This fitness trend will drive you up the wall
She has tried yoga and pilates on a mat, with some success. What has worked best, however, is hitching herself to a wall with a rope before moving into deep stretches inspired b y y oga and pilates.
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Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Straits Times
Many US employers plan to cut back on healthcare benefits as weight-loss spending soars
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Concern over the cost of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy has surged, with 77 per cent of employers surveyed naming them a top issue. NEW YORK - More than half of large US employers plan to scale back healthcare benefits next year as rising costs from weight-loss and speciality drugs squeeze budgets, according to a new survey released by consulting firm Mercer on July 16 . Among employers with 500 or more workers, 51 per cent said they planned to increase cost-sharing in 2026, including raising deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket costs for workers. That is up from 45 per cent of large employers who said they would increase cost sharing for 2025. Concern over the cost of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy has surged, with 77 per cent of employers naming them a top issue, the consultancy said. 'More clients are saying... 'I don't know how much longer we can sustain covering these medications',' said Ms Alysha Fluno, a pharmacy innovation leader at Mercer, in an interview. While some employers have covered GLP-1s hoping for long-term health savings, rising prices are forcing a rethink. 'Some employers facing big cost increases in 2026 may feel this coverage is out of reach,' Ms Fluno said. Greater competition in the weight-loss drug market in the coming years will give pharmacy benefit managers more negotiating power with drugmakers and drive meaningful cost reductions, said Ms Fluno. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA Singapore Strong argument for cockpit video recording, says Iata chief in wake of Air India crash report Singapore Here comes the sun: Less rain, more warm days in second half of July Asia Former deputy minister seen as surprise front runner for Malaysia's next Chief Justice: Sources Singapore Baby died after mum took abortion pills and gave birth in toilet; coroner records an open verdict Business Tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter Kuok Hui Kwong appointed CEO of Shangri-La Asia Singapore Acute psychiatry services to be expanded across all healthcare clusters: MOH Singapore New network links Home Team psychologists, mental health bodies to boost emergency response Novo's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound are listed at US$1,086 (S$1,395) and US$1,059, respectively, but many patients pay less through their health plans. Prescription drug costs jumped 8 per cent last year, according to the survey. Mercer has forecast a 5.8 per cent rise in overall health benefit costs for 2025. Employers are also eyeing alternatives to traditional pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), according to Mercer. PBMs such as CVS Caremark, Cigna's Express Scripts and UnitedHealthcare's Optum Rx act as middlemen between drug companies and consumers. They negotiate volume discounts and fees with drug manufacturers on behalf of employers and health plans, create lists of medications that are covered by insurance, and reimburse pharmacies for prescriptions. Drugmakers say they take an undisclosed cut of the discounts they receive rather than sharing them with patients and payers. Regulatory scrutiny and calls for transparency are fuelling interest in new models and emerging PBMs, with 34 per cent of employers considering a switch. The survey found that 40 per cent of employers are considering alternative contracting models for their prescription medicine benefits, such as those that price drugs based on the wholesale price that retail pharmacies pay for them. Regulators have criticised the three largest pharmacy benefit managers for steering patients towards more expensive drugs and inflating prices to generate revenue gains, an accusation that the industry denies. Reuters
Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Straits Times
New network links Home Team psychologists, mental health bodies to boost emergency response
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The new network was launched on July 16 by Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann (centre) at the Asian Conference on Criminal and Operations Psychology. SINGAPORE – A new initiative that brings together Home Team psychologists and professionals from mental health associations has been rolled out to enhance Singapore's crisis management and psychological support in emergencies. The National Human Emergency Assistance and Response Teams (Heart) was launched on July 16 by Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann at the Asian Conference on Criminal and Operations Psychology (Accop). 'This network aims to enhance knowledge sharing, improve intervention approaches, and strengthen inter-agency partnerships in the areas of mental health and crisis management,' said Ms Sim. 'This alliance will enable Singapore to be better prepared for future emergencies – not just with infrastructure, but with coordinated emotional and psychological response capability.' Ms Sim said the participating mental health associations are the Singapore Psychiatric Association, the Singapore Association for Counselling, the Singapore Psychological Society, and the Singapore Association of Social Workers. The initiative is an expansion of the Heart Network launched in 2019 to help Singapore respond to terrorist attacks. The Heart Network enables hospitals and polyclinics to pool resources, as well as share knowledge and expertise, to provide psychological aid in the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Acute psychiatry services to be expanded across all healthcare clusters: MOH Singapore Strong argument for cockpit video recording, says Iata chief in wake of Air India crash report Singapore Baby died after mum took abortion pills and gave birth in toilet; coroner records an open verdict Life S'pore travel agency Beyond Expeditions criticised for planning, safety issues Business Tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter Kuok Hui Kwong appointed CEO of Shangri-La Asia Singapore Jail for drunken man who shoved stranger into Singapore River, causing him to drown Singapore Maid admits to abusing employer's year-old son on more than 20 occasions in 2024 Singapore 'Kpods broke our marriage, shattered our children': Woman on husband's vape addiction Under this network, the medical institutions would collaborate with mental health professionals from the Home Team, the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Institute of Mental Health. The expanded initiative was one of two networks announced at the conference, which has the theme 'Psychological Insight, Operational Foresight.' Ms Sim also launched the Asian Psychology, Crime, and Law Network – a platform that brings together forensic and legal psychologists, criminologists, law enforcement professionals, and researchers across the Asia-Pacific. This regional network aims to exchange best practices in criminal, legal and rehabilitation psychology, strengthen collaboration in tackling cross-border crime through better understanding of human behaviour, and advance psychological research on crime trends, behavioural analysis and extremism. The professionals and researchers come from Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). In her speech, Ms Sim said security threats now include psychological assaults on trust, identity, and unity, and there are four urgent fronts. The first is youth drug abuse that is on the rise, Ms Sim said, citing recent statistics which showed a 30 per cent increase in the number of abusers under the age of 20 in 2024 . 'The trend that we are seeing in young drug abusers is persistent and unwelcome,' she said, noting that in 2024, the youngest drug abuser arrested was 13 years old. In 2025 so far, the youngest case is a 14-year-old. Ms Sim also described the trend of youth self-radicalisation as worrying. A total of 17 youths have been detained under the Internal Security Act over the past decade, with two-thirds of them detected in the last five years. The third concern is the rise in technology‐facilitated scams. Ms Sim noted that victims in Singapore lost $1.1 billion in scams in 2024 , saying it was well-established that scammers exploit psychological vulnerabilities. The fourth issue she highlighted was technology‐facilitated sexual exploitation and violence. 'Not only do victims suffer psychological harm – if not outright physical harm – (but) the factors that drive these violations are themselves pathological,' she said. Ms Sim emphasised the importance of psychological expertise in understanding why people fall prey or behave in various ways. Such insight is essential to protecting the community, she said, adding that the Home Team integrates psychological science into every facet of its work. For example, the Singapore Civil Defence Force became the first unit certified by the United Nations' International Search and Rescue Advisory Group to include mental health professionals in international disaster response. At this year's Accop on July 16 and 17 held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel – the sixth edition of the conference – there are around 500 participants, including academics, psychologists, public safety officers, and behavioural scientists.
Singapore Law Watch
20 hours ago
- Singapore Law Watch
‘Kpods broke our marriage, shattered our children': Woman on husband's vape addiction
'Kpods broke our marriage, shattered our children': Woman on husband's vape addiction Source: Straits Times Article Date: 16 Jul 2025 Author: Nadine Chua Vaping in Singapore has become a growing problem; MP calls for etomidate to be classified as a drug for harsher penalties and mandatory treatment, plus a review of vaping legislation. The first sign that something was amiss was when Mary's (not her real name) husband shut himself inside the bedroom, ignoring his wife and two young sons. The once loving husband and father turned violent, wrecking things at home, kicking doors in the middle of the night. One day, he collapsed in the living room, his body slouched against the wall, with a vape in hand. Since The Straits Times launched its anti-vaping campaign, Vaping: The Invisible Crisis, on July 13, several readers have written in to share their experiences about loved ones vaping. Some said they never knew the effects vapes had on a user's health, while others called for vaping legislation to be strengthened. Three readers e-mailed ST about how vaping and Kpods, which contain the powerful anaesthetic drug etomidate, have ruined their families. Used in hospitals for inducing sedation during medical procedures, etomidate is designed to be injected directly into the veins under clinical supervision and never intended to be inhaled. When vaped, etomidate enters the lungs directly, potentially triggering spasms, breathing difficulties, seizures and even psychosis. Sons scared of father For years, the two boys, aged seven and nine, had always known their father to be a loving and doting man. But everything changed when the man, 41, used Kpods. Mary, 35, said her husband was so depressed he could not work, and got fired from his technician job. Mary, who works in marketing, said her husband spiralled into repeated episodes of violence, emotional outbursts and dangerous behaviour while using Kpods. One night, the family heard him destroying things around the home as they hid in the bedroom. The next morning, they saw their microwave badly damaged. Mary's younger son, who has autism, became afraid of his father. She said: 'They used to be close and would play badminton together. But he soon became fearful of his father. My husband would also snap at my older son. He was traumatised and anxious after being yelled at so many times.' In May, Mary moved to her mother's place with her sons, and has filed for divorce. She said: 'We dated for 10 years and were married for nine. Now, I don't even know who he is any more. Kpods broke our marriage and shattered our children.' Calling for stronger laws to tackle vaping, Mary added: 'I don't want another family to go through what we went through.' 'My sons are like zombies' One mother, who wanted to be known only as Ms Lim, 53, said she had seen her sons experience seizures from Kpods. When her 27-year-old son got a job as an antique shop assistant after his release from prison in July 2024, Ms Lim was hopeful about his future. Then, he was introduced to Kpods at a nightclub. He became sluggish, skipped work often and got fired. The Singaporean homemaker lives with her husband, who works overseas. She said: 'I can monitor my (older) son only using the CCTV in our home. I see him walking around like a zombie, and my neighbours would tell me they see him walking unsteadily and vaping openly in the park.' Her younger son was also addicted to vapes before he was convicted and jailed for assault in February. Ms Lim sent ST videos of her younger son trembling and struggling to close the gate to their flat after using Kpods in 2024. Her older son was fined by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) four times for vaping. She said: 'Every time he gets fined and his Kpods get confiscated, he just gets new ones.' Ms Lim said her older son has attempted suicide three times due to Kpods. In February, she bought him an e-bike after he promised to quit Kpods and get a job as a deliveryman. She found out he sold the e-bike to gamble and buy more vapes. Ms Lim said: 'I hope possessing and using vapes will become a crime that offenders can be jailed for. If that means my son getting jailed, then so be it. Because once he is behind bars, he will no longer have access to Kpods.' Possessing, using and buying e-vaporisers carry a maximum fine of $2,000. She added: 'My (older) son has attempted suicide before, and we have stopped him. But if he continues using Kpods, it would only be a matter of time before he dies.' Daughter vaped in toilet with boys When Sara (not her real name) received a call from her daughter, 13, at 4.30am to fetch her from a mall in Yishun, she feared the worst. The teen had been caught by the police vaping in a handicap-accessible toilet with three older boys. Sara, 55, who works in social services and is widowed, first found the girl's vape stash in her drawer in 2024. Sara said: 'She used to vape secretly, but then vaped openly. She was caught vaping in Orchard (Road) and in Serangoon.' Sara said she had approached agencies for help, but still feels helpless. Her daughter is at a residential girls' home undergoing rehabilitation. To fuel her addiction, she would borrow money from friends and sell her clothes and make-up online for quick cash. She even stole money from her late father's drawer. Sara said: 'I have gone beyond depression, helplessness, tears and frustration. I need to maintain the relationship I have with her. That is all I have. 'But when I remind her about the damaging health effects vaping has, she just sniggers at me. I am at my wits' end.' Referring to ST's anti-vape campaign, she said: 'With this push, I hope there will be a review of the law and (it will) open up space for conversations on this issue. Kids are suffering. Parents are suffering.' Classify etomidate as a drug: Vikram Nair Mr Vikram Nair, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Law, acknowledged the growing problem of vaping in Singapore and called for a much stricter regime for etomidate. Mr Nair, who is an MP for Sembawang GRC, said: 'I am in favour of etomidate being classified as a drug. The main purpose is for harsher penalties for those trafficking it. This would also permit ordering mandatory treatment for addicts and those caught using it.' Referring to the ST video of an HSA officer diving into a moving car to stop a suspected vape peddler from escaping, Mr Nair said: 'HSA is doing the best they can about this issue. I have seen stories on their crackdowns and the dramatic video with the car. 'But if the penalties are somewhat limited after their arrests, there is only so much that can be done under the current framework.' Former Jurong GRC MP Tan Wu Meng said more than 10 Clementi residents, mostly young parents, had spoken to him in 2025 of their concerns of vaping before he retired from politics in April. He said one 13-year-old girl told him she was worried her friends could get vapes so easily. In January and March, Dr Tan raised the issue in Parliament. He brought up a case of a parent reporting the child to the police for vaping, and the child getting fined by HSA. Dr Tan then called for agencies to consider helping children curb their addiction rather than handing them fines. He told ST: 'We won't want vaping to be a crack in Singapore's defences against illegal drugs. So, the legislation needs to be looked at, and the agencies need to study ways to handle such vaping devices more effectively and with more muscle.' Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. 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