Medical Bulletin 15/Jul/2025

Here are the top medical news for the day:

Where, How, and Why You Exercise Affects Mental Health: Study

Published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, a recent study from the University of Georgia highlights that how, where, and why individuals exercise may significantly affect their mental health sometimes more than the exercise itself.

For years, research has emphasized the importance of exercise for mental well-being. However, this new review suggests that the context in which physical activity occurs plays a crucial role in shaping its mental health outcomes.

Researchers analyzed three main categories of studies: large-scale epidemiological surveys that track health trends across populations, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing exercise interventions with control groups, and emerging research into the specific environments and conditions in which people exercise.

The findings confirmed that leisure-time physical activity such as running for fun or participating in group fitness classes generally correlates with reduced depression and anxiety. However, similar benefits were not consistently found for activities like housework or job-related physical labor. “If a soccer player runs down the field and kicks the game-winning ball, their mental health is fantastic. In contrast, if you do the exact same exercise but miss the goal and people are blaming you, you likely feel very differently,” said Patrick O'Connor, co-author of the study and a professor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education's Department of Kinesiology.

Although many RCTs showed improved mental health from regular exercise, their small sample sizes and short duration limited broader conclusions. The researchers advocate for more inclusive, longer-term studies to better understand exercise’s impact on mental health.

Ultimately, the study stresses the need to go beyond counting steps or calories. “If we’re trying to help people’s mental health with exercise, then not only do we need to think about the dose and the mode, we also need to ask: What is the context?” said O’Connor.

Reference: EDUARDO E. BUSTAMANTE, ANGELIQUE G. BRELLENTHIN, DAVID R. BROWN, PATRICK J. O’CONNOR. Up for Debate: Does Regular Physical Activity Really Improve Mental Health? Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2025; 57 (5): 1056 DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003636

Taking This Obesity Medication with Menopause Hormone Therapy May Lead to More Effective Weight Loss

Postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity experience significantly greater weight loss when treated with both tirzepatide and menopause hormone therapy (MHT), compared to tirzepatide alone. Findings were presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco.

Tirzepatide, a medication used to treat obesity, has shown promising results in various populations. However, weight gain associated with menopause often presents a unique challenge. Hormonal changes during menopause can lead to increased abdominal fat, reduced muscle mass, and altered energy metabolism factors that collectively elevate the risk of heart disease and other health concerns in millions of women.

"These data are the first to show the combined use of tirzepatide and menopause hormone therapy significantly increases treatment effectiveness in postmenopausal women," said Regina Castaneda, M.D., research fellow in the Division of Endocrinology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. "Previous studies of the medication semaglutide found similar results. Achieving these outcomes with a second obesity medication may indicate a broader efficacy trend for pairing these two classes of medications."

Researchers conducted a real-world study using electronic health records of 120 postmenopausal women over a median follow-up of 18 months. Participants were divided into two groups: 40 women received both tirzepatide and menopause hormone therapy, while 80 received tirzepatide alone.

The study found that women in the combination therapy group lost more total body weight 17% on average compared to 14% in those using only tirzepatide. Notably, 45% of women using menopause hormone therapy achieved at least 20% total weight loss, compared to just 18% of non-users.

Reference: https://www.endocrine.org/

Can Small Changes in Blood Sugar Impact Men’s Reproductive Health?

A long-term study presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco, has found that modest increases in blood sugar and other metabolic health factors are more closely linked to changes in sexual and reproductive function in aging men than age or testosterone levels alone.

The study challenges traditional views that primarily attribute male sexual decline to aging or falling testosterone. Instead, researchers point to the role of subtle metabolic changes particularly rising blood sugar as key contributors to declining sperm mobility and erectile function in otherwise healthy men.

The study began in 2014 and followed 200 healthy men aged 18 to 85 who did not have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer. By 2020, 117 participants remained. Over the course of the study, researchers regularly assessed semen quality, hormone levels, erectile functioning, and key metabolic indicators such as body mass index and HbA1c, a marker for blood sugar levels.

The results revealed that while hormone levels and semen parameters generally remained within normal ranges, sperm motility and erectile function declined in men with slightly elevated HbA1c levels even when those levels were still below the diabetes threshold of 6.5%. Interestingly, testosterone did not directly impact erectile function, though it was associated with libido.

"Although age and testosterone levels have long been considered an impetus for men's declining sexual health, our research indicates that these changes more closely correlate with modest increases in blood sugar and other metabolic changes," said Michael Zitzmann, M.D., Ph.D., professor and doctor of medicine at University Hospital in Muenster, Germany. "This means that men can take steps to preserve or revive their reproductive health with lifestyle choices and appropriate medical interventions."

"We're hopeful that the information gleaned from this study will help doctors and their patients formulate effective male sexual health maintenance plans," Zitzmann added. "We now know that it's in our power to retain sexual and reproductive well-being in men, even as they age."

The findings offer a promising direction for men seeking to maintain sexual health through better metabolic control and lifestyle changes, rather than relying solely on hormone therapy or aging-related assumptions.

Reference: https://www.endocrine.org/