Anderson named Education Diversity Intern
November 26, 2019 Rakiah Anderson, a second-year Master of Public Health student at the Gillings School, has been awarded the American Evaluation Association’s Graduate Education Diversity Internship.
How would warnings on sugar-sweetened beverages reduce the U.S. obesity rate?
October 17, 2019 “Our study suggests that showing warning labels on sugary drinks is a promising strategy for addressing the obesity epidemic in the U.S.,” Dr. Grummon says. “We found that warnings would reduce obesity prevalence by more than three percentage points. While that number might sound modest, on a national scale it equates to more than five million fewer people with obesity.”
Can a screening for social determinants of health effectively inform children's health care?
October 7, 2019 A study by students and faculty at the UNC Gillings School explored whether screening tools that examine social determinants of health in children can accurately identify early indicators of risk. Based on the researchers' comprehensive review of existing literature, it remains unclear whether such screenings — which aim to consider risk factors outside traditional medical information — inform better care for children.
Health warning labels reduce purchases of sugary beverages
October 2, 2019 A randomized controlled trial from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health finds that even brief exposure to health warnings on sugar-sweetened beverages reduced purchases of those beverages, providing evidence that such warnings promote healthier drink choices.
Two health behavior faculty receive NIH Career Development Awards
August 22, 2019 Dr. Marissa Hall will design and evaluate pictorial health warnings for food products. Dr. Sarah Mills will model the public health impact of a national menthol cigarette ban.
‘Mentorship is a way of life’: Ribisl named as Jo Anne Earp Distinguished Professor
August 15, 2019 Dr. Kurt Ribisl has been appointed as the inaugural Jo Anne Earp Distinguished Professor in Health Behavior. His appointment began June 1. Dr. Jo Anne Earp, for whom the professorship is named, is a nationally recognized health behavior researcher and educator.
Study links racial disparities, maternal substance use with CPS reporting rates in Alaska
August 9, 2019 In 2016, child protective services (CPS) agencies in the United States received an estimated 4.1 million allegations of abuse or neglect. Previous research suggests that a report made to CPS is a marker of child risk and vulnerability — regardless of what the outcome is. A new study delves deeper into this connection from a public health perspective, analyzing the factors associated with different patterns of CPS contact among families in Alaska.
Gillings School grad students report on health impact of HB2
July 30, 2019 In March 2016, the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act — commonly known as HB2 — became law in North Carolina. While the statewide economic ramifications of HB2 have been well-documented, little attention was given to the ways HB2 might have impacted the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities in the state.
Typical HIV testing efforts fall short in reaching one group of African-American men
July 9, 2019 African-American men who have sex with men (MSM) and have never been tested for HIV are a small group, but they have a significant impact on the HIV epidemic. New research from a faculty member at the Gillings School shows that efforts to end this epidemic must address the different needs of men who have been historically underserved by HIV prevention and treatment efforts.
UNC Gillings researchers look inside ‘black box’ of weight management interventions for young adults
July 2, 2019 In the United States, young adults (aged 18‐35 years) are experiencing the greatest rates of weight gain, paired with increased cancer risk and increasing rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The public health burden among young adults due to obesity is only expected to grow in the future, driving an urgent need for effective weight‐related interventions.
