Michigan Public Health News Center

The problem with using BMI alone as a health measure

Kate Bauer quoted in The Atlantic

The outdated, much-maligned health measure now determines who gets obesity drugs—and who doesn’t.

Mitigating Legionella bacteria exposure with evidence-based interventions

Q&A with Chuanwu Xi

The CDC estimates that there were nearly 10,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the United States in 2018, but suggests that the disease is likely underdiagnosed. In this Q&A, learn about Legionella bacteria and prevention strategies to mitigate exposure.

Why COVID vaccines for young children have been hard to get

Brian Zikmund-Fisher quoted in Scientific American

Brian Zikmund-Fisher, professor of Health Behavior and Health Education, highlights the importance of public health messaging related to boosting COVID-19 vaccination rates in children.

Supreme Court weighing constitutionality of federal law that bars domestic abusers from possessing guns

Q&A with April Zeoli

The Supreme Court heard arguments last week in US v. Rahimi, a case that involves a constitutional challenge to a federal law that strips gun ownership rights from people under domestic violence protection orders.

How dogs help us lead longer, healthier lives

Mary Janevic quoted in the Wall Street Journal

Research shows that canine companions can help with stress, allergies and even cardiovascular disease, in part by giving us a reason to focus on the future.

Domestic violence protective orders are effective in reducing homicides, study finds

Domestic violence protective orders are associated with reductions in intimate partner homicides, and therefore serve as a critical tool for protecting victims and survivors, according to a federal policy review led by researchers at the University of Michigan.