Health and Wellness Newsletter – September 2025

Major Breakthroughs in Fitness, Sports Medicine, and Physical Therapy

AI Aids Spinal Injury Prognosis: Cutting-edge research this month revealed that artificial intelligence can glean life-saving insights from routine blood tests for spinal cord injury patientssciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. A University of Waterloo study showed that by tracking common blood biomarkers over the first few days after injury and applying machine learning, doctors could accurately predict injury severity and even patient survival as early as 1–3 days post-admissionsciencedaily.com. This AI-driven approach, published in NPJ Digital Medicine, may enable earlier interventions and better critical care planning for those with severe spinal injuries, a development especially relevant to veterans recovering from combat-related spinal traumasciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. The technique is affordable and uses standard hospital bloodwork, potentially making advanced prognostics accessible in VA and military hospitals worldwidesciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com.

Physical Therapy Outperforms Medication: A comprehensive analysis of nearly 10,000 patients has confirmed that simple, non-pharmacological therapies can be more effective than drugs for knee osteoarthritissciencedaily.com. According to a September 20 report in PLOS One, knee braces, hydrotherapy (warm water exercise), and targeted exercise regimens emerged as the top treatments for reducing pain and improving mobility in arthritic kneessciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. These low-cost approaches outperform common pain medications and high-tech interventions, which often carry side effects or limited benefitsciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. Researchers conclude that physical therapy and adaptive fitness should be front-line treatments for knee osteoarthritis, a condition affecting many older and disabled veteranssciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. Embracing braces, water exercises, and strength training could help veterans with chronic joint pain stay active without the risks associated with long-term medication use.

Major Updates in Nutrition and Supplementation

New Oral Weight-Loss Drug Shows Promise: A landmark international trial announced in mid-September demonstrated remarkable results for a new obesity medication, offering hope for safer weight management. The experimental drug orforglipron – a once-daily pill – helped patients lose over 10% of their body weight on average in 72 weeks, with nearly 1 in 5 participants shedding at least 20%sciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. Unlike most current weight-loss treatments (GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic) that require injections, orforglipron is taken orally, which could make therapy more accessible and preferable for many veterans struggling with obesitysciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. In the highest dose group, patients achieved an 11.2% average weight reduction alongside improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation markerssciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. Researchers noted the drug’s side effects (mostly mild gastrointestinal issues) were in line with its medication class. While orforglipron is not yet FDA-approved, experts highlight its potential to expand obesity treatment to more patients – including disabled veterans for whom traditional exercise might be challenging – if it gains regulatory approvalsciencedaily.com.

Exercise Yields a “Hunger Busting” Molecule: Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine uncovered a surprising natural appetite suppressant produced by our bodies during intense exercisesciencedaily.com. The molecule, Lac-Phe (lactate-phenylalanine), was found to directly act on the brain’s hunger centers – quieting neurons that signal hunger while activating those that promote satietysciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. In mouse studies, high levels of Lac-Phe generated by vigorous workouts led to the animals eating less and losing weight, all without any observed side effectssciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. These findings (published in Nature Metabolism) illuminate a natural pathway linking physical activity to reduced appetite, helping explain why regular exercise can aid weight control beyond just burning caloriessciencedaily.com. In the future, this discovery could inspire new weight-management therapies that mimic the effects of exercise-induced molecules. For now, it reinforces practical advice for veterans: staying active not only burns energy but may also naturally curb your appetite – a double benefit for managing weight and health.

Veteran Administration or Overall Military Updates

VA Workforce Changes and Service Impacts: The Department of Veterans Affairs underwent significant organizational shifts in September. The agency is on pace to reduce its staff by up to 30,000 employees by the end of the fiscal year (September 30), mainly through hiring freezes, early retirements, and a deferred resignation programnorthcarolinahealthnews.org. In fact, records show over 10,000 VA employees – including hundreds of doctors, nurses, and frontline staff – opted to resign by this month’s deadline in exchange for incentives, part of a plan to streamline the VA without resorting to formal layoffsnorthcarolinahealthnews.orgnorthcarolinahealthnews.org. VA leaders assert that “mission-critical” positions are exempt from the cuts and insist that veteran care will not be compromised. They argue that many reductions target administrative and duplicative roles, with an aim to improve efficiency in veterans’ servicesnorthcarolinahealthnews.orgnorthcarolinahealthnews.org. However, veterans’ advocates and some lawmakers have raised concerns. They note that the exodus of experienced personnel – even with safeguards – could strain an already overburdened system, potentially lengthening wait times or impacting care qualitynorthcarolinahealthnews.org. Oversight committees are closely watching these changes. As VA Secretary Doug Collins implements restructuring, including centralizing call centers and modernizing systems, the veteran community is hoping to see service improvements materialize despite the reduced workforce. This ongoing transformation will be a critical area to monitor in the coming months, as any impact on health care or benefits delivery will directly affect disabled veterans relying on VA support.

Mental Health and Resilience Developments

PTSD Risk in Younger Veterans – New Insights: A Yale-led study published this month shed light on why younger veterans experience significantly higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder than older veteranspsychiatrictimes.com. Researchers found that veterans aged 22–49 have a PTSD prevalence about three times greater than those 50 and older (approximately 15% vs 5%), and this gap is largely explained by psychosocial challenges rather than combat exposure alonepsychiatrictimes.compsychiatrictimes.com. Factors such as strained personal relationships, loneliness, lack of social support, and unhealthy coping (e.g. substance use) accounted for 90% of the difference in PTSD risk between younger and older vetspsychiatrictimes.compsychiatrictimes.com. The loss of the tight-knit military community and difficulty reconnecting in civilian life seem to leave younger veterans especially vulnerable to mental health strugglespsychiatrictimes.com. Experts involved in the study emphasize the importance of fostering social connections and life skills as part of PTSD prevention and treatment for post-9/11 generation veteranspsychiatrictimes.compsychiatrictimes.com. Programs that combat isolation – such as the VA’s Compassionate Contact Corps (a volunteer buddy program) – and targeted therapies to build healthy coping strategies can bolster resilience in this grouppsychiatrictimes.com. These findings underline that healing in younger vets must go beyond clinical treatment to include rebuilding the sense of camaraderie and support many lost after leaving the service.

Hydration and Stress – A Simple Resilience Tip: New research from Liverpool John Moores University highlighted an often-overlooked factor in mental well-being: hydration. A study in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that people who regularly drank less than about 1.5 liters of fluid per day (approximately 6 cups) had markedly higher stress hormone responses during acute stress tasks than those who stayed well-hydratedsciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. In fact, under mild dehydration, participants’ cortisol levels spiked over 50% higher during stress, even though they didn’t subjectively feel thirstiersciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. Elevated cortisol can exacerbate anxiety and is linked to worse long-term health (higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, depression)sciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. For veterans – especially those managing PTSD or high stress – this finding reinforces a straightforward resilience strategy: drink enough water. Keeping a water bottle handy and maintaining recommended fluid intake (around 2–2.5 liters per day for adults) may help blunt the body’s stress response and protect long-term healthsciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. Adequate hydration supports physical health and can make a meaningful difference in how one’s body handles stress, potentially complementing other mental health therapies. It’s an easy, low-cost habit that can bolster both mind and body in the face of daily challenges.

Policy and Benefits Updates for Disabled Veterans

Legislative Wins to Expand Veteran Benefits: September brought a flurry of activity on Capitol Hill aimed at improving veterans’ services. In mid-September, the House of Representatives passed 14 bipartisan bills addressing various veteran benefits and programsveterans.house.gov. These measures cover a broad range of issues: from enhancing education and job training opportunities for veterans, to expanding access to health care (especially in rural or remote areas), modernizing how the VA outreaches to veterans about benefits, and safeguarding the VA’s medical supply chainveterans.house.gov. Notably, one bill will improve the Veterans Readiness and Employment program’s integrity, while another modernizes claims processing to speed up disability decisionsveterans.house.govveterans.house.gov. There are also acts focusing on telehealth expansion (ensuring veterans can access care via telemedicine without barriers)veterans.house.gov and support for specific groups like women veterans (e.g. the Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act to improve cancer care)veterans.house.gov. Together, these 14 bills signal a continued bipartisan commitment to refine and strengthen the benefits that disabled veterans and their families rely on. As of this writing, these House-passed bills await action in the Senate; if enacted, they will bolster resources ranging from housing and education to healthcare delivery for veterans.

Funding Vital Programs – Avoiding a Shutdown: As the fiscal year closed, Congress grappled with a potential government shutdown that could have disrupted veteran services. By late September, major veterans organizations (such as the American Legion and AMVETS) were urging lawmakers to pass a stopgap funding bill – specifically, the Continuing Appropriations and VA Extenders Act of 2025 – to keep the government open and extend critical veterans’ programswhitehouse.govwhitehouse.gov. This emergency legislation was crucial to maintain support for several lifeline initiatives set to expire. Among them: the Staff Sgt. Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (which funds community suicide prevention efforts), the VA’s rural mental health outreach (Project RANGE), and the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program that prevents homelessnesswhitehouse.gov. The extenders bill also safeguarded other benefits, including housing assistance for disabled and homeless veterans, educational benefits for veteran families, and even the VA Inspector General’s authority to conduct oversight via subpoenaswhitehouse.gov. By renewing these authorities through the new fiscal year, Congress ensured that veterans continuing to receive care, counseling, and financial assistance without interruption. The stopgap measure was passed just in time to avoid a shutdown on October 1. Disabled veterans can breathe a sigh of relief that their health care appointments, disability checks, and support services will proceed normally while a longer-term funding agreement is hashed out in Washington.

Training Tips and Practical Fitness Guidance

Establish Routine and Set Realistic Goals: One challenge many veterans face after service is maintaining fitness without the structure of the military. Experts recommend starting with attainable goals and a consistent schedule to rebuild a routineusveteransmagazine.comusveteransmagazine.com. It’s important to adjust expectations to your current lifestyle and abilities – for example, if you haven’t run in a while, begin with shorter distances or low-impact cardio and gradually progress, rather than trying to match your active-duty performance. Treat workouts as appointments with yourself, whether it’s a morning walk, a lunchtime gym session, or evening yoga. Consistency is key; even a 20-30 minute daily exercise habit will compound benefits over timeusveteransmagazine.com. Many veterans find that installing a simple home gym or using basic equipment (like dumbbells or resistance bands) helps integrate fitness into everyday life. Remember, the goal is sustainable activity. By setting modest targets – such as a couple of workouts per week initially – and then building on them, you can avoid injury and burnout. Celebrating small wins (like increasing your endurance or flexibility) will keep you motivated on your fitness journey.

Adaptive Training and Self-Care: For disabled veterans or those managing injuries, adaptive fitness strategies are crucial. Don’t be discouraged by physical limitations – there are tailored workouts and sports that can accommodate various disabilities while still improving strength, mobility, and morale. For example, chair yoga can improve flexibility and reduce stress without putting weight on your joints, and resistance band exercises can build muscle safely even if you have limited range of motionusveteransmagazine.com. The VA and veterans service organizations sponsor numerous adaptive sports programs (from wheelchair basketball to guided water therapy) that provide a sense of camaraderie along with physical benefitsusveteransmagazine.com. Engaging in these activities not only aids your rehabilitation but also connects you with fellow veterans in a supportive environment. Equally important is listening to your body: pay attention to pain signals and don’t push through injuries as you might have in the militaryusveteransmagazine.com. Adapt your workouts on days when pain or fatigue is high – it’s okay to swap a run for a stretch session, or take an extra rest day to recover. Rest and recovery are part of training, not a sign of weakness. Consulting with a physical therapist or trainer (especially one experienced with veteran or adaptive athletes) can help tailor a program to your needs and prevent setbacksusveteransmagazine.com. By combining smart adjustments with determination, you can continue making fitness gains safely.

Useful Resources and Tools for Health and Wellbeing

Digital Mindfulness and Mental Health Apps: Technology is making it easier for veterans to access mental health and wellness practices on their own schedule. Meditation and mindfulness apps have exploded in popularity, with the top platforms (like Calm, Headspace, and others) downloaded over 300 million times globallysciencedaily.com. These apps offer guided sessions that can help with stress reduction, anxiety, and even insomnia. Research reviewed by Carnegie Mellon University indicates that even short, frequent sessions – about 10 to 20 minutes of app-guided meditation three times a week – can yield measurable benefits such as lower stress, reduced negative thinking, and better sleepsciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. For veterans in remote areas or those hesitant to join in-person groups, these apps provide 24/7 access to mindfulness practices right in your pocketsciencedaily.com. They often integrate with wearables (like smartwatches) to track biometrics, allowing for personalized feedback on things like heart rate and breathing during exercisessciencedaily.comsciencedaily.com. One caution is the drop-off rate – studies find up to 95% of people stop using a meditation app within a month if not encouragedsciencedaily.com. To get the most from these tools, try to build a routine (such as a 5-minute meditation with your morning coffee, or a wind-down session before bed). Many apps offer specific content for veterans or stress related to trauma, which can complement therapy or peer support. In summary, meditation apps are a convenient, evidence-based resource to bolster your mental resilience, especially when used consistently as part of a daily self-care habit.

VA Health Apps and Online Tools: The VA continues to expand its suite of mobile apps and online resources tailored for veterans’ health needs. These free tools can be powerful adjuncts to your wellness routine. For instance, the MOVE! Coach app from VA is a personalized weight-management program in your pocket – it lets you track your diet and physical activity, set goals, and even connect with a VA dietitian or coach for feedbacknews.va.gov. Another tool, Live Whole Health, provides a holistic health planner: you can outline your wellness goals (from fitness to sleep to relationships) and access tips and exercises aligned with the VA’s Whole Health approach to carenews.va.gov. This might include guided meditations, stretching routines, or journaling prompts to support both physical and emotional well-beingnews.va.gov. The VA is also leveraging technology to improve care coordination. With the Share My Health Data app, veterans can choose to share data from their wearable devices (like step counts, heart rate, blood pressure readings) directly with their VA healthcare teamnews.va.govnews.va.gov. This enables more personalized care during appointments, as clinicians have a fuller picture of your day-to-day health metrics. Additionally, the VA’s centralized Health and Benefits mobile app (launched this year) allows you to manage appointments, secure message providers, and even file travel reimbursement claims from your phone – making it easier for disabled veterans to handle paperwork without visiting a VA office. All these apps are available through the VA App Store and major app platforms, ensuring they meet privacy and security standards. By integrating VA’s digital tools into your life, you can take charge of your health goals with robust support. Whether you’re pursuing fitness milestones, nutritional improvements, or mental health support, remember that you’re not alone – a wealth of veteran-focused resources is just a click or tap away. news.va.govnews.va.gov