RIP wild swimming. Nature’s ‘cure all’ has thrown in the towel | Eva Wiseman

Immersing yourself in cold water never did appeal to many of us, but raw sewage and now medical evidence all mean the trend could soon be out of its depth

Farewell, wild swimming, it’s been fun. Well, not fun. Not “fun” in the traditional sense of the word. More, I suppose, it’s been baffling, sometimes bloodcurdling and, eventually, a banal cliché flattened by overuse, but this is an obituary of sorts, so we will be kind.

Much in the same way Lucozade rebranded itself from medicine to energy drink, in the past decade this hobby pivoted to wellness, adding the “wild” having spent many years known simply as “swimming”. Led in no small part by this newspaper, it became a trend, elevated by its health-giving properties and photos of nice ladies grinning in swimwear. It was not for me. No, I am a person quite tied to dry land, and cosiness, and a lack of eels scraping my shins, but I applaud those who did it. Those brave enough to jump straight into lakes, whether for exercise, their mental health, their headaches or their Instagrams. You always knew who was a wild swimmer, because they would tell you, frequently. And I’d applaud until my palms stung, because this was a feat of endurance and bravery so far beyond my own pathetic limits that they might as well have jumped into an active volcano rather than the local pond. But. Continue reading…
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I’m single, about to turn 40 – and fear I will self-destruct | Ask Philippa

You’re successful and do control and logic well – but it’s time to dare yourself dream and listen to your body

The dilemma Although I only look about 30, I am about to turn 40 and I am worried I am going to self-destruct. The real issue, though, is that turning 40 feels like doors are about to close. Professionally, I am successful. I do a hard, responsible job. I know I am good at what I do. The “but” is that I am single. I have never had any children and the only romantic relationship I have had in the past decade was with someone who would not commit to me. I can’t countenance internet dating; that’s not a value judgment on what anyone else wants to do, but it isn’t for me. I feel like I am open to meeting people, but having lost the most recent years of my life to the pandemic, the scope of possibilities for this seems minuscule.

I have always had an issue with wanting something without knowing the particulars. I was never a child who “dreamed” of a wedding. If I met someone I liked, I might want to date them, but all through my early adulthood when my peers wanted a boyfriend, I don’t remember sharing their thought process – unless we were talking about a specific person. Similarly, the question, “Do you want children?” and even “Do you want a partner?” is unanswerable to me unless I know the circumstances. Continue reading…
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What Time You Eat Doesn’t Matter For Weight Loss, Study Finds

A new study finds that what time you eat meals doesn’t matter for weight loss—what’s important is the amount you eat.
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Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s Drug Donanemab Fails to Get Early FDA Approval

In an unexpected setback for the drugmaker, Eli Lilly & Co.’s bid for accelerated approval of donanemab was rejected by U.S. regulators.
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Flavored Cannabis Marketing Is Criticized for Targeting Kids

Concerns are growing over the marketing of flavored cannabis products, like those labeled “mad mango,” “loud lemon,” and “peach dream.”
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5 Weight-Loss Strategies That Don’t Work—And What To Do Instead

Here are five popular methods that often fail—and alternatives that are more likely to lead to long-term success.
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I sleep for 10 hours a night – but still can’t get up in the morning | Ask Annalisa Barbieri

Your cycle may start later than average, or you may just need more sleep. A sleep clinic may help

I’ve been bad at getting up in the mornings ever since my late teens. I’m now in my mid-30s and most days I can’t seem to get up in good time for things. I’m almost always a few minutes late for work and this leaves me feeling unprepared.

I struggle to get up naturally before 10am and seem to need more than 10 hours a night. I only work two or three 9-to-5 days a week, and I still can’t get up on time. I have mostly given up caffeine and reduced my dark chocolate intake in the evenings to try to get into a more natural sleep pattern, but this has led to going to bed earlier and still struggling to wake up naturally before 10am. I eat well, avoid excessive alcohol, don’t smoke or take drugs, and get fresh air and exercise most days. Continue reading…
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Open up swimming to all – in lakes and rivers as well as public pools | Letters

Margaret Dickinson, Donald Rigg, Paul Tinnion and David Perry respond to an article by John Harris about public pools and leisure centres under threat of closure

John Harris rightly draws attention to the public health value of swimming pools (The story of Britain’s pools and leisure centres is one of neglect, decay and the lies of levelling up, 15 January), but he might also have mentioned the potential of natural bodies of water and the scandals that prevent greater use of them for swimming. The London conurbation, for example, includes chains of lakes, many of which are suitable for swimming, as well as former docks and stretches of the Thames and other rivers that between them could provide far more swimming opportunities than open air pools ever have.

The main barrier in the case of the rivers is the dumping of sewage, which may require investment to fix – but that investment is essential for other environmental reasons anyway. In the case of the lakes and docks, the main barrier is simply that landowners – public authorities as well as private landlords – either ban swimming or permit it only in designated areas, often during restricted hours and with significant entry fees. Continue reading…
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Black babies stillborn at almost twice rate of white babies, ONS figures show

Campaigners call for greater research into why there are such stark variations in England and Wales

The stillbirth rate of black babies in England and Wales is almost twice that of white babies, with families from mixed and multiple ethnic groups registering the highest increase in stillbirths, figures show.

The death rate of black babies before or during delivery continues to be the highest, with 6.9 stillbirths per 1,000 births registered in 2021, compared with 3.6 per 1,000 white babies, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Continue reading…
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I’m a 32-year old woman and I have no female friends. Am I missing something? | Leading questions

It is worth asking yourself why this is the case, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith, it may tell you something about your own relationship to gender

I’m a 32-year-old woman and I have no female friends. I feel like everyone around me, and in the media, is obsessed with the power of female friendships at the moment. I’m getting married and I won’t have any bridesmaids, even though my partner will have a fleet of groomsmen. I don’t know how to feel about this – I used to feel shame, like there was something wrong with me, and like I was missing out on something. I don’t know why life has led me to a place where I have no female friends. I resent the articles and books about how they’re the most important thing in life – more important than family, romantic partners, pets, hobbies, work – but I don’t know if I’m resenting them because it’s what I want or if I’m actually OK with it and I’m just feeling inferior or self-conscious because of a current trend.

When I think of my time and my life, I can’t see space for female friendships, and I don’t know if I just want them as an insurance policy in case something else goes wrong. How can I resolve these issues? Is there an answer? Am I missing something? Continue reading…
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