Jordan Bateman, a 31-year-old drag artist from Swansea, has achieved a remarkable transformation, shedding an astonishing 14 stone (approximately 88.9 kg) in just one year. His weight loss journey began in July 2024, when he weighed 28 stone (177.8 kg) and struggled to breathe while performing as his drag persona, Ruby Slippers. The dramatic change in his health prompted his local Chinese takeaway to call and check on his well-being, expressing concern over his sudden absence.

The catalyst for this transformation was the weight loss injection Mounjaro, which Bateman obtained through the digital healthcare provider Numan before its availability on the National Health Service (NHS). With the jab, he has successfully reduced his weight to 14 stone, marking a significant milestone in his journey towards better health.

Jordan’s lifestyle changes have been profound. He has traded in his former diet of fast food, which included frequent stops at service stations for takeaways like lemon chicken and duck spring rolls, for a healthier, more balanced approach. He acknowledges spending over £3,000 on the treatment since August 2024, but emphasizes that the investment has been worthwhile, allowing him to move from a size 4XL to a medium.

Reclaiming Health and Confidence

Raised in Swansea, Jordan was an active child but found his health declining after entering the entertainment industry at the age of 18. The demands of touring made it difficult to maintain a healthy diet. He explained, “There’s no kitchen when you’re on the road, so my diet became all about what I could get at service stations.” This shift in lifestyle contributed to his significant weight gain.

The turning point for Jordan came during a performance when he was unable to finish a song due to breathlessness. “I thought, ‘This isn’t normal’,” he recalled. Upon visiting his GP in July 2024, he discovered his weight and realized he needed to make lasting changes. Initially, he considered a gastric sleeve but opted for Mounjaro after discussing options with his healthcare provider.

Mounjaro, or Tirzepatide, is a self-administered injection that helps patients feel full longer, encouraging dietary changes alongside regular exercise. Jordan began increasing his dosage from August 2024 but adjusted it due to nausea, following medical advice from Numan. He has committed to a complete overhaul of his eating habits, replacing junk food with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Now, he prepares meals in advance to avoid unhealthy temptations while on tour. His determination and hard work have led to increased energy levels, making it easier to engage with children during performances at holiday parks. Jordan has even noticed a change in how children depict him in drawings, evolving from a “circle” to a more typical “stick figure.”

Newfound Confidence and Future Aspirations

The transformation has not only changed Jordan’s physical appearance but also his outlook on life. He has become more empowered to explore romantic relationships, feeling confident for the first time in his adult life. As he embraces his new body, he expresses gratitude for the wake-up call that prompted him to reassess his lifestyle choices. “If I’d continued without a care in the world, I dread to think how heavy I would be now,” he reflected.

His journey serves as an inspiration to others considering weight loss. He advises consulting a GP before starting any weight-loss medications, emphasizing that success requires more than just injections. “It’s a commitment,” he said. “You mentally and physically have to change what you do for it to work.”

Jordan is determined to reach his target weight of 12 stone (76.2 kg), at which point he plans to discontinue the injections. His success story highlights the importance of seeking help and making informed choices about health and well-being. As he continues to thrive, he embraces life with renewed confidence, ready to take on new challenges both on and off the stage.

A young boy diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy is participating in advanced clinical trials in Leeds to contribute to the development of more effective treatments for children facing similar challenges. This initiative aims not only to improve the boy’s quality of life but also to pave the way for innovative therapies that could benefit countless others.

The clinical trials are being conducted at leading research institutions in Leeds, where cutting-edge techniques and therapies are being tested. These trials represent a significant step forward in the fight against muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder that results in progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. The young participant’s involvement highlights the importance of innovative research in addressing rare diseases that often lack sufficient treatment options.

Hope for the Future

The boy’s family expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to participate in these trials. His mother stated, “We are hopeful that this research will not only help our son but also provide hope for many families affected by muscular dystrophy.” The trials are designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of new treatment methods, and the boy’s participation is crucial for gathering data that could lead to breakthroughs in medical science.

Current therapies for muscular dystrophy focus on managing symptoms rather than providing a cure. However, these clinical trials aim to explore potential gene therapies and other innovative solutions that may address the underlying causes of the disease. Researchers believe that the data collected from participants like the young boy can lead to significant advancements in treatment protocols.

Community Support and Awareness

The boy’s participation in the trials has sparked interest and support from the community. Local organizations are rallying to raise awareness about muscular dystrophy and the importance of clinical research. Fundraising events are being organized to support ongoing research efforts and to assist families affected by this condition.

Furthermore, advocacy groups emphasize the need for continued investment in rare disease research. According to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, there is a pressing need for more clinical trials to explore innovative treatment options. The association’s spokesperson noted, “Every participant in these trials brings us one step closer to finding solutions that can change lives.”

As the young boy engages in this groundbreaking research, his story serves as a reminder of the resilience of children facing serious health challenges and the critical role of clinical trials in advancing medical knowledge. His bravery not only adds to the growing body of research but also inspires hope for families navigating the complexities of muscular dystrophy.

A new study from Texas A&M University is investigating the health impacts of living in a neighborhood designed around a working farm, known as an “agrihood.” The research, led by Jay Maddock, a professor in the School of Public Health, aims to assess how residents of the Indigo community in Fort Bend County change their lifestyle, diet, and overall health after moving in.

The study will follow a cohort of residents at Indigo, a master-planned community that spans 235 acres, with 42 acres allocated for agricultural use, including crop fields and livestock pastures. Residents are set to begin moving in by the end of March 2024. The design of the neighborhood emphasizes walkability, featuring over half of its land dedicated to car-free green spaces, promoting outdoor activities.

Maddock, who has researched the benefits of green spaces on mental health and the role of natural elements in hospital recovery, notes that the Indigo development offers a unique opportunity to gather comprehensive data on residents before and after their transition to an agrihood. He stated, “The developers took everything we know about what makes a healthy community and incorporated it into this design. It allows us to see if living in this type of community actually changes behavior.”

Agrihoods typically center around a farm or garden and include shared green spaces, walking trails, and community centers. With around 100 such communities in various stages of planning worldwide, Maddock emphasizes the novelty of this concept and the lack of scientific literature on its health benefits.

The study will recruit a total of 350 participants, with 175 residents from Indigo and an equal number from a comparison community located approximately 20 miles away. While the comparison neighborhood shares similar demographics, it lacks the agricultural features of an agrihood. Participants will undergo a detailed survey about their lifestyle prior to moving in, establishing a baseline for their health metrics.

Maddock elaborated on the primary focus of the study: “We’re particularly interested in changes in physical activity and nutrition. We’re also measuring biomarkers such as blood pressure and cholesterol.” A mobile health assessment clinic will visit both communities to collect data on residents’ height, weight, and other health indicators.

The research team will utilize a “Veggie Meter,” a non-invasive device that scans a person’s finger to estimate their fruit and vegetable consumption based on carotenoid levels in the skin. To monitor physical activity, participants will wear accelerometers.

According to Maddock, many prospective residents of Indigo expressed their desire to live close to a working farm. The study also aims to assess social connectedness among residents. “It appears that people connect more with each other and with the farm, but so far, this is anecdotal evidence,” he commented. “This is a first-of-its-kind exploration.”

Maddock sees agrihoods as a promising model for urban development, especially as many people are increasingly disconnected from their food sources. “Forty percent of Americans have never met a farmer,” he noted. “Agrihoods can help bridge that gap by bringing farming back to urban communities and enhancing health through better food access.”

In addition to health metrics, the study will conduct focus groups to understand community engagement with the agricultural aspects of Indigo. This will inform the design of future agrihoods by identifying which features residents utilize and how to enhance their integration into farming life.

The 13-month study is co-led by Lexi MacMillan Uribe from AgriLife Research and Renee Umstattd Meyer from Baylor University, alongside a multidisciplinary team of co-investigators. Support for the research comes from the Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture under agreement number 58-3091-1-018.

Researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) have made a significant discovery regarding the survival mechanisms of Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as staph. Their study reveals that staph bacteria possess a surprising level of metabolic redundancy, which may influence how deadly pathogens are targeted in the ongoing fight against antibiotic resistance.

Staph infections, while often harmless, can escalate into serious health threats. A notable strain, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is resistant to many commonly used antibiotics, complicating treatment options. The findings from this research, published in the journal mBio, suggest potential new avenues for antibiotic development.

Understanding Metabolic Redundancy in Staph

Led by recently graduated PhD student Troy Burtchett from MSU’s Department of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology, the research highlights the role of isoprenoids—molecules vital for bacterial survival. These compounds are involved in various functions, including pigment production, respiration, and cell wall synthesis.

Traditionally, the enzyme IspA was thought to be the sole producer of short-chain isoprenoids. However, Burtchett and his team discovered that when they created staph mutants lacking the gene ispA, the bacteria continued to thrive. This unexpected outcome prompted further investigation into how staph could tolerate the mutation.

Burtchett explained, “How can the cell tolerate that? That’s really what started this project off. It was really just a basic science investigation.”

In collaboration with Neal Hammer, an associate professor at MSU, and doctoral student Jessica Lysne, the researchers investigated another enzyme, HepT, which was found to be compensating for the loss of IspA. This led to the conclusion that HepT is involved in pathways not previously recognized, including the synthesis of molecules essential for respiration.

Implications for Antibiotic Development

To test their hypothesis, the team engineered a double mutant lacking both ispA and the corresponding gene for HepT. Surprisingly, the bacteria remained viable, indicating the existence of a third, unidentified enzyme that compensates for the loss of the other two. Burtchett noted, “One of the conclusions is that there is an incredible level of redundancy in isoprenoid synthesis in S. aureus. This has never been demonstrated before.”

These findings could have broader implications as isoprenoid synthesis pathways are highly conserved across various bacterial species. The research suggests that similar mechanisms might apply to other pathogens, including E. coli and Pseudomonas.

The rise of antibiotic resistance poses a significant challenge in medicine, as bacteria continue to evolve ways to resist treatment. By identifying new metabolic pathways that have not been targeted previously, researchers hope to develop antibiotics that bacteria have not yet developed defenses against. Burtchett stated, “If it’s new, there’s probably not existing resistance to it, and you can get more use out of that antibiotic.”

Looking forward, the team aims to further explore these findings to identify the third short-chain isoprenoid synthesis enzyme. Hammer emphasized, “Identifying this enzyme will provide new targets for therapeutic intervention,” potentially paving the way for innovative treatments against antibiotic-resistant infections.

The research was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), underscoring the importance of this work in the global fight against antibiotic resistance. The findings not only contribute to the scientific community’s understanding of bacterial survival strategies but also offer hope for future drug discovery efforts.