What We’re Reading: 01/24/20

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A few highlights from around the web that made it into our feeds this week.

Why getting enough vitamin D in wintertime is so important

Vitamin D is essential for good health. It’s not just for strong bones, vitamin D fights infections and diseases. But when we need it most in the cold months of flu season, people are often deficient. In this article, an immunologist studying the receptors of immune cells discusses all you need to know about vitamin D rich foods, supplements, and the importance of getting enough. (From washingtonpost.com)

Everything you need to know about the new coronavirus from China

Dozens of new reports are dropping daily on the spread of coronavirus, an outbreak that originated at a live market in Wuhan, China. Researchers are still scrambling to figure out how the disease spreads and how dangerous it is to the public. Right now, we’re left with many unknowns—and as scary as an outbreak like this is, if you haven’t traveled to the region there’s no need to panic yet.

This article does a great job explaining the outbreak timeline, history, active containment, political influences, and how to remain alert and protect yourself against infection. It also links to a map created by researchers tracking the spread in real-time. (From theverge.com)

Childhood Obesity Is a Major Problem. Research Isn’t Helping.

Almost 20 percent of American children are affected by obesity, and globally, the rate of childhood obesity is climbing fast. With so much concern and awareness, why don’t initiatives seem to be working? Because obesity is a complex problem that requires a thoughtful complex plan.

Many interventions have been studied but none, other than weight loss surgery, have translated into actual improvements. This fantastic article breaks down a recent paper in Pediatric Obesity and explains how to safeguard research from claims of exaggerated effectiveness and fuel effective policy with solid data. (From nytimes.com)

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