Latest news with #BMI
Graziadaily
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
Who Is Benson Boone's Girlfriend? All About Maggie Thurmon
With his raspy voice and stunning cheekbones, Benson Boone is never going to be single. The Beautiful Things crooner, 22, is dating actress Maggie Thurmon. The couple – recently seen at the BMI Pop Awards in May – made their public debut in March 2024, after going Insta-official three months earlier. Here's everything we know about her… Benson Boone and Maggie Thurmon ©for BMI Aside from being Benson Boone's girlfriend, Maggie, 23, is an actress, podcaster and content creator. A former brand ambassador for Hollister, she rose to fame on TikTok in 2019, often posting viral dance videos with her dad Dan, a motivational speaker and author. She hosts a podcast – Mags and Dad's Wholesome Chaos – with him. Maggie is also known for starring in indie films The Candy Shop – a short movie about child sex trafficking in Atlanta – Tip-Off , Summer Of Charlie and Lemon Made . Her first major big-screen role was in The Other Zoey in 2023 alongside Drew Starkey and Josephine Langford. While the exact details aren't known, Benson first teased that he's in a relationship in January 2024. He sings along to his lyrics about a mysterious 'her' on TikTok. The following month, he hinted that his hit Beautiful Things was inspired by a new relationship. Benson has revealed that Beautiful Things 'was inspired by a relationship that I had just gotten into'. He explained, 'For the first time in my life, I felt like I was extremely out of control of the way this relationship could turn out. Meaning like, in the past, I feel like I've always known that I could be the one to end a relationship. This one felt very different. It was the first time that I'd really been actually, genuinely terrified to lose something.' Benson Boone and Maggie Thurmon at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's Academy Awards Viewing Party in March 2024 ©for Elton John AIDS Foundation After confirming their relationship on social media, Benson and Maggie made their public debut at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's Academy Awards viewing party in March 2024. She shared a clip of them holding hands while walking on Instagram in June, and while his face wasn't visible, fans were able to deduce her famous boyfriend. The following month, they posed together in matching denim on the red carpet of Twisters, which featured Benson's song Death, Wish, Love. Benson Boone and Maggie Thurmon at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards ©for MTV Since then, they have appeared together on red carpets and events, showing that their relationship is stronger than ever – even kissing at the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2024. 'I love her whole personality. She's the sweetest and the kindest,' Benson said of Maggie. Shereen Low is a senior news and entertainment writer for Grazia UK, who has covered some of the biggest showbiz news from the past decade.
ArabGT
2 days ago
- Business
- ArabGT
How Regional Conflicts Are Reshaping Global Oil Prices
As tensions escalate between two regional powers in the Middle East, energy security returns to the forefront, with growing concerns over the direct impact on global oil supply stability. The conflict between Iran and the occupying state has moved beyond mere military posturing, evolving into an international state of watchfulness amid rising fears of a shock to global markets. In this context, BMI – a division of Fitch Solutions – offers a deep analysis of the oil price outlook, based on daily-updated data and long-term models tracking geopolitical and economic variables influencing the market. The company's latest report is considered one of the most comprehensive assessments of how this conflict could shape the global energy landscape, especially through a set of divergent scenarios for oil price trajectories. Possible Scenarios and Oil Prices BMI outlines five scenarios in which the price of Brent crude could range between $60 and $150 per barrel, depending on the severity of the escalation: Scenario 1 – Limited Retaliation with Diplomatic Openings: A limited Iranian response combined with openness to a U.S.-brokered nuclear deal could bring prices down to $60–65 per barrel. Scenario 2 – Nuclear Program Stalls without Agreement: A weakened Iranian nuclear program without a new deal would likely keep prices between $60–70 per barrel. Scenario 3 – Controlled Escalation Followed by De-escalation: A cycle of mutual strikes with Israel followed by gradual de-escalation would maintain prices in the range of $60–80 per barrel. Scenario 4 – Military Confrontation Involving the U.S.: Escalation against Israel that draws in the United States militarily could drive prices up to $75–100 per barrel. Scenario 5 – Full-scale Conflict and Hormuz Disruption: A direct and extensive clash between Iran and the U.S., particularly involving the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, may push prices to $100–150 per barrel. Estimates suggest that an open conflict could trigger significant economic disruptions, including a slowdown in global growth and a surge in inflation. Conversely, a partial de-escalation could help stabilize prices without major shocks. Despite the various scenarios, BMI leans toward a forecast of limited, non-expansive hostilities, allowing for greater international flexibility in managing the crisis and giving involved parties space to reassess their strategic decisions before crossing into broader conflict. The report also points to obstacles facing a strong Iranian response, largely due to military and political constraints. Additionally, regional players like Hezbollah and the Houthis are not expected to play a significant role at this stage, reducing the likelihood of a wider escalation. On the diplomatic front, there remains a possibility that Iran could be compelled to return to nuclear negotiations, which could lead to a lift in sanctions and an increase in its oil exports. However, BMI views this scenario as unlikely in the near term due to internal political pressures that would make such a concession difficult for Tehran. Overall, oil prices and energy markets remain vulnerable to volatility amid a highly unstable political environment, with oil acting as a sensitive barometer reflecting every field development or diplomatic signal. As investors continue to monitor the situation closely, the future of oil prices hinges on the next move in the conflict.
News24
3 days ago
- Health
- News24
Rates of obesity are soaring worldwide. Have we been misunderstanding the problem?
Obesity affects more than 1 billion people worldwide yet there isn't really a conclusive definition of the condition. A Lancet Commission argue that obesity should not just be seen as a risk factor for other diseases – but in some cases, should be seen as a disease itself. In the first of this two-part Spotlight series, we break down the debate around the issue, and its implications for health policy. In 1990, just 2% of all young people around the world aged 5 to 24 were living with obesity. By 2021, this figure had more than tripled to over 6%. This is according to a recent study, which relied on Body Mass Index (BMI) data from 180 countries and territories around the world. It estimates that the rise in obesity among children and young people will only continue in the coming decades. South Africa certainly isn't immune to the crisis. A survey conducted in 2021/2022 found that 16% of all children aged 6 to 18 were 'severely overweight'. Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) data suggests that about 30% of all adults in South Africa are living with obesity, meaning a BMI of over 30, which is almost double the global level. BMI, which simply looks at a person's weight in relation to their height, is a crude measure of obesity. For instance, a person may have a high BMI simply because they have a lot of muscle rather than fat. But while it is agreed that BMI is a flawed indicator at the individual level, many experts recommend using it as a rough proxy for ' health risk at a population level '. For instance, a study which collected data on nearly three million people found that those who had very high BMI levels were, on average, more likely to die at an early age. The study also found that this was true of people with very low BMI levels (those who were underweight). In this context, the above figures paint a concerning picture. Given the rising rates, experts argue that we need health systems to be able to track and respond to obesity urgently. But, according to a Lancet Commission published in January, health systems around the world may struggle to do this, because of a failure to accurately conceptualise and measure what obesity actually is. READ | SA plastic surgery trends: From lip fillers to facelifts, what each generation wants done The Lancet commission was developed by 58 experts from different medical specialties and though it has been the subject of debate, it has since been widely endorsed as a new way to understand obesity. Spotlight takes a look at what it concluded. Delaying treatment for no reason Obesity is often regarded as a risk factor for other diseases, for instance, type 2 diabetes. But according to the commission, there are certain cases in which obesity is not just a risk factor, but a disease itself – one that should be immediately treated. One of the reasons for this is that obesity not only contributes to the emergence of other conditions but sometimes leads to clinical symptoms directly. For example, the cartilage that protects the joints in a person's knees can sometimes become eroded when adults carry too much weight. In this case, a person could suffer from joint pain, stiffness and reduced mobility where obesity is clearly the cause. Take another example. If fat deposits build up in the abdomen, this may limit how much the lungs can expand, causing breathlessness. Similarly, a build-up of fat around the neck can narrow a person's upper airways, which can cause sleep apnoea. Thus, obesity is not simply something which increases the risk of developing a separate disease in the future - but something which can directly (and presently) affect the functioning of organs. More broadly, the commission argues that by hindering a person's 'mobility, balance and range of motion' obesity can in certain cases 'restrict routine activities of daily living'. In these instances, obesity is a disease by definition, according to the commission. This is given that it defines disease as a 'harmful deviation from the normal structural or functional state of an organism, associated with specific signs and symptoms and limitations of daily activities'. But why does this conceptual debate matter? Because at present, people often have to wait for other diseases to crop up before insurers or public health systems cover them for weight loss drugs or bariatric surgery - a procedure to help with weight loss and improve obesity-related health conditions. And when they do cover these services, it is often only after severe delay. Because obesity is only considered to be a risk factor, it isn't typically treated with the same urgency as life-threatening diseases, according to the authors of the commission. Professor Frances Rubino, the lead author of the commission, details how this problem manifests in the healthcare system. 'I've been doing bariatric surgery for 25 years in four different countries; in America, Italy, France and the UK,' he tells Spotlight, 'In all of those countries, to meet the criteria for surgery people very often have to undergo six to 12 months of weight monitoring before their surgery is covered. So systematically you delay treatment'. He continues: 'Someone who has clinical obesity and has heart failure as a result of it is waiting for a year for what reason? That condition will only worsen and if the patient is still alive, the treatment [is] going to cost the same amount to the payer but it's going to be less effective.' Can't people just diet? One of the reasons that some academics have historically been reluctant to classify obesity as a disease is because of a fear that this may reduce people's agency - instead of taking proactive steps to diet and exercise, people with obesity may simply view themselves as afflicted by a disease. The belief that people with obesity can simply diet their way out of their situation is in fact partially why Rubino's patients were forced to wait long periods of time before receiving bariatric surgery. Rubino explains: 'In America, many private payers [i.e. medical insurance schemes] have required weight monitoring programmes, where patients do nothing else other than see a dietician for 12 months, and if they skip one appointment, they have to start all over again. I think that in some cases, this has been misguided by the idea that you want to see if obesity can be reversed by somebody going on a diet.' This, according to him, is a 'misconception', arguing that if someone faces such severe levels of obesity that they require surgery, diet is unlikely to offer a solution. Indeed, research has shown that it's very rare for people with obesity to lose large amounts of weight quickly without surgery or medication. For instance, a study on over 176 000 patients in the UK found that among men with 'simply obesity' or a BMI of 30-34.9, only 1 in 210 were able to achieve a 'normal' weight level within a year. Among men with morbid obesity or BMI of 35 or more, the chance was less than 1 than in 1 000. Chances for women were roughly twice as good as men's - so still exceedingly small. READ | Closed doors, open hearts: The activists filling the gaps in Southern African sexual healthcare Thus, if someone is severely obese and their excess weight is causing life-threatening symptoms, putting them on a diet for a year is unlikely to result in the urgent changes that may be required for them to get better. In fact, Rubino argues that they may simply die of their condition in the interim. Taking a medical approach more quickly is easier now than ever before due to the regulatory approval of GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide – Spotlight previously reported on the availability of these new diabetes and weight loss medicines in South Africa. An article by WHO officials from December states that because of the approval of these medicines '[h]ealth systems across the globe now may be able to offer a treatment response integrated with lifestyle changes that opens the possibility of an end to the obesity pandemic'. Not all people with obesity are ill There is a more scientific argument against categorising obesity as a disease. This is that while obesity can sometimes result in the negative health symptoms discussed above (like respiratory issues or reduced mobility) it doesn't always do this. In fact, the commission acknowledges that some people with obesity 'appear to be able to live a relatively healthy life for many years, or even a lifetime'. One of the reasons for this is that excess fat may be stored in areas that don't surround vital organs. For instance, if fat is stored in the limbs, hips, or buttocks, then this may cause less harm than if it is stored in the stomach. Since obesity doesn't always cause health problems, it isn't always a disease. In order to deal with this conceptual hurdle, the commission classifies obesity into two categories - clinical and preclinical obesity. If a person has pre-clinical obesity, this means they have a lot of excess fat, but no obvious health problems that have emerged as a result. In this case, obesity is not classified as a disease, though it may still increase the chance of future health problems (depending on a range of factors, like family history). For a person to have clinical obesity, they must have a lot of excess fat as well as health problems that have already been directly caused by this. It is this that the commission defines as a disease. This classification system, according to Rubino, ensures not only that we urgently treat people living with clinical obesity, but also that we don't overtreat people - since if a person falls into the pre-clinically obese group, then they may not need treatment. But if we're going to treat clinical obesity as a disease, we'll need clear methods of diagnosing people. Since BMI is deeply flawed and provides little information about whether a person is ill at the individual level, health systems will need something else. In part 2 of this Spotlight special series, we'll discuss the options offered by the commission, and how this all relates to the situation in South Africa.
Medscape
12-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Obesity Linked to Earlier Disease, Higher Comorbidity Risk
Compared with individuals with normal BMI, those with obesity have earlier onset and higher rates of related comorbidities, with musculoskeletal pain as the most common. METHODOLOGY: Obesity is associated with more than 200 comorbidities, yet limited data exist on their timing and sequence of onset. Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using US electronic health record data to compare the prevalence, incidence, and sequence of obesity-related comorbidities in adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) vs those with normal BMI (18.5 to < 25) between January 2011 and December 2014. The prevalence of 19 obesity-related comorbidities, including musculoskeletal pain and cardiometabolic and endocrine disorders, was assessed at baseline; the incidence of new-onset cases was analyzed over a median follow-up of 5 years. TAKEAWAY: Researchers included 57,978 adults each (mean age, 52 years; 64.7% women) in the cohorts with obesity and normal BMI. At baseline, 61.1% of individuals with obesity and 49.6% of those with normal BMI had at least one obesity-related comorbidity. Multimorbidity (at least three comorbidities) was nearly twice as prevalent in the obesity group vs the normal BMI group (31.2% vs 16.6%). Individuals with obesity had a significantly higher risk of developing a new obesity-related comorbidity (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.35; P < .0001). < .0001). Musculoskeletal pain was the most prevalent comorbidity at baseline and the most frequent new comorbidity in both cohorts, with a higher incidence among those with obesity (244.6 vs 197.9 per 1000 person-years). Those with obesity developed their first comorbidity at a median of 0.67 years earlier than those with normal BMI ( P < .0001), with similarly significant accelerations in the onset of second and third comorbidities. IN PRACTICE: 'Early identification and effective interventions to manage obesity should be the focus for preventing [obesity-related comorbidities], with the overall goal of reducing the burden of disease and simplifying treatment approaches,' the study authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Firas Dabbous, Evidera Inc., Wilmington, North Carolina, and published online in Clinical Obesity . LIMITATIONS: Most participants were White, women, and from the US Midwest, limiting generalizability. The 5-year follow-up may not capture potential comorbidities with longer latent periods, such as cancer. Inclusion of patients taking antiobesity medications may also complicate interpretation of the results. DISCLOSURES: This study received funding from Novo Nordisk Inc. Six authors are employees and shareholders of the funding agency, and one is a consultant. Three authors are employees of Evidera Inc., which received funding from Novo Nordisk Inc.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Llama Group: Bridger Officially Confirmed as a CISAC RME Client, Marking a Major Milestone in Global Copyright Management
BRUSSELS, June 10, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Llama Group (Paris: ALLAM) (Brussels: ALLAM): Bridger, a leading and innovative copyright management company and part of Winamp, has proudly been confirmed by CISAC (the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) as a Rights Management Entity (RME) client, following a positive recommendation made at CISAC's General Assembly on May 28. This represents a key milestone in Bridger's business development. This confirmation marks an important step in Bridger's evolution as a recognized Rights Management Entity (RME) client of CISAC. It reflects that Bridger meets the necessary criteria to access CISAC services, in line with the organization's procedures for RME clients. This status enables Bridger to further its mission of supporting creators through transparent and efficient royalty management on a global scale. Bridger collects rights on behalf of its members globally and recently announced a strategic partnership with BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.). This collaboration empowers Bridger to collect performance royalties in the United States, further advancing its mission to serve music creators worldwide. Through this partnership, Bridger can now collect royalties not only from digital platforms but also from physical venues throughout the U.S. "Bridger is dedicated to helping songwriters and composers claim the royalties they deserve through an intuitive platform that simplifies registration and rights management—especially for those outside traditional collective management organizations," said Alexandre Saboundjian, CEO of Bridger. "Since our launch in 2022, our goal has been to provide a new, more efficient model for thousands of authors, composers, and publishers to manage their rights globally. Being recognized by CISAC is a proud moment for us, validating our approach and vision. And this is just the beginning—we are committed to building the future of copyright management." Next Meeting July 31, 2025 – Publication of 2025 S1 turnover About Bridger – Bridger is committed to supporting songwriters and composers with innovative royalty collection solutions. Designed as an intuitive and easy-to-use copyright management platform, Bridger enables songwriters to register their musical works within minutes and unlock additional revenue streams beyond their digital distributor. About CISAC – CISAC – the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers – is the world's leading network of authors' societies. With 228 member societies in 111 countries, CISAC represents more than 5 million creators from all geographic areas and all artistic repertoires; music, audiovisual, drama, literature and visual arts. CISAC protects the rights and promotes the interests of creators worldwide. It enables collective management organisations to seamlessly represent creators across the globe and ensure that royalties flow to authors for the use of their works anywhere in the world. Founded in 1926, CISAC is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation with headquarters in France. About Winamp – Winamp is redefining the music experience by creating an innovative platform that strengthens the connection between artists and fans. We provide powerful tools that empower creators to manage their music, grow their audience, and maximize their revenue—all while delivering a seamless listening experience through the Winamp Player. Winamp for Creators is our dedicated platform designed to give music artists everything they need to succeed. From monetization tools to music management services, it brings together essential resources to help creators take control of their careers. About Llama Group Llama Group is a pioneer and leader in the digital music industry. With extensive expertise across various sectors, the group owns the iconic Winamp platform, the Bridger copyright management company, and the Jamendo music licensing company. Llama Group's ambition is to build the future of the music industry through sustained investment in a range of innovative solutions and in the talent and skills of people who love music. The group stands by its brand values: empowerment, access, simplicity, and fairness. Winamp's vision is a world where a cutting-edge music platform connects artists and their fans like never before. Bridger's mission is to support songwriters and composers by providing a simple and innovative solution for collecting royalties. Jamendo enables independent artists to generate additional income through commercial licenses. Finally, Hotmix offers a bouquet of more than sixty thematic and free digital radio stations. View source version on Contacts Investors Relations Olivier Van Gulckinvestors@
