Media Relations
What health journalists asked experts for in 2026 (data)
Which health topics are journalists asking experts about? We counted 606 editions of HARO, the free newsletter of journalists’ source requests, from 2 January to 22 October 2026, and tracked how often 15 health topics appeared. Comparing the first three months of the year with August to October shows where demand for expert comment moved.
Key finding: vaccine and measles queries appeared in 10.3% of HARO editions from August to October, up from 2.2% in January to March. Peptides rose from 2.2% to 9.8%, and GLP-1 drugs from 10.8% to 22.4%.
Risers and fallers, January–March vs August–October
| Topic | Jan–Mar (186 editions) | Aug–Oct (174 editions) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaccines / measles | 2.2% | 10.3% | +8.2 pts |
| Peptides | 2.2% | 9.8% | +7.6 pts |
| GLP-1 drugs | 10.8% | 22.4% | +11.7 pts |
| Weight loss (any) | 14.5% | 23.6% | +9.0 pts |
| Longevity / healthy aging | 13.4% | 18.4% | +4.9 pts |
| Dementia / Alzheimer’s | 1.1% | 4.0% | +2.9 pts |
| Creatine | 0.0% | 1.7% | +1.7 pts |
| ADHD | 4.8% | 6.9% | +2.1 pts |
| Fertility / IVF | 4.3% | 5.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Sleep | 3.8% | 5.2% | +1.4 pts |
| Menopause / perimenopause | 8.1% | 8.0% | flat |
| Gut health / microbiome | 7.0% | 4.0% | −3.0 pts |
Summer peaks
Some topics surged mid-year and then faded. Menopause appeared in 23.4% of editions in July, against 4.8% in September. Peptides peaked at 20.6% in August and fell to 3.2% in September. Topics like these come and go with news cycles, so experts who are ready when the cycle turns get the quotes.
What this means if you want to be quoted
- Prepare for the risers. Clinicians and dietitians who can speak to GLP-1s, vaccines, peptides or longevity were in high demand through autumn 2026.
- Have credentials ready. Keep a licence or registration number, a short professional bio and any commercial ties to hand.
- Answer fast and specifically. Our guide to HARO for health experts covers how, and our healthcare media relations service does it for you.
Method and limits
- We counted every HARO edition delivered to one subscribed inbox from 2 January to 22 October 2026: 606 editions, usually three per weekday, with no editions on five US federal holidays (19 January, 25 May, 19 June, 3 July and 7 September).
- An edition counts for a topic if any query in it contains the topic’s keywords. We checked a sample of matches by hand. Keyword matching catches some passing mentions, so treat small differences with caution.
- We leave out mental health, skincare and supplements from the comparison: those words appear in so many unrelated queries that the counts would mislead.
- We report counts only, never query text or the journalists behind them.
Frequently asked questions
Which health topics did journalists ask about most in 2026?
Among the topics in our comparison, weight loss and GLP-1 drugs were the most frequent in August to October 2026, appearing in 23.6% and 22.4% of HARO editions. Longevity followed at 18.4%.
Which health topics grew most?
Vaccines and measles (2.2% to 10.3% of editions) and peptides (2.2% to 9.8%), comparing January–March with August–October.
Can I use this data?
Yes. Please cite HealthSpark PR and link to this page.
Sources
- HealthSpark PR, HARO edition count, 2 Jan – 22 Oct 2026 (CSV linked above).
- HARO, helpareporter.com.