National study examines ways federal policy can impact childhood, adolescent obesity

A tax on sugar-sweetened beverages such as sodas, energy drinks, sweet teas and sports drinks could reduce obesity in adolescents, and exercise promotion such as after-school physical activity programs could impact younger children in the fight against fat. Those are the findings of a new national study co-authord by Ross Brownson, PhD, professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Open Streets initiatives benefit physical, social health of communities

Open Streets initiatives temporarily close streets to automobile traffic, so that people may use them for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing and socializing. Although the movement is gaining popularity in the United States — more than 100 different cities have hosted Open Streets events since 2008 — little is known about planning and implementing them. Brown School researchers Amy Eyler, PhD, and J. Aaron Hipp, PhD, explore the development and implementation of Open Streets initiatives and make recommendations for increasing the capacity of organizers to enhance their success.

Need for authenticity drives gender transitions in later life

As we age, all of us begin to think about what makes us tick and what kind of legacy we want to leave. For some, this manifests itself in the purchase of a motorcycle, a boat or an exotic vacation. But for others, the issues of age and transition are a bit more contemplative. Vanessa Fabbre, PhD, assistant professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, considers these issues in her paper “Gender Transitions in Later Life: The Significance of Time in Queer Aging,” recently published in the 2014 issue of the Journal of Gerontological Social Work.

Toward a theory of child well-being

Can a comprehensive picture of child well-being be established? And how can a deeper understanding of the nature of well-being help further its measurement? A new paper, co-authored by Ramesh Raghavan, MD, PhD, associate professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, attempts to tackle those questions.

Purnell honored by Urban League

Jason Q. Purnell, PhD, assistant professor at the Brown School, was a recipient of the Urban League Young Professionals of Metropolitan St. Louis’ 2014 Distinguished Young Professionals Award, in the area of Healthy and Quality of Life Empowerment.

Social work, public health students get firsthand global health experience in Haiti this summer

This summer, 14 students — seven from the Master of Public Health program, five from the Master of Social Work program and two dual-degree students — joined Lora Iannotti, PhD, on a trip to Haiti. The goal: Give students firsthand experience in issues related to global health, including: health policy, epidemiology, biostatistics and program planning.

#feeling sick: Can Twitter help better identify foodborne illness cases?

An estimated 55 million to 105 million people in the United States suffer from foodborne illnesses each year, resulting in costs of $2-$4 billion annually. What if Twitter could be used to track those cases and more quickly identify the source of the problem? A new analysis by a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis Brown School shows that new technology might better allow health departments to engage with the public to improve foodborne illness surveillance.
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