SPH researchers are creating the Urban Greenspace Access Score (UGAS) — a new measurement system that cities, policymakers, and urban planners can use to better understand which neighborhoods in US cities have limited access to greenspace — providing cities with crucial new information for improving greenspace access and promoting greater greenspace equity in urban planning.
Epidemiology and Community Health
New study shows that quitting smoking leads to a lower risk of household food insecurity
When a tobacco user quits smoking, their household is less likely to experience food insecurity in the following year, according to a new study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH) published in Annals of Epidemiology.
Food insecurity limits intuitive eating in the short and long term
Intuitive eating, which focuses on responding to one’s hunger and fullness cues, is less prevalent in food-insecure households
Seeing and ending college student hunger
New study examines mental-health outcomes for Black students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities
For Black students who reported higher depressive symptoms in their teens, the study found that those who attended HBCUs reported fewer depressive symptoms seven years post-college compared to those who attended PWIs
How Is Your Heart Health?
For American Heart Month this February, Professor David Jacobs provides expert comment on how Minnesotans could be more aware of risk factors and take other steps to improve their cardiovascular health.
Researchers find 2.8% of pregnancies were exposed to opioids
New study of opioid use among pregnant people finds that 2.8% of pregnancies were exposed to opioids. Lead researcher Ruby Nguyen says “the findings of this study can be useful in future efforts to reduce opioid use during pregnancy and limit the negative consequences of fetal exposure to opioids.”
New study designed to improve the care of sexual and gender minority (SGM) older adults and support training of dementia-care workforce
“The study will involve the first evidence-based training for the care of SGM older adults with AD/ADRD, and the first randomized control study on this subject,” said Tetyana Shippee.
Minor kidney function decline in young adulthood may be detrimental to kidney and cardiovascular health in later life
“These findings add to increasing evidence that maintaining healthy kidney function throughout one’s life is important for cardiovascular health and healthy life expectancy,” said lead study author Yuni Choi, a postdoctoral researcher at SPH.
Five SPH students earn University’s student leadership awards
School of Public Health students Cory Anderson, Delaine Anderson, Alexandria Kristensen-Cabrera, Emily McGuire, and Sarah Samorodnitsky have each been awarded the President’s Student Leadership & Service Award from the University of Minnesota.
Adolescent use of muscle-building supplements linked to later steroid use and other issues
The study co-authored by Professor Dianne Neumark-Sztainer found that young people who used protein supplements were also two to five times more likely to use steroids.
The University of Minnesota honors Ruby Nguyen
The University of Minnesota has given Associate Professor Ruby Nguyen the 2022 Horace T. Morse-University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education.
