Strengthening your bones is not something that can happen overnight, it takes years for your body to build strong bones and even then, it is natural for them to lose their dexterity. All you can do is keep your body healthy to make sure it is prepared for any unexpected situations. For years, many older adults have been told to take vitamin D and calcium supplements to keep their bones strong and prevent falls. However, a new report from U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is changing that advice. This report suggests that for most older people, these supplements don't actually prevent falls or broken bones. This might be surprising news, we must understand why falls happen more often as we age, what vitamin D and calcium do in the body, and most importantly, what you can do to stay safe and prevent fractures.

What the Report Says

According to the report, vitamin D supplements don't seem to help prevent falls or broken bones for most people over 60. They also found that these supplements, especially with calcium, might increase the risk of kidney stones. This report doesn't mean people with weak bones (osteoporosis), low vitamin D, or who take vitamin D for other health reasons shouldn't take it. It just means that for most healthy older people, these supplements don't prevent falls and fractures.

Why Older People Fall and Break Bones More Easily

There are many reasons why older people are more prone to breaking their bones. Our bones are strongest when we're in our 20s and 30s, and they get weaker as we age so naturally, they can break easily. It can also be harder to move around as we get older, sometimes because of problems like arthritis this can affect how we walk and make us less steady.

There are also different issues like neuropathy, which is a nerve problem that can also make it harder to feel your feet and keep your balance. Eyesight is also a culprit as it can cause you to feel dizzy and fall. Some medicines can also make people feel unsteady, and older people often take more medicines than younger people. Low vitamin D itself can also increase the risk of falls, so keeping vitamin D levels up is still important.

Better Ways To Protect Your Bone Health

USPSTF recommends a few better ways to protect your bone health and prevent broken bones and falls.

Walk Regularly

Regular walks strengthen your muscles and bones, which helps you stay steady on your feet. It is as simple as practice makes perfect so the more you walk, the better it is. Walking also improves your balance, making you less likely to fall.

Do Strength Training

Strength training, like lifting weights or using resistance bands, makes your bones stronger and helps prevent fractures if you do fall. It is like a safety cushion, but you must be careful while doing so because it can lead to injuries if done too much.

Practice Balance

Activities like tai chi, Pilates, and yoga can improve your balance and coordination, making you more stable and less prone to falls. These can also help you improve your muscle flexibility and strength that in turn helps your body be stronger.

Check Your Medicines

If you have osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about medications that can help strengthen your bones and lower your risk of fractures. Many medications can also have unsavory side effects like weakened joints, losing muscle strength, etc.

Eat Enough Protein

A proper diet goes a long way when it comes to your entire body health. So to keep up with your body’s nutrition and muscle health, eat more protein along with a balanced meal that includes loads of fiber, healthy fats and carbs.

Get Your Eyes Checked

Having poor eyesight can be difficult, not only does it make life difficult without glasses, but it also increases the possibilities of getting into minor accidents like bumping into people and missing objects placed in front of us.

Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is also important because when you are not sleeping, you get disoriented and can ignore even obvious things like the last stair in the staircase. Make sure you get enough sleep to keep you fresh and focused.

Make Your Home Safe

There are many things that can cause you to have accidents, even in your home. To avoid such falls, make sure there are no lose ends like crooked floor panels, rugs that are sticking out or protruding furniture that can hurt your knees

Tennis great Björn Borg says he is taking life “day by day, year by year” after being diagnosed with an “extremely aggressive” form of prostate cancer, a revelation he saved for the final chapter of his new autobiography, reported AP. The 69-year-old, who underwent surgery in 2024 and is now in remission, told BBC Breakfast and later spoke to news outlets about the emotional toll of the diagnosis and the way he approaches follow-up testing.

Diagnosis, treatment and life in remission

In Heartbeats: A Memoir, co-written with his wife Patricia, Borg writes candidly about being told his cancer was “at its most advanced stage.” He said his doctor warned of “sleeping cancer cells” and told him it would be a fight in the years ahead, a battle Borg vowed to meet with familiar resolve. “I will fight every day like it’s a Wimbledon final,” he said. After an operation in 2024, Borg reports the cancer is in remission, but he stressed that regular six-monthly tests are now part of his life.

A champion’s mindset

Borg has long been associated with an ice-calm competitive temperament and a refusal to surrender on court. Now, he applies that same mentality to his health. Asked about the psychological impact, Borg conceded the diagnosis was “difficult psychologically,” but he countered that determination with pragmatism: tests, check-ups and an acceptance that his future will involve vigilant monitoring. The comparison to a Grand Slam final is more than rhetoric, it’s a metaphor he’s leaned on to frame the daily grind of recovery and watchful living.

Also Read: Björn Borg Shares His Experience Of Living With Prostate Cancer

Remembering the peak: Wimbledon, McEnroe and early retirement

Borg remains one of tennis’s defining figures: 11 Grand Slam singles titles, including five consecutive Wimbledon crowns and six French Open triumphs, a run that cemented his status as a dominant force in the 1970s and early 1980s. His 1980 Wimbledon final against John McEnroe, the near four-hour epic in which McEnroe saved seven championship points, is frequently cited among the sport’s greatest matches; Borg called it “the most satisfying match I ever played.” People reported the rivalry with McEnroe, branded “Fire and Ice,” later warmed into friendship: the two now see one another socially and speak about modern tennis rather than merely their past encounters.

The aftermath of early fame

Borg’s decision to retire unexpectedly in his mid-20s surprised the tennis world. In his memoir he explains that burnout, loss of motivation and a lack of a life plan contributed to a turbulent post-tennis period that included substance use and near-fatal incidents in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He writes openly about those years as part of a broader effort to explain who he is away from the court and how he rebuilt his life. Today, he says he’s “very happy with myself” after years of recovery and self-repair.

Looking forward: small steps, familiar grit

Borg’s account is both a personal reckoning and an implicit reminder about the importance of medical vigilance. He told interviewers that after the operation he has regular blood tests and scans, and that living with the possibility of recurrence is something he faces with the same focus he once reserved for match day. While he acknowledges the psychological weight of the diagnosis, his message is quiet but unambiguous: tackle each test, each day, with determination, and keep moving forward.

A new wellness trend is sweeping TikTok and Instagram, magnesium lotion, hailed by influencers as a natural fix for sleep troubles and a wide range of health issues.

The mineral magnesium plays an important role in the body, regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and energy production. Some studies have suggested that oral magnesium supplements may improve sleep, though evidence remains limited.

Now, influencers are going a step further by promoting magnesium in lotion or cream form, claiming it can do everything from balancing cortisol and insulin levels to relieving muscle soreness, arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

“Did you know rubbing magnesium cream on your child’s feet can help with sleep?” one TikTok user asks, promising it can also ease growing pains. Another swears by it for stopping leg cramps, while others call it “magic in a bottle.”

The claims may sound convincing, but are they backed by science?

The claim

Fans of magnesium lotion argue that applying it directly to the skin, especially the feet, can improve sleep. Others recommend using it across the body to tackle a range of issues, including mood swings and pain.

And people are buying into the hype. Market analysts estimate that the topical magnesium industry generated more than $400 million in 2024 alone.

The evidence

Despite the buzz, scientists say there is little proof that magnesium can be effectively absorbed through the skin.

“The problem with this is that the skin is a barrier, not a sponge,” explains dermatologist and Harvard researcher Nicholas Theodosakis. He notes that while some medicines are delivered transdermally via patches, magnesium has not been proven to work this way.

Most of the perceived benefits may come from the act of massaging lotion into the skin or from the moisturizing base itself. Creams often improve skin health regardless of added ingredients.

“You apply a lotion or ointment and your skin looks and feels better,” says Theodosakis. “That’s simply because creams promote hydration, not because magnesium is being absorbed.”

The nuance

Still, experts stop short of dismissing the trend entirely. Dr. John Winkelman, a Harvard sleep specialist, says he has had patients report success with products like “magnesium butter” for better sleep, as reported by NPR.

While he remains skeptical about the science, Winkelman acknowledges that placebo can be powerful, particularly when it comes to sleep. “If something is safe and helps my patients sleep, I’m not against it,” he says.

However, he emphasizes that he would not recommend magnesium lotion as a first-line treatment. Unlike drugs, supplements and related products are not evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety and efficacy. That means there is no guarantee these lotions actually deliver what they promise.

For conditions like restless legs syndrome, which influencers often claim magnesium lotion can ease, proven medical therapies already exist. “It’s not fair to recommend things that haven’t been shown to be effective,” says Winkelman.

So, does magnesium lotion help you sleep better? Current evidence says no. But the good news is that experts agree it’s unlikely to do harm, aside from the cost.

Dermatologist Theodosakis adds that the popularity of such products reflects how closely skincare and wellness are tied to psychology and culture. “Skin is such a visible and personal part of us,” he notes. “It’s natural that trends latch onto it.”

For now, magnesium lotion remains more of a viral fad than a scientifically proven sleep aid. If it feels relaxing and helps you unwind at night, the benefit may simply come from the ritual itself — not the mineral inside the bottle.

A daily pill for weight loss can help people reduce their body weight by as much as a fifth, according to a large clinical trial that researchers say could reshape obesity treatment and make therapies more accessible. The drug, called orforglipron and manufactured by Eli Lilly, works by targeting the same GLP-1 receptors as popular injectable drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Vienna, followed 3,127 adults with obesity but no diabetes across multiple countries. After 72 weeks, one in five participants taking the pill lost 20% or more of their body weight, a result health experts are calling a potential breakthrough.

Also Read: Eli Lilly Sends Weight-Loss Pill For Approval: Is Oral GLP-1 As Effective As The Injections?

How Orforglipron Works

Orforglipron belongs to the class of GLP-1 receptor agonists, medications that lower blood sugar, slow digestion, and suppress appetite. These drugs mimic hormones naturally released in the gut, signaling to the brain a feeling of fullness.

While injectable GLP-1 drugs have been hailed as transformative, a pill version is seen as a “holy grail” because it is easier to store, distribute, and take, reducing the barriers to treatment. Pills are also expected to be cheaper than weekly injections, widening access for millions.

Results of the 72-Week Trial

Participants were randomly assigned to receive different daily doses of orforglipron, ranging from 6 mg to 36 mg, or a placebo. All had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.

Average weight loss:

• 7.5% with the lowest dose (6 mg)
• 11.2% with the highest dose (36 mg)

Proportion of patients with major weight reduction on 36 mg:

• 54.6% lost at least 10% of body weight
• 36% lost at least 15%
• 18.4% lost at least 20%

Beyond weight reduction, the study noted improvements in blood pressure, waist circumference, and cholesterol levels. Side effects were mostly gastrointestinal, such as nausea and diarrhea, and were generally mild to moderate.

Lead researcher Dr. Sean Wharton of McMaster University said:

“This could mean an expansion of obesity interventions to groups who are currently excluded due to the cost of and lack of access to injectable medications.”

Why the Pill Matters

The rise of GLP-1 drugs has already begun to reshape obesity and diabetes treatment. But injections create added costs and logistical hurdles for health services. A pill that achieves similar results could be a turning point for how obesity is managed globally.

Experts stress, however, that while the pill’s results are promising, it is not yet approved by the FDA or other global regulators. Eli Lilly has said it expects strong demand once it launches, potentially within the next year.

Eli Lilly vs Novo Nordisk

The trial’s publication coincides with another headline-making announcement: Eli Lilly reported that orforglipron outperformed rival Novo Nordisk’s oral drug, oral semaglutide (Rybelsus), in Novo Nordisk's own head-to-head study on Type 2 diabetes patients.

Blood sugar control at 52 weeks:

• Orforglipron (36 mg): 2.2% reduction in HbA1c
• Oral semaglutide (14 mg): 1.4% reduction

Weight loss:

• Orforglipron: average 9.2% (19.7 pounds)
• Oral semaglutide: average 5.3% (11 pounds)

When including all patients regardless of discontinuation, weight loss with orforglipron was 8.2% compared to 5.3% with oral semaglutide.

Eli Lilly’s chief scientific officer Dan Skovronsky said the pill could serve as “the main medicine” for patients needing both diabetes and obesity management. Independent experts have also praised the results. Dr. Michael Weintraub of NYU Langone noted the pill’s blood sugar control is “impressive not only compared to other oral medications but also injectables.”

Caveats and Next Steps

Despite the strong results, analysts caution against declaring a clear winner in the oral weight-loss pill race. Novo Nordisk is awaiting FDA approval for a 25 mg version of oral semaglutide for obesity and has tested a 50 mg dose. Higher doses could narrow or close the gap between the two companies.

Dr. Jaime Almandoz of UT Southwestern Medical Center said:

“It’s a little too early to say that one is the leader in this class. But having head-to-head data helps doctors make better decisions for patients.”

Eli Lilly says it plans to apply for regulatory approval of orforglipron for diabetes in 2026, with a global launch expected as early as next year. Detailed results from its head-to-head study will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting.