Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Potential Link Between Infant's Screen Time And Autism
Fox News: Limiting Screen Time In Infants May Decrease Risk Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Study Finds
Male toddlers who watched more television at age one were more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at age 3, compared to those without any screen time, according to a recent multi-site Japanese study published in JAMA Pediatrics. "[A]mid the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rapid change in lifestyles, with electronic devices being used as the main channels of communication and social interactions," the authors wrote. "Amid this social climate, examining the associations of screen exposure with a child's health is an important public health issue." (Sudhakar, 2/4)
In other pediatric news —
CNN: Pregnant Women Who Are Overweight Are Less Likely To Affect Children's Weight Than Previously Thought
A pregnant woman's body mass index has less of an influence on her child's BMI than previously believed, according to a new study. BMI is a measure that uses height and weight data to track changes in weight. Children with a high BMI, measuring 25 or higher, were more likely to be overweight or obese due to environmental factors rather than their mother's weight when she was pregnant, found the study published in the journal BMC Medicine. Environmental factors include anything that makes children eat more and exercise less, said study author Tom Bond, senior research associate at the University of Bristol and visiting researcher at Imperial College London. (Marples, 2/7)
CNN: Eating Disorders And Children: The Pandemic Is Making Them Worse
Like many girls in high school, Ella (not her real name) had days where she struggled with self-esteem. "I was able to cope with it because I had sports, I had friends, and I had school. Then the pandemic hit in March (2020) and I lost all of that," said Ella, who looks younger than her 15 years. "I wanted to do something proactive to help me cope, so I turned to exercise. I'd run almost every day. I went for bike rides and for hour-long walks." A runner herself, Ella's mom Alice (also not her real name) was pleased to see her daughter embracing such healthy habits during the dreary months of lockdown in their home town of Ottawa, Canada. But it wasn't long before she noticed that if Ella wasn't exercising, she appeared nervous and edgy. (LaMotte, 2/4)
In other public health news —
CIDRAP: US Flu Markers Decline Further, H3N2 Still Dominant
US flu levels dropped further and dipped below the national baseline last week, though sporadic activity continues across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest weekly update. The percentage of outpatient visits for flulike illness declined from 2.8% to 2.0% last week, putting it below the national baseline of 2.5%. (2/4)
AP: Millions In Tax Dollars Flow To Anti-Abortion Centers In US
Anti-abortion centers across the country are receiving tens of millions of tax dollars to talk women out of ending their pregnancies, a nearly fivefold increase from a decade ago that resulted from an often-overlooked effort by mostly Republican-led states. The nonprofits known as crisis pregnancy centers are typically religiously affiliated and counsel clients against having an abortion as part of their free but limited services. That practice and the fact that they generally are not licensed as medical facilities have raised questions about whether it’s appropriate to funnel so much tax money their way. (Kruesi, 2/5)
The New York Times: The Pandemic Has Made Many Seniors Less Active
Many health experts are worried about worsening physical conditioning and mobility among older adults since Covid-19 upended the daily routine. Recent research indicates that many of those who had mild to moderate infections, even some who have managed to avoid the virus altogether, may be suffering functional declines. To date, much of the attention paid to the pandemic’s effects on the older population has focused on its frightful mortality rate: Nearly three-quarters of Americans who have died have been 65 or older. (Span, 2/5)
