Review shows minimal evidence that dietary supplements lead to weight loss
June 23, 2021 Although Americans spend billions on them, published research shows a lack of strong evidence that dietary supplements and alternative therapies help adults lose weight.
New universal vaccine effectively targets coronaviruses
June 22, 2021 Scientists at the UNC Gillings School have developed a universal vaccine that could protect against COVID-19, its variants — and the next coronavirus pandemic.
Metabolic clues could serve as early predictors of pregnancy complications, inform nutritional intervention
June 18, 2021 A team of Gillings School nutrition researchers recently identified certain changes in a person’s metabolism, that, if found early in a pregnancy, can more accurately predict whether a mother may experience pregnancy-related hypertension or preterm birth than other known risk factors.
Kandrack research honored among ‘best of’ AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting
June 17, 2021 Recent health policy and management alumnus Dr. Ryan Kandrack has been selected to present an abstract of his research as part of AcademyHealth’s Annual Research Meeting (ARM) “Best of ARM” session.
Study reveals $17.5 billion business of underage drinking
June 10, 2021 A new study has found that underage drinkers consumed $17.5 billion worth of alcoholic drinks sold in 2016. Public health experts, including Dr. Pamela Trangenstein at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, say alcohol company revenues could be used to help curb underage drinking
Ancestral diversity affects biomarkers of kidney function, study finds
June 3, 2021 DNA methylation (DNAm) is known to be linked with kidney function, but earlier research had not revealed whether human diversity affects this association. Now, a study has reported several new trans-ethnic and ethnic-specific DNAm associations with kidney function. This is an important finding for public health because it informs future steps to understand and address epigenomic diversity.
At inaugural symposium, UNC experts seek to improve research on causes of obesity
June 1, 2021 To understand and improve the science used to develop multi-faceted treatment strategies for obesity, experts at UNC convened the first annual Interdisciplinary Nutrition Sciences Symposium in 2019. They have recently published their findings from this conference in Advances in Nutrition.
In South Africa, a tax on unhealthy beverages is changing what people drink
May 27, 2021 A UNC-Chapel Hill study of beverage consumption in a South African township shows that a country-wide tax on sugary beverages has worked to influence more healthy personal choices, with individuals reporting a reduction in the amount of sugar they drink.
Helping Durham get ‘Back on the Bull’ during COVID-19
May 24, 2021 In Durham, North Carolina — less than 15 miles from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — a public health campaign called “Back on the Bull” has been supporting local businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gillings School became involved when the Mayor of Durham invited faculty members to manage a community health ambassador program with the goal of helping small businesses in Durham County reopen safely following lockdown.
For Black Americans, strong family bonds are instrumental to increasing breastfeeding rates
May 20, 2021 To improve breastfeeding rates among Black Americans, Dr. Alexis Woods Barr and graduate student Jacquana Smith have co-authored studies examining the role intergenerational family support networks have in infant feeding practices. This understanding can help shape more empathetic and culturally mindful approaches to public health messaging.
