Related Topics
Childhood stress linked with greater risk of heart disease, diabetes in adulthood
Persistent emotional stress that we experience as children — whether due to financial challenges, death of a loved one, or relationships that cause anxiety — may make us more prone to health issues as adults, according to a…
Exposure to pesticides in childhood linked to cancer
Young children who are exposed to insecticides inside their homes may be slightly more at risk for developing leukemia or lymphoma during childhood, according to a meta-analysis by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers. The article…
A baby box aims to save infant and maternal lives
September 14, 2015 -- Under a new student-led nonprofit aimed at reducing infant and maternal mortality in South Asia, expectant mothers would receive a free box full of newborn essentials like baby clothes, diapers, and wipes, as well as health-related…
Short lunch periods in schools linked with less healthy eating
For immediate release: September 11, 2015 Boston, MA ─ Students with less than 20 minutes to eat school lunches consume significantly less of their entrées, milk, and vegetables than those who aren’t as rushed, according to a new…
Breastfeeding may expose infants to toxic chemicals
For immediate release: August 20, 2015 Boston, MA ─ A widely used class of industrial chemicals linked with cancer and interference with immune function—perfluorinated alkylate substances, or PFASs—appears to build up in infants by 20%–30% for each month…
Parents’ exposure to chemicals prior to conception linked to child’s health problems
A couple’s exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, psychological stress, malnutrition, and other environmental stressors prior to conceiving a child may alter the child’s genetic structure and development, leading to increased risk of health issues later in life, according to…
Reducing teen smoking in Chile
A national tobacco prevention campaign launched in 2006 in Chile that banned smoking at high schools and sale of tobacco near school grounds helped dramatically reduce smoking among adolescents, and was particularly effective in discouraging young teens from…
New standards push Massachusetts toward healthier school foods
New Massachusetts standards that ban the sale of unhealthy snacks and beverages—the kind often sold in vending machines—appear to be working, according to a new study co-authored by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Along…
Cutting children’s screen time
Parents who want to cut the amount of time their children spend in front of screens—from televisions, computers, smartphones, and video games—should start by setting reasonable limits on those devices. That’s the advice from Steven Gortmaker, professor of the…
Treating depression, anxiety in child soldiers pays off long-term
A study of former child soldiers and other youth impacted by the civil war in Sierra Leone shows that treating the youngsters’ depression and anxiety can have long-lasting payoffs. “We were surprised to see the large role that…