The American Heart Association recommends children and teens consume less than 25 grams, or 6 teaspoons, of added sugar per day. Consuming foods and beverages high in added sugars during childhood is linked to the development of risk factors for heart disease, including an increased risk of obesity and elevated blood pressure. In a scientific […] Continue reading
The Nurses’ Health Study: Celebrating 40 years of vital contributions to public health
Forty years, multiple cohorts, and 275 thousand participants and counting. The September issue of the American Journal of Public Health celebrates the substantial knowledge on nutrition and other aspects of chronic disease prevention generated by the historic Nurses’ Health Studies. The Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) was launched in 1976 with over 121,700 nurse participants to […] Continue reading
The rising epidemic of cardiovascular disease in China
Coverage From HSPH News, featuring Frank Hu and Yanping Li: A 20-year rise in cardiovascular disease (CVD) in China appears to have been spurred largely by increases in high blood pressure, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Increasing body mass index (BMI), decreasing physical activity, a high prevalence of […] Continue reading
Processed red meat related to higher risk of death, plant protein to lower risk
Did you grow up with a parent who would fill half your dinner plate with meatloaf, chanting the importance of eating enough protein to grow big and strong? A new study published in the Aug 1 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that a bowl of lentils and quinoa may have done you more good […] Continue reading
International Collaborative Study Reinforces the Dangers of Excess Weight
Coverage From HSPH News, featuring Shilpa Bhupathiraju and Frank Hu: Being overweight or obese is associated with a higher risk of dying prematurely than being normal weight—and the risk increases with additional pounds, according to a large international collaborative study led by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the University […] Continue reading
Dessert by Design: The Three Pleasures
The scenario is likely a familiar one. You’re dining out at a restaurant for a special occasion, enjoying the company of those at the table, and as the dinner plates are being cleared, the server stops by and asks: “Would you like to see a dessert menu?” When striving to maintain a healthy eating plan, […] Continue reading
Creative Design for Bicycling Promotion and Safety
Coverage From HSPH News, featuring Anne Lusk: Solar-powered bike paths that can melt snow and ice; pollution-eating vacuum towers near bicycle paths; bicycle parking stations with lockers, rest rooms, and showers; and bicycle wheels with rechargeable batteries that help propel riders up hills are just a few of the 70 innovations—some already in place, others still […] Continue reading
Different Dietary Fat, Different Risk of Mortality
Consuming higher amounts of unsaturated fats was associated with lower mortality, according to a study from researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The findings also showed that higher consumption of saturated and trans fats was linked with higher mortality and that replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats conferred substantial health benefits. In […] Continue reading
We Repeat: Butter is Not Back.
Yesterday, a systematic review and meta-analysis looking at the association of butter consumption with chronic disease and all-cause mortality made headlines that sound strikingly familiar. TIME, for example, reported that “the case for eating butter just got stronger” saying “butter may, in fact, be back.” Continue reading
Healthy plant-based diet linked with substantially lower type 2 diabetes risk
Coverage From HSPH News, featuring Frank Hu and Ambika Satija: Consuming a plant-based diet—especially one rich in high-quality plant foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes—is linked with substantially lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health… “A shift to […] Continue reading