Aspartame’s cancer risk unclear
A recent report by the World Health Organization declared that the artificial sweetener aspartame is “possibly carcinogenic,” but the research leading to that conclusion is unclear—so consuming aspartame to help with weight management is still reasonable, according to…
Policy change needed to ensure healthy food options in checkout lines, says expert
Most foods and beverages in grocery store checkout aisles are unhealthy—a reality that experts say is unlikely to change unless local, state, or federal laws are passed that require healthier options.
Sugar-sweetened beverages linked with increased risk of premature death for people with type 2 diabetes
High consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with an elevated risk of premature death and incidence of cardiovascular disease among people with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard Chan School. Drinking…
Packaging changes may help parents make healthier beverage choices for children
Parents are heavily influenced by packaging when choosing beverages to buy for their children, according to a recent study led by researchers from Harvard Chan School.
Healthy plant-based diets better for the environment than less healthy plant-based diets
Healthier plant-based dietary patterns were associated with better environmental health, while less healthy plant-based dietary patterns required more cropland and fertilizer, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard Chan School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Small steps can make a difference in reducing sugar consumption
High amounts of added sugar can harm health by raising insulin levels for extended periods, and also increasing fat production in the liver.
Sugary beverages may raise risk of early colorectal cancer
Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages may raise the risk of early-onset colorectal cancer, according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study examined data from 96,000 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study II and…
Online grocery shoppers purchase fewer unhealthy impulse foods
When grocery shopping online, people tend to spend more money and purchase more items than when they shop in person, and to make fewer unhealthy impulse-sensitive purchases.
High sugar intake in adolescence may increase colorectal adenoma risk
People who consume high amounts of simple sugars and sugar-sweetened beverages in adolescence may have a greater risk of developing colorectal adenomas—benign tumors that can be precursors to cancer—than people who consume lower amounts.
Frontlines Winter 2021
Quick updates about the latest public health news from across the School and beyond.
