Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
The Skinny On Diets For 2019: Mediterranean Is Best Overall Among 41 Nutrition Plans, Analysis Says
CNN: Mediterranean Diet Named The Best For 2019
If you're a fan of the Mediterranean diet, get ready to do a victory dance. For the first time, the Mediterranean diet has won the gold as 2019's best overall diet in rankings announced Wednesday by US News and World Report. The analysis of 41 eating plans also gave the Mediterranean diet the top spot in several subcategories: best diet for healthy eating, best plant-based diet, best diet for diabetes and easiest diet to follow. (LaMotte, 1/2)
The New York Times: Cholesterol May Be Higher After The Holidays
The holiday season may confer an unwanted gift: higher cholesterol. Danish researchers studied 25,764 people in Copenhagen whose average age was 59. All had blood drawn regularly to test lipid levels. None were on cholesterol-lowering medicines. Average total cholesterol in the group over the whole year was 205, just over the recommended guideline of 200. Average LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, was 116, just above the 100 level considered healthy. (Bakalar, 1/2)
The New York Times: Excess Weight Contributes To More Than 7 Percent Of Cancers
More than 7 percent of cancer cases in the United States are attributable to excess body weight, a new study reports. Previous studies have established an association between body fat and at least a dozen cancers, with the highest risks for liver, uterine and esophageal cancers. (Bakalar, 1/2)
