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Would you hold the mother responsible for her daughter’s weight? Courtesy of Steve Neuberg, Arizona State University, and Jaimie Krems, Oklahoma State University

People blame and judge parents for children’s heavier weights

Jaimie Arona Krems, Oklahoma State University and Devanshi Patel, Oklahoma State University

While excess weight arises from a complex interplay of genes, environment, diet and activity, new research finds Americans hold parents responsible for excess weight in their kids.
An accurate count of COVID-19 deaths is critical both scientifically and politically. Douglas Rissing/iStock via Getty Images Plus

COVID-19 deaths in the US continue to be undercounted, research shows, despite claims of ‘overcounts’

Andrew Stokes, Boston University; Dielle Lundberg, Boston University; Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, University of Minnesota, and Yea-Hung Chen, University of California, San Francisco

Taking into consideration the number of excess deaths caused by COVID-19 compared with pre-pandemic years is critical to getting an accurate accounting of the pandemic’s real toll.
The new system generally gives higher scores to fruits, vegetables and minimally processed foods. RapidEye/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Parsing which foods are healthy and which are less so isn’t always straightforward – a new rating system aims to demystify the process

Dariush Mozaffarian, Tufts University; Jeffrey B. Blumberg, Tufts University; Paul F. Jacques, Tufts University, and Renata Micha, Tufts University

The Food Compass system scores foods based on variables like the amounts of refined grains and sugars, processing and healthful ingredients. People who ate better-scoring foods had better overall health.
The mass shooting at a dance studio in Monterey Park, Calif., is the latest in an endless string of gun violence tragedies. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Horror and anguish are playing out on repeat following the latest mass shooting – and the mental health scars extend far beyond those directly affected

Arash Javanbakht, Wayne State University

Even people who are only indirectly exposed to these repeat tragedies, such as first responders and those affected by media coverage, can experience profound and long-lasting grief.
When sleep routines have gone haywire, there are things to keep in mind to help the whole family reset. Catherine Falls/Moment via Getty Images

Better sleep for kids starts with better sleep for parents – especially after holiday disruptions to routines

Erika Bocknek, Wayne State University

Sound sleep, for long enough every night, with consistent bed and wake-up times are critical for kids’ health. A child development expert suggests some overarching tips to help get you there.
In relationships, women tend to take the lead in promoting healthy behaviors. Peter Dazeley/The Image Bank via Getty Images

Marriage provides health benefits – and here’s why

Libby Richards, Purdue University; Melissa Franks, Purdue University, and Rosie Shrout, Purdue University

Most marriage and health studies have focused on married men and women. But more recent studies examine relationships in which partners have the same gender identity, the same biological sex and who are gender diverse.
The rule change has little to no effect in states where abortion is banned or restricted. LaylaBird/E+ via Getty Images

What the FDA’s rule changes allowing the abortion pill mifepristone to be dispensed by pharmacies mean in practice – 5 questions answered

Grace Shih, University of Washington

The FDA’s allowance for pharmacies to dispense mifepristone will broaden access to the two-pill mifepristone-misoprostol regimen of medication abortion, which is 95% to 98% effective.

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The stroke suffered by U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman has shed light on little-known aspects of stroke recovery. Mark Makela/Getty Images News via Getty Images

Fetterman’s struggles with language highlight the challenges after a stroke – a vascular neurologist explains aphasia and the path to recovery

Andrew M. Southerland, University of Virginia

Auditory processing disorders and aphasia can make spoken speech difficult to produce and understand. But these challenges alone do not imply cognitive impairments.
In 1956, during the height of the polio epidemic in the U.S., health officials in Chicago offer polio shots at a public school. Bettmann via Getty Images

Polio vaccination rates in some areas of the US hover dangerously close to the threshold required for herd immunity – here’s why that matters

Jennifer Girotto, University of Connecticut

With poliovirus circulating in New York, health authorities worry that pockets of the county with low polio vaccination rates could give the virus a foothold.
Talking about vaccines with trusted health care providers and with family can help wade through the sea of information – and misinformation. Morsa Images/DigitalVison via Getty Images

Misinformation will be rampant when it comes to COVID-19 shots for young children – here’s what you can do to counter it

Jaime Sidani, University of Pittsburgh; Beth Hoffman, University of Pittsburgh, and Maya Ragavan, University of Pittsburgh

With COVID-19 shots finally available for infants and preschoolers, knowing how to combat misinformation on social media and elsewhere could be more important than ever.
Researchers are working to tease apart how various alcohol types contribute to weight gain and disease risk. pixhook/E+ via Getty Images

Beer and spirits have more detrimental effects on the waistline and on cardiovascular disease risk than red or white wine

Brittany Larsen, Iowa State University

Research has been inconclusive on the degree to which drinking alcohol leads to the growth of harmful fat. But a new study suggests that beer and spirits are far bigger culprits than wine.