In Yvonne Roberts’s criticism of Nicole Kidman for keeping fit and being proud of it, she mentions that “exercise can be enjoyable” (“Fab abs, Nicole. But this frantic effort to look half your age is frankly a bit demeaning”, Comment) . This is critical. I am a year older than Kidman and I swim three times a week, go to Pilates, cycle into town, walk the dog and eat pretty healthily. I still don’t look like Kidman and I can’t act, but I love the activity, feeling fit and strong and the mental benefits that come with it. It is not trying to “turn the clock back” but living my life in good shape, enjoying my body and respecting it. With luck, it will also reduce some of the health issues of old age, but if not I’ll still have had a good time.
Debo Adams
Sudbury, Suffolk

Nicole Kidman’s

A study of private equity ownership in health care raises concerns about profits over care. (Getty Images)

New research reveals private equity firms that acquire physician-owned medical practices appear to be imposing measures to squeeze out more profits.

After they were acquired by private equity firms, the clinics saw more patients and billed more for visits among a large, commercially insured population, according to a study published today in JAMA Health Forum by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and other institutions.

Researchers examined a total of 578 physician practices specializing in dermatology, gastroenterology and ophthalmology that were acquired by private equity firms across the US from 2016 to 2020.

Jane Zhu, MD (OHSU)

“The reason this is of concern to patients and policymakers is that private equity is often driven by profit margins of 20% or more,” said senior author Jane M. Zhu, MD, assistant professor of