Our modern world is filled with screens: televisions, tablets, computers and mobile devices. As a result, children spend more time than ever before with these devices. We’ve written before about the downside of screen-time for small children and for the importance of moderation when it comes to technology. [Read more…]
The evidence on cigar-smoking
April 29, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Over the past decade, cigar consumption in the United States has increased significantly. In 2011, Americans smoked an estimated 13.7 billion cigars, a 55 percent increase compared with 2000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Cigars may be trendy, but they pose serious health risks. A new systematic review published this week takes a look at the evidence available on cigar-smoking. [Read more…]
The link between working long hours and drinking alcohol
April 14, 2015 By 3 Comments
I have certainly had times in my life where, at the end of the work day, all I wanted to do was have a few glasses of wine to help me relax. For some people, the ritual of having a drink or two after work becomes a habit that’s hard to break. A systematic review published recently finds that this sort of habit can lead to unhealthy behaviors. [Read more…]
The health effects of loneliness
April 5, 2015 By Leave a Comment
More than 25 percent of adults in the United States live alone – a cultural trend that has important implications for the health of many Americans. [Read more…]
New evidence about our confidence in medical care
March 13, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Every medical treatment comes with risks of side effects and adverse events, and also a chance that it simply won’t work. Because we are each unique individuals with slightly different biological make-ups, we each react differently to medical interventions. [Read more…]
The link between body image and media
January 14, 2015 By Leave a Comment
On a daily basis, we are surrounded by unrealistic images of women: celebrities on the covers of gossip magazines, animated cartoons depicting attractive female characters, and models advertising beauty supplies, to name a few. How do all of these images affect how women view their own bodies? [Read more…]
Evidence-based loving: A new book on marriage
January 7, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Love and marriage aren’t typical topics that come to mind when you think about evidence. But Cornell gerontologist and EBL-founder Karl Pillemer found a way to use data to distill the best advice about love, relationships, and marriage. [Read more…]
Giving is good for you!
December 19, 2014 By Leave a Comment
It’s that time of year when many people think about giving to charities. Some make donations for tax-purposes before the end of the calendar year. Others incorporate giving into Christmas traditions, or make an effort to spread some holiday cheer to the less fortunate. [Read more…]
The evidence on video games and brain function
October 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment
As the U.S. population continues to age, researchers warn us more people than ever before will grapple with neurological disease like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, as many as 16 million Americans could be suffering from some form of dementia by the year 2050, up from 5 million today. [Read more…]
What we know about homework
October 7, 2014 By 1 Comment
Now that the school year is back in full swing, I find that our family needs to make time for homework almost every night of the week. And it’s got me wondering how much homework impacts children’s achievement in school. [Read more…]
Do girls perform better in school?
May 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment
When you think about an elementary school classroom, do any gender stereotypes pop into your mind? Most of us have opinions about how boys and girls perform at school. Maybe you subscribe to some commonly held beliefs that girls are better at reading and writing, or boys are more successful in math. But what does the evidence say?
What we know about indoor tanning and youth
April 17, 2014 By Leave a Comment
For nearly 100 years, Americans have valued tanned skin as a symbol of health and vitality. (Before 1920, Americans and Europeans considered pale skin and indicator of health and success.) The trend began when doctors began to prescribe sunbathing for ailments, including tuberculosis. Soon Hollywood stars and fashion icons started to boast of tanned skin, and the rest of America followed suit. [Read more…]
