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The Independent •

Bridal parties are increasingly choosing wellness retreats over boozy benders

A new trend points to bridal parties increasingly choosing wellness retreats over boozy benders.

More and more brides are foregoing the rowdy Bachelorette parties of yore, and instead, they’re opting for healthy, calming wellness retreats. According to one bride, a physician’s assistant named Margaret Wilson who spoke to The New York Times, she and her bridal party were drawn to the idea of “a unique experience that wasn’t solely dependent on partying”.

“I had been through a lot of life change
The Independent •

Parents pledge to ban children from using social media until eighth grade

Parents are pledging to ban children from using social media until the eighth grade.

In an interview with NBC News, a mother from Indiana named Emily Meyer spoke about the “Wait until 8th” movement, saying that she’s pledging to only allow her children to have phones when they reach the age of 13. Meyer said that she and her husband had already agreed to wait for their own family to give their children phones.

“We have made kids grow up in this society way too fast,” the mother of three said.
The Independent •

Woman says those experiencing pregnancy loss need separate waiting rooms

A woman has called for hospitals to have separate waiting rooms for patients experiencing pregnancy loss.

In a TikTok video, India Batson candidly spoke about how she wished there were special waiting rooms for people like her who have suffered pregnancy loss. She reflected on her experience at a recent Ob-Gyn doctor appointment, in which she noted how heart-wrenching it was to be surrounded by pregnant women so soon after having a miscarriage.

“Sitting in that waiting room next to tons of pre
The Independent •

Many of the world’s happiest countries are also the best places for women

The countries that are the happiest also tend to have higher levels of gender equality.

Each year, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network produces the World Happiness Report, a list that determines which countries in the world are the happiest. In the annual list of the happiest countries in the world, countries like Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and New Zealand made the cut.

These countries not only have the honour of being dubbed one of the happiest countries on Ear
The Independent •

New study reveals worst states to give birth in the US

A recent study revealed which states in the US are the worst places to give birth in 2024.

A birth injury law firm compiled data and analysed the results to find out which states were the best places for mothers to give birth. The firm considered the impact of factors like maternal and infant mortality, and the cost of healthcare and childcare in each state before putting together a list based on the data.

Mississippi was at the bottom of the list, with its significant healthcare challenges as
The Independent •

Why is napping culture having a hard time taking off in the US?

Napping culture hasn’t taken off in the US like in other countries.

From siestas in Spain and Nigeria, riposas in Italy, and idlip in the Philippines, people around the world proudly practice napping. But in the United States, napping is considered a sign of laziness and a lack of ambition.

A byproduct of the American dream, hustle and grind culture reigns supreme in America, with many workers often avoiding time off or breaks to get even more work done. Rest isn’t considered a priority to our
The Independent •

‘The Bachelor’s’ Joey Graziadei reveals he has Gilbert’s syndrome

The Bachelor’s Joey Graziadei recently revealed the cause of his “yellow eyes” on social media.

In an Instagram post shared on 29 February, the 28-year-old tennis instructor addressed concerns from fans about the yellow tinge in the whites of his eyes, saying that they were caused by a condition called Gilbert’s syndrome.

“Hi everyone, I hope you are having a beautiful day,” Graziadei started the video. “I want to jump on here really quick and talk about something that I am seeing a lot of com
The Independent •

Mother born on Leap Day gives birth to baby on Leap Day

A mother born on Leap Day has given birth to a baby on the same day 40 years later.

On Thursday 29 February, Dr Kai Sun - an assistant professor of medicine and a rheumatologist at Duke Health - rang in her milestone birthday welcoming daughter, Chloe, with husband Michael Paik. The baby girl is the third child for the couple, who already share Charis, five, and Caleb, three.

“My husband and I were just saying how cool it would be if she were born on the same day as my birthday. And somehow, i
The Independent •

The battle against IVF isn’t protecting children. It’s devastating families

When you’re a teenager, you have a basic understanding of how you came into the world. You don’t tend to ask your parents questions about your conception. At least, I didn’t because I wasn’t inclined to die of mortification.

Growing up, I’d only heard that my parents had tried for a child for a long time, so when my 70-something-year-old grandmother made a passing comment about how I’d had a twin in the womb, I took it as another one of her jokes. Offbeat and out there, but classic grandma.

I
The Independent •

Researchers find that ‘superpowers’ are real - they’re just not what we expect

Researchers have found that superpowers may be real, but they may not be what we expect.

In research collected for her upcoming book Superpowered, author Erika Engelhaupt revealed that scientists have found what can be considered “superpowers” in humans. Although they may not be endowed with the ability to run faster than the speed of sound or fly high up in the sky, research indicates that some humans possess abilities far beyond the norm that may be considered “super.”

From the Sherpa people
The Independent •

What are ‘friendship snacks’ and why are they important to our relationships?

Researchers have found that adult friendships are often maintained through “friendship snacks”.

With busy schedules often making it harder to spend quality time with friends as an adult, sending quick how-are-you texts, adorable animal videos, or memes can be a simple way for friends to maintain their relationships. Even if these interactions tend to ultimately be unsatisfying, they’re not meant to meet the complete needs of a friendship, and instead act as a stopgap for when plans will ultimat
The Independent •

‘Grey divorce’ poses higher financial risk for women than men

Divorces among middle-aged and elderly people pose a higher financial risk to women.

In stark contrast to reports indicating that divorce rates among young adults are on the decline, researchers have noted that divorce rates have alarmingly increased among the middle-aged crowd. “Grey divorces” – defined as divorces among those age 50 and older – have skyrocketed in the past 30 years, according to a 2022 study from The Journals of Gerontology by I-Fen Lin and Susan L Brown.

Typically, divorces
The Independent •

Ozempic patients report higher fertility causing ‘Ozempic babies’

Women are reportedly experiencing an increase in fertility on weight-loss drugs like Ozempic.

Mothers on social media have been coming forward with their stories of getting pregnant while on weight-loss drugs, saying that the drug made it easier for them to get pregnant. On TikTok, there’s been an influx of mothers sharing their “Ozempic Baby” journeys, with one content creator crediting Ozempic with enabling their pregnancy.

“Thanks to Ozempic…this went from a weight loss journey to a pregnan
The Independent •

Dating coaches spark debate as they push women to embrace traditional gender roles

Online dating coaches are polarising viewers as they increasingly encourage women to embrace traditional gender roles.

In her videos, 24-year-old dating coach Karla Elia often tells her one million followers that they should only date men who can “afford” them, playing into the idea that men are providers while women are receivers.

Elia’s videos have been highly criticised among viewers, but her antiquated advice has resonated among a community of heterosexual women who see relationships betwe
The Independent •

New study highlights the best exercise to combat depression

A new study indicates that dancing is one of the best forms of treatment for depression.

Australian researchers have published a study that shows that the best form of exercise to treat depression is dancing, beating out several exercises including walking or jogging, yoga, tai chi, and strength training among others. The study aimed to identify what kind of exercise would be best for treating major depressive disorder, either in tandem or compared to the prescription of psychotherapy, and anti
The Independent •

Gen Z leaves phones on ‘do not disturb’ to avoid notification anxiety

Gen-Z-ers have come clean about why they keep their phones on “Do Not Disturb” at all times.

Found on most mobile phones, the “Do Not Disturb” feature is used by those who block out notifications that could distract from work, studying, or a good night’s sleep. But some people online have admitted to using the feature to curb their anxiety.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, user Max Burns sparked an online debate when he wrote, “TIL that some Gen Z kids keep their cellphones on ‘Do Not Disturb’
The Independent •

Can you manifest the love you deserve?

There’s a fine line between being a hopeful and hopeless romantic, but that line becomes blurry when practicing manifestation comes into the picture.

Those who practice manifesting believe that they have the cosmic ability to attract whatever they desire through positive thinking and self-talk, visualisation, and symbolic actions. By believing their sheer willpower can change the will of the universe, they believe that they can get what they want - even love and romance.

Over the years, these
The Independent •

Why America’s third places are making a comeback

In the past year, loneliness, isolation, and a lack of connection have all been declared as causes of a major public health crisis, with the US Surgeon General being one of many to raise the alarm that Americans are more disconnected now than ever. Some believe that this crisis - an aftershock of the Covid-19 pandemic - is symptomatic of a decline in physical community spaces where quality connections can blossom.

Sociology professor Ray Oldenburg dubbed these physical community spaces as “thir
The Independent •

TikTok bans ‘Legging Legs’ trend

TikTok has banned the term “legging legs” after an alarming trend circulated on the platform that was flagged as potentially triggering for those with eating disorders.

Although the hashtag #legginglegs has since been deleted from the platform and now directs users to information about eating disorders or disordered eating, the short-lived trend made its impact. It first went viral after women began to share videos of themselves in yoga pants showing off their thigh gaps.

As it was gaining tra
The Independent •

Suspected fake Ozempic linked to three US cases of hypoglycemia

Last year, three people reportedly sought medical treatment for dangerously low blood sugar in the US after taking suspected fake versions of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug Ozempic.

Ozempic and other drugs that target diabetes have also become popular in the medical community as a treatment for weight loss. As a result, demand for similar drugs has skyrocketed, with medications including Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo’s Wegovy being approved to treat weight loss. However, this has led to a growing
The Independent •

Ugandan woman who welcomed twins at 70 shares first photos of babies

The Ugandan woman who gave birth to twins at the age of 70 through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) shared the first photos of her babies after being discharged from the hospital.

In late November at Women’s Hospital International and Fertility Centre (WHI&FC) in Uganda, Safina Namukwaya welcomed twins, a son and a daughter. On 6 January, the mother of three brought her son and daughter home for the first time. She reportedly named her daughter Shakira Babiyre Nabagala and her son Kato Shafique Kan
The Independent •

How to celebrate World Mental Health Day

With many struggling with mental health globally, World Mental Health Day seeks to raise awareness and destigmatise conversations surrounding mental health.

World Mental Health Day - recognised annually on 10 October - was established in 1992 through the World Federation for Mental Health. The organisation sought to bring attention to the ongoing mental health crisis by celebrating mental health advocacy and encouraging people worldwide to prioritise their mental wellbeing.

Mental health advoc
The Independent •

Oprah Winfrey admits she considered trying weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy

Oprah Winfrey has admitted that she wrestled with the idea of getting the weight-loss drug Ozempic but refused as she felt it was taking the “easy way out.”

The billionaire who has openly battled her weight for decades recently discussed the controversial Type 2 diabetes drug on her panel, Oprah Daily’s “The Life You Want Class: The State of Weight.”

She discussed the ongoing obesity and weight crisis - which affects 2 billion adults worldwide - with obesity specialists Dr Fatima Cody Stanford
The Independent •

Should we wear masks again? Here’s what experts have to say

The uptick of Covid transmissions this summer has raised questions about whether or not certain safety measures such as wearing masks should be brought be back.

“It is ticking up a little bit, but it’s not something that we need to raise any alarm bells over,” Dr David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told the Seattle Times. Although many health experts like Dr Dowdy don’t believe people have cause to worry, some have expressed thei

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