Dr Dolly van Tulleken and Henry Dimbleby's new Nesta report highlights the major obstacles to addressing food-related ill-health, which align with the 5 Drivers of the Addiction Economy identified by Joe Woof and me. Key issues include disinformation and political inaction.

Cigarette companies like Philip Morris and BAT are producing fruity flavored cigarettes targeting children in South America while claiming to help smokers quit with vapes in the UK. Corruption and lobbying prevent necessary regulations to stop this harm.

Gambling has become one of the most predatory sectors in the Addiction Economy, with the state’s failure to regulate fueling industry harm. The move to keep voluntary donation systems in place highlights the industry's influence over harm reduction efforts

Chris Van Tulleken’s documentary and article highlight addiction to UPF, cigarettes, and social media. However, the real issue lies in the addictive products and environments, not an “addictive brain,” with over a billion people affected globally

Ahead of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill's second reading, the push to phase out vapes alongside cigarettes continues. Advocating for vapes as a quitting tool, not a new addiction, the proposal includes research on non-pharma cessation and tighter regulation

The UK’s declining life expectancy, fueled by obesity and preventable illnesses, exposes how corporate-driven unhealthy environments strip true freedom of choice. The "freedom to choose" argument masks systemic negligence perpetuated by profit-focused industries and permissive governance

Ahead of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill reading, Kurzgesagt’s analysis reinforces the need to regulate vaping, highlighting its role in addicting youth. Phasing out vapes and cigarettes is essential to curbing this growing global addiction crisis

A new report highlights how Big Food's profit-driven practices fuel chronic disease, creating a symbiotic relationship with Big Pharma. Blame shifts to individuals, obscuring structural causes and reinforcing cycles of addiction and health inequities across society

Dating apps like Hinge claim to foster lasting connections but are criticised for exploiting addictive designs to maximize user retention and profits, exemplifying the broader addiction-driven business model undermining user autonomy in digital platforms

Society's normalization of addiction-related ill health stems from a pervasive culture of victim-blaming. Policies focus on cutting benefits rather than addressing root causes like unhealthy industries and isolating technologies, perpetuating an environment of addiction and harm.

Nomad Foods' CEO advocates mandatory reporting of product health metrics to spur competition for healthier food. This marks a shift from blaming consumer addiction to addressing industry responsibility in producing unhealthy, health-damaging foods, aligning capitalism with nutrition goals

The Center for Humane Technology highlights how Character.AI exploits addictive designs targeting vulnerable users, including youth, using attention-driven business models. Despite known risks, its harmful impacts parallel those of other profit-driven industries preying on society's most susceptible.

The House of Lords report urges reforms, including taxing sugar and salt, banning unhealthy food ads, researching ultra-processed foods, and supporting maternal nutrition and free meals, to address obesity and food inequality across the UK.

As I take a brief hiatus to finalize our book outline, I emphasize that tackling the food addiction economy isn't a Nanny State initiative; rather, it's a necessary regulatory response to a profit-driven food environment that undermines public health.

Juliet Samuel’s article highlights the pervasive addiction of social media, urging a collective effort to recognize and resist harmful design techniques that undermine users' freedom and mental well-being.

The European Health Forum Gastein initiative challenges the normalization of industries like alcohol, tobacco, and gambling, urging legal frameworks to combat their detrimental influence on public health policymaking.

The gambling sector's pervasive impact on government policy resembles Big Tobacco's past, prioritizing corporate profit over public well-being.

The initiative to prescribe weight loss drugs to obese individuals risks being a quick fix that fails to address the underlying issues of addictive food environments, limited access to nutritious options, and the psychological factors driving overeating, potentially leading to a cycle of dependency without sustainable solutions

In response to the recent BrainWaves study linking social media use with anxiety and depression in young people, we urge the Financial Times to focus on the root causes of this issue: the companies employing addiction-maximizing design techniques. While proposed solutions center on modifying young people's behavior, we must also regulate the addictive products that strip away their agency, leading to mental health challenges.

Kathleen Stock’s thought-provoking article challenges the narrative around assisted dying, arguing that legalizing euthanasia might undermine dignity, especially in the context of inadequate social care. She calls for transparency from politicians, urging them to address the root causes of suffering instead of framing assisted dying in sentimental terms.