Trish Fisher, a dual degree Master of Public Policy and Master of Public Health student, details her research on agricultural methane policy and the role that public health can play in championing strategies to support climate change mitigation.
Eating more fruits, vegetables, and nuts can make a meaningful impact on a person’s health—and the planet’s too. Crunching the numbers, two Michigan researchers have some recommendations on how to eat—one meal at a time—for health and environmental sustainability.
The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of the nearly 26 million adults in the US struggling to access and afford food. Federal nutrition assistance programs like SNAP help, but additional assistance is needed for those already receiving maximum benefits. And many of these emergency measures should become permanent.
While promoting healthy eating may be well-intentioned, messaging that incites fear of weight gain contributes to weight stigma and encourages negative psychological outcomes. During a pandemic, it is especially important to consider in all health care settings the implications of discussing food and bodies.
The discovery and use of antibiotics is one of public health’s great achievements, but antibiotic use is not without its problems. At therapeutic doses, antibiotics exert a strong selection pressure on the microbial community. When antibiotics interact with an infant’s developing microbiome, they can affect gut health and with it the child’s health for years to come.
During gestation, the human body grows at tremendous speeds, and even slight changes to a child’s biology during this sensitive time can dramatically alter health outcomes. Recent studies in Puerto Rico and elsewhere provide further support for the need to address even low levels of lead exposure for all pregnant women.