Children born to mothers who had COVID-19 during pregnancy may be more likely to develop obesity, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. More than 100 million COVID-19 cases have been reported in the United States since 2019, and there is limited information on the long-term health effects of the infection. Pregnant women make up 9% of reproductive-aged women with COVID-19, and millions of babies will be exposed to maternal infection during fetal development over the next five years. “Our findings ..read more

Endocrinology is a field with strong female representation today, with women making up 70% of all endocrinologists in training (Pelley et al., 2016). However, for much of the 20th century, endocrinology, like most areas of medicine, was male dominated and exclusionary toward women seeking to enter the discipline. Among the few women who successfully broke into the field, there are a few names that are often highlighted. Rosalyn Yalow, PhD, the first woman to serve as Endocrine Society President, continues to have a far-reaching impact on medicine. Her development of the radioimmunoassay techni ..read more

In honor of National Women’s History Month, Endocrine News is presenting its first ever “Women in Endocrinology” issue. In the decade that I’ve been overseeing the magazine and interacting with members of the Endocrine Society, it’s apparent that women in endocrinology aren’t simply a “contributing factor;” they are the driving forces, especially today. And it’s high time we honored the amazing women who are making a difference in the practice and science of endocrinology. This issue’s centerpiece features 10 of the Endocrine Society’s outstanding member for “Leading the Way: A Roundtable Disc ..read more

Once dominated by men, endocrinology has evolved into a specialty in which women lead the way in clinics, classrooms, and labs. Endocrine News spoke to 10 women in endocrinology about their views on the practice, their work and research, the Endocrine Society’s impact, and their advice for the next generation of women following in their footsteps. In many ways, the field of endocrinology concerns women’s health. According to the Endocrine Society, “Endocrinologists are important members of the care team for women as much of their care is focused on ensuring the correct balance of hormones. Th ..read more

Women with obesity may share risk for the disease with their daughters, but not their sons, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Obesity is a common, serious and costly disease affecting nearly half of the adults and 20% of children in the United States. It costs an estimated $173 billion in medical care costs. People with obesity are at higher risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, heart issues, and many other conditions. “These findings highlight that girls born to mothers who have obesit ..read more

The Endocrine Society supports a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule which includes provisions to regulate several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—including PFOA and PFOS—found in our drinking water. The proposed regulation sets an aggressive limit for these PFAS and their mixtures and acknowledges effects at extremely low levels by proposing a health based Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCGL) of zero. This is the first time the government has regulated a new chemical in drinking water in more than 30 years. The new rule would require major water treatment upgrade ..read more

A broad coalition of over 30,000 European and international endocrine experts have today called on EU legislators to publish the revised REACH proposal without any further delay, and no later than June 2023.  Citing the urgent and immediate need to minimize exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) in the interest of public health, the experts insist that flaws in the REACH regulation must be addressed without delay. EDCs are not a compromise area, and extending the current legislation is required to fulfil the mentioned objectives. The petition was launched by the Endocrine Soc ..read more

The Endocrine Society was the first such organization to recognize the threat endocrine disruptors posed to human health. Endocrine News shares the story of how that came to pass over the course of several years, through prolific research, meetings, symposia, forums, as well as an advocacy effort that reaches around the world. In 2006,we published an article entitled “Endocrine disruption for endocrinologists (and others)” in the June issue of Endocrinology in which we wrote: “The Endocrine Society should continue to be a leader in research on endocrine disruption…[and] should also inform gove ..read more

Rosalyn Yalow, PhD, became the first woman to serve as the Endocrine Society’s president in 1977, the same year she received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for developing the radioimmunoassay technique for hormone measurement. Endocrine News salutes this notable “grand dame of science” with a look at her life and career, as well as her impact on generations of endocrinologists.     In her Banquet Speech in Stockholm to receive the 1977 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, Rosalyn Yalow, PhD, wrote: “We cannot expect in the immediate future that all women who seek ..read more

One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is mentoring the next generation of endocrine researchers and clinicians. It is so gratifying to see promising young professionals establishing productive careers in our field. We have several initiatives underway to support professionals entering the field. Next month, we will host workshops for promising researchers and clinicians from underrepresented groups. We have selected 17 fellows to take part in our Future Leaders Advancing Research in Endocrinology (FLARE) program. They will meet in Los Angeles, Calif., next month with mentors to learn a ..read more