of critical cancer drugs is forcing doctors to ration essential medications. It highlights a broken business model in generic drugs.

The recent, abrupt shortage of critical cancer drugs highlights a broken business model in generic drugs that leaves patients in the U.S. and all over the world more vulnerable to similar shortages.

Games probably won't rot your kid's brain. But kids do need guidance in using them wisely. Here's how to help them, starting with spending some of your own time in the games your kids can't put down.

Video games can get a bad rap when it comes to kids and mental health, but their impact on child development is often misunderstood. Gaming can be a powerful training tool for a variety of skills.

New weight-loss medications and bariatric surgery have the potential to spare children health and social problems. But some parents think they're sending kids the wrong message about their bodies.

Telehealth flourished during the pandemic thanks to relaxed rules that allowed prescribing without an in-person visit. Federal officials have decided to keep that in place for the time being.

A growing number of hospitals are shifting care into patients' homes. That means moving medications, machines and staffing with it, but hospitals are finding patients heal better, and it's cheaper.

Maria Caprigno was one of the youngest people in the U.S. to get the surgery. As parents and doctors grapple with the obesity treatment for teens, Caprigno cites the long-term benefits.

Vaping company Juul is paying to settle yet another case. New York Attorney General Leticia James, with counterparts in five other states and Washington D.C., announced the $462 million settlement.

Most doctors get little training in the science of obesity or how to counsel people with the disease. As a result, many patients experience stigma in the exam room.

Some companies and researchers think smart computers might eventually help with provider shortages in mental health, and some consumers are already turning to chatbots to build "emotional resilience."

The need for mental health care far exceeds the supply of therapists. Could AI technology help bridge the gap ethically and safely?

The pandemic distorted our sense of time. For some, time stood still. For others, it sped up. The difference depended on factors from culture to emotional state.

A new report shows the pandemic and the overdose crisis helped push down the average life expectancy in the U.S. for a second year in a row.