Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Military's Extreme Masculinity Might Be Sparking Eating Disorders; California Community Colleges Should Offer Bachelor's Degrees In Nursing
Stat: How The Military May Be Fueling Eating Disorders In Men
As a yoga instructor in a clinic for people with eating disorders, I don’t see many straight cisgender male clients. But when I do, many have one thing in common: military service. It is so common that, anecdotally, I would say a military background is one of the greatest risk factors for eating disorders in this population. (Paula Chesley, 6/3)
Capitol Weekly: A Healthy Exception: Community Colleges And The Nursing Crisis
California faces the nation’s most severe nursing shortage. By 2038, the state is projected to face a deficit of 36,000 nurses—the largest in the nation. Nearly 75% of California’s regions are already experiencing a nursing shortage. California can address this crisis. One proven way to do so is to authorize California’s community colleges to offer Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees. (Cecilia Rios-Aguilar and Davis Vo, 6/1)
The California Health Report: California Will Break Its Promise To Provide Health Care To All Kids — Unless Lawmakers Step Up
Lost coverage for families will have negative effects on children, since kids’ health is inseparable from their parents. Parental coverage leads to lower infant mortality, fewer preterm births and greater access to prenatal care. Then as kids grow, stable family coverage continues to protect them, which not only leads to better health outcomes, but better school attendance, improved mental health, fewer cases of child neglect and greater family financial stability. When parents lose health care coverage, it affects their child’s entire life trajectory. (Tamira Daniely, 6/2)
Stat: Why Public Health Should Pay Close Attention To The Amish
Far from being a dying way of life, as many people think, the Amish population is growing rapidly — doubling roughly every 20 years. “So public health is going to have to talk about the Amish more and more, especially if their health profiles are going to continue to differ from non-Amish populations,” said Cory Anderson, a postdoctoral researcher in population health and demography at Pennsylvania State University’s Population Research Institute. That means discussing communicable diseases — like many populations, the Amish, many of whom do vaccinate, have been increasingly hesitant since the Covid-19 pandemic — as well as genetic and other conditions. (Tory Bosch, 6/3)
The Washington Post: The Fertility Crisis Is Also A Religion Crisis
Contrary to popular belief, at least in Western nations, mothers aren’t necessarily having fewer children compared with a decade or two ago. It’s that fewer women are becoming mothers in the first place. Despite the growing attention paid to the topic, analysts are struggling to figure out why more women are having zero children. (Shadi Hamid, 6/2)
