20 schools in Michigan to get salad bars over winter break
A close-up of a salad with multiple vegetables.Photo by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels. Six school districts in Michigan will add new salad bars to their cafeterias over winter break as part of the national Salad Bars to Schools initiative.
Read full storyChildhood obesity jumps to 17.4 percent in Illinois; report cites pandemic and structural racism as reasons for increase
A female holds up an apple in one hand and a donut in the other.Photo by Andres Ayrton from Pexels. Childhood obesity rates increased nearly 3 percent nationwide for kids aged 2-19 years old between 2019 and 2020, according to a new report. That’s a jump from 19.3 percent up to 22.4 percent.
Read full storyNew research shows a difference in child BMI across regions of the U.S.
Two students sit outside.Photo by Mary Taylor from Pexels. Significant differences in body mass index for age (BMI z) have been found across four regions in the United States according to a study published in Obesity.
Read full storyUpdated guidelines recommend type 2 diabetes screening start at age 35
A patient has a health screening conducted.Photo by Artem Podrez from Pexels. Overweight or obese adults in the United States are being encouraged to be screened for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes starting when they are 35 years old. The new recommendations, coming from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), are a break from the previous recommendation that screening start at age 40.
Read full storyStudy: Eating 5 servings of walnuts per week lowers risk of death
Walnuts on a tablePhoto by Dmitry Demidov from Pexels. A recent study out of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Health has concluded that eating more walnuts could lower the risk of death in older adults.
Read full storyAnderson County Schools challenged with disruptions in food supply chain as new school year approaches
Assorted foods are seen in serving containers.Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels. A disruption in the food supply chain is challenging Anderson County Schools as the district tries to figure out how it will deliver meals to students as the new school year approaches.
Read full storyUSC now enrolling Black residents living in and near Columbia to participate in nutrition study
Two people cut fresh vegetables.Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel from Pexels. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has granted the University of South Carolina (USC) $3.4 million to study which diet can best address the health needs of African Americans.
Read full storyFrequent use of lye-based hair relaxers linked to higher risk of breast cancer in Black women
A Black women stands smiling.Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels. Researchers at Boston University have found that Black women who use lye-based hair straightening products frequently over a long period of time are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Read full storyAI modeling shows Calif. health centers may not be prepared to provide patient care during power outages
A hospital room has medical equipment.Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels. A number of California health centers are may not be prepared to provide care to patients during power outages, according to an AI model run and analyzed by humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief.
Read full storyWrong patient gets kidney transplant at Cleveland hospital; Officials review incident as two employees placed on leave
Hospital staff perform a surgery.Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels. A kidney transplant was given to the wrong patient at University Hospitals in Cleveland earlier this month. Two employees have been placed on administrative leave following the incident.
Read full storyDurham VA conducting internal investigation after 5 people experience vision issues due to bug zapper
A lightbulb is turned on.Photo by Venu Gopal from Pexels. Three employees, a resident and a contractor experienced concerns with their vision after being in close proximity to a bug zapper at the Durham VA.
Read full storyJuul settles with North Carolina; $40M settlement restricts e-cigarette marketing, limits flavored products
A young person vapes an e-cigarette.Photo by Ruslan Alekso from Pexels. Juul has agreed to pay North Carolina $40 million in a settlement that will see the e-cigarette manufacturer to change its business practices.
Read full storyMinnesota Dept. of Health warns of spike in norovirus cases, tells residents to take precautions
A waiter delivers food to a table.Photo by Pixaby via Pexels. Health department officials in Minnesota are warning residents to be diligent with their food preparation and storage as cases of foodborne illness from norovirus are spiking in the state.
Read full storyEating chocolate in the morning could help postmenopausal women burn fat, reduce blood sugar
Good news for chocolate lovers: new research shows that eating milk chocolate in the morning could aid in fat burning for postmenopausal women. Additionally, the research suggests morning chocolate intake could help reduce blood sugar levels.
Read full story37,000 city employees required to get COVID-19 vaccination in San Francisco
A woman gets a vaccination.Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels. The city of San Francisco announced Wednesday evening that all city employees will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or they risk termination.
Read full storySen. Rick Scott introduces bill prohibiting federal rules requiring masks on public transportation
A woman boards the subway.Photo by Ono Kosuki from Pexels. Florida Senator Rick Scott, R-Fla., introduced legislation Thursday that would prohibit the federal government from requiring residents across the country to wear masks while on public transportation.
Read full storyMosquito spraying in Dallas County to occur Monday and Tuesday nights due to positive West Nile virus samples
A mosquito rests on a plant.Photo by Laszlo Fatrai from Pexels. Mosquito samples that tested positive for West Nile virus is leading the Dallas County Health and Human Services to spray for mosquitoes in West Dallas.
Read full storyRacism declared public health crisis by Chicago mayor
A woman holds a sign in a crowd.Photo by Mathias P.R. Reding from Pexels. Racism has been declared a public health emergency by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. On Thursday, Mayor Lightfoot linked systemic racism to the 9.2-year difference in life expectancy between Black and non-Black residents in Chicago.
Read full story5-day summer meal packs set to be sent to students of Ohio County Schools no later than Friday
A man loads boxes into the back of a delivery vehicle.Photo by Norma Mortenson from Pexels. Students in Ohio County Schools who opted to have their summer meals sent to them via mail will soon be receiving their first week's worth of summer meal packs, if they haven’t already received them. While the meals were originally slated to be sent out the week of June 7, they will be arriving to students’ homes no later than Friday, June 18 according to school officials.
Read full storyBoston Children’s Hospital ranks No. 1 children's hospital in US for 8th year in a row
A healthcare professional cares for a patient.Photo by Danik Prihodko from Pexels. Boston Children’s Hospital has been ranked the best children’s hospital in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report 2021-2022, released this week.
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