NRC In the News
Breast implants as therapy? Not so much
Many girls and women want breast implants because they believe it will improve their self-esteem. It is true that cosmetic surgery can help a person feel better about the body part that was “fixed,” whether it is a breast, a nose, ears, or thighs. But research shows that breast implants do NOT improve self-esteem. In fact, several studies show that breast implants LOWER self-esteem even if it makes a woman feel sexier. Read More
Poor Baby – Daddy’s Got a Text Message
New York Times. March 29, 2013. When parents habitually dote on their phones or use their iPads to entertain their babies, they deny them the chance to engage with the three-dimensional world and connect to those in it. Read More
U.S. Fraud Alert Warns of Doctors’ Ties to Medical Devices
March 27, 2013. The Office of the Inspector General has issued a special fraud alert, warning patients about doctors who also own businesses that sell medical devices that those physicians may then implant in their patients. Read More
Protecting Against Superbugs
Washington Post. March 10, 2013. Senior Fellow Dr. Jennifer Yttri points out two areas where action can be taken to prevent the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Read More
FDA advisors vote against two drugs for menopausal hot flashes
Reuters. March 5, 2013. Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration on Monday voted against approval of two drugs designed to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes associated with menopause. “The FDA’s advisors did a great job today of carefully considering the scientific evidence,” said Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Research Center for Women & Families. Read More
Perfecting Bodies Through Chemistry?
In the U.S., there are thousands of products and procedures that feed on women’s insecurities. While most are ineffective, only a few are actually dangerous to our health. Breast implants are one of those. Read More
Hip implants a bit more likely to fail in women
AP. February 18, 2013. A new study reports that hip replacements are slightly more likely to fail in women than in men. Dr. Zuckerman states, “this is the first step in what has to be a much longer-term strategy to figure out why women have worse experiences.” Read More
Antibiotics: When Science and Wishful Thinking Collide
Health Affairs blog. January 25, 2013. Antibiotic resistance is a major concern confronting our health care system, and there is tremendous pressure on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to “do something” about it. Unfortunately, the FDA is responding by approving drugs that are likely to do more harm than good. Read More
Statement of Dr. Diana Zuckerman on FDA Approval of new Silicone-Gel Breast Implant Natrelle 410
February 21, 2013. Yesterday the FDA quietly approved yet another questionable style of breast implants, the Natrelle 410 Highly Cohesive Anatomically Shaped Silicone-Gel Filled Breast Implant made by Allergan, Inc. Unfortunately, Allergan’s studies did not compare the safety and effectiveness of the Natrelle 410 implant to other previously approved silicone gel-filled breast implants on the market. Read More
Metal Hip Implants Face Tighter Controls
Wall Street Journal. January 18, 2013. Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Research Center for Women & Families, said: “There are so many shortcuts at the FDA device center that they often take a shortcut and approve a product with minimal safety testing.” Read More