During Pandemic, Women Cared For Kids Three Times As Much As Men
In other news, research says gray hair can return to its original color; a study suggests chocolate for breakfast may have beneficial effects; Peloton's product recall faces backlash; and Britney Spears' forced contraception sparks a legal debate.
ABC News:
Women Provided 3 Times More Child Care Than Men During Pandemic, Analysis Finds
During the coronavirus pandemic, a working-age woman, on average, provided 173 additional unpaid hours of child care, according to a new analysis. That is nearly three times the amount of additional unpaid hours of child care taken on by a working-age man, according to the analysis from the Center for Global Development, a nonprofit organization that works to reduce global poverty. (Kindelan, 6/25)
In other public health news —
Scientific American:
Gray Hair Can Return To Its Original Color--And Stress Is Involved, Of Course
Few harbingers of old age are clearer than the sight of gray hair. As we grow older, black, brown, blonde or red strands lose their youthful hue. Although this may seem like a permanent change, new research reveals that the graying process can be undone—at least temporarily. (Kwon, 6/22)
Fox News:
Chocolate For Breakfast? Study Suggests Potential Benefits
Starting your day off with chocolate, or even sneaking in a bit before bed may not have the dire effects on weight gain you’d suspect, especially if done correctly among a certain population. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital studied the impact of adding milk chocolate to the diets of postmenopausal women for a paper published in The FASEB Journal. The study analyzed 19 postmenopausal women who were involved in a randomized, controlled cross-over trial. The women consumed 100g of milk chocolate either within one hour of waking up or within one hour of going to bed. The researchers compared weight gain and other measures to women who had no chocolate intake. (Hein, 6/24)
The Washington Post:
Peloton Faces Backlash From Users Of Its Tread+ Treadmill After CPSC Safety Recall
Peloton appears to have taken a new misstep in its handling of the high-profile safety recall for its Tread+ treadmills, which have been tied to dozens of serious accidents involving children and adults. (Frankel, 6/24)
WUSF Public Media:
Managing 'Reopening Anxiety' And Tips To Spot It In Kids
More and more people are returning to pre-COVID activities like going to the office or gathering with friends in public without masks. It's been a welcome relief for some, but can be stressful for others. A survey conducted earlier this month by the Florida Association of Managing Entities, which works with behavioral health providers around the state, found one in three Floridians are experiencing more social anxiety than they did prior to the pandemic. (Colombini, 6/24)
In celebrity news —
The New York Times:
Is The Forced Contraception Alleged By Britney Spears Legal?
Among the stunning assertions that the pop star Britney Spears made to a Los Angeles probate judge this week, as she sought to end her protracted conservatorship, was one that shook experts in guardianship law and reproductive rights deeply. She said a team led by her father, who is her conservator, prevented her from having her IUD removed because the team did not want her to have more children. “Forcing someone to be on birth control against their will is a violation of basic human rights and bodily autonomy, just as forcing someone to become or stay pregnant against their will would be,” said Ruth Dawson, a principal policy associate at the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports reproductive rights. (Hoffman, 6/24)
The Hill:
Britney Spears Case Casts Harsh Light On Conservatorships
Britney Spears's cries for help in court have cast a critical light on conservatorships, as the public has become both more aware and more sensitive to mental health struggles. But her explosive claims Wednesday have also reignited a national conversation on freedom, dignity and how much is too much when it comes to legal intervention. ... Pundits on both sides of the aisle — and some who don't typically weigh in on the plights of pop stars — denounced the long-running conservatorship, expressing particular horror at Spears's accusation that she is restricted from making decisions about her body and fertility. (Kurtz, 6/24)
