When federal health officials announced on Jan. 5, 2026, that they were taking six out of 17 vaccines off the childhood immunization schedule, they argued that the move would give…
Category: Anthropology
New US dietary guidelines recommend more protein and whole milk, less ultraprocessed foods
Every five years, the U.S. government releases an updated set of recommendations on healthy eating. This document, called the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, has served as the cornerstone of nutrition…
Illness is more than just biological – medical sociology shows how social factors get under the skin and cause disease
Health and medicine is more than just biological – societal forces can get under your skin and cause illness. Medical sociologists like me study these forces by treating society itself…
New federal loan limits will worsen America’s nursing shortage and leave patients waiting longer for care
There is growing need for nurses in the United States – but not enough nurses currently working, or students training to become nurses, to promptly see all of the patients…
Viral outbreaks are always on the horizon – here are the viruses an infectious disease expert is watching in 2026
A new year might mean new viral threats. Old viruses are constantly evolving. A warming and increasingly populated planet puts humans in contact with more and different viruses. And increased…
Wearing a weighted vest can promote bone health and weight loss, but it’s not a cure-all
Health and fitness trends come and go, and many fads don’t deliver on their promises – remember vibrating belts or sauna suits? Today, weighted vests, made from sturdy fabrics like…
RFK Jr. guts the US childhood vaccine schedule despite its decades-long safety record
The Trump administration’s overhauling of the decades-old childhood vaccination schedule, announced by federal health officials on Jan. 5, 2026, has raised alarm among public health experts and pediatricians. The U.S.…
Philly’s walkable streets and public parks offer older residents chances to stay active – but public transit and accessibility pose challenges
One in five Philadelphians are age 60 or older, and the city’s senior population has been growing for at least the past decade. I’m a Philly-based physical therapist and researcher…
Midlife weight gain can start long before menopause – but you can take steps early on to help your body weather the hormonal shift
You’re in your mid-40s, eating healthy and exercising regularly. It’s the same routine that has worked for years. Yet lately, the number on the scale is creeping up. Clothes fit…
The world risks forgetting one of humanity’s greatest triumphs as polio nears global eradication − 70 years after Jonas Salk developed the vaccine in a Pittsburgh lab
It was like a horror movie. The invisible polio virus would strike, leaving young children on crutches, in wheelchairs or in a dreaded “iron lung” ventilator. Each summer, the fear…
