Julia D'Ambrosio, MPH

​Families with school aged children are probably familiar with the hecticness that accompanies a morning before school: waking up early, getting the kids showered and dressed, zipping up book reports and last night’s homework into backpacks, and squeezing in 10 minutes for breakfast before racing out the door to catch the bus. Thankfully, preparing breakfast and lunch are two tasks that parents no longer have to worry about each morning. With universal school meals, every child who wants or needs a school lunch or breakfast can receive those meals at no cost to their family. 

​Watching this past summer’s Olympics, one of my favorite breakout stars was Team USA Rugby player Ilona Maher. Maher has gained attention for promoting body positivity for young girls; she often talks about how her Body Mass Index (BMI) has always qualified her as overweight. While she was insecure about her larger size as a child, she now emphasizes her size allowed her to have the strength and athleticism to become a champion rugby player. As a mom with two young kids, Maher’s comments about BMI and childhood body image made me think about how frequently I see BMI numbers for my kids and how little I understand about what they mean, which led me to explore the topic.  

                                                                                                     Matthew Johnson, M.D. 

​Right now, there’s a good chance you have a cup of coffee in your hand or within an arm’s reach. Whether you use it to transform from a zombie to a functioning human being in the morning, to provide an afternoon pick-me-up, or to give you an energy boost before you hit the gym, many of us love coffee and drink it regularly. But is coffee good for you?

                                                                                                                     Joshua Petimar, ScD

If you’ve ever taken prescription medication, you know side effects can be a major concern. When listening to any pharmaceutical ad, you’ll hear a long list of potential side effects, from mild symptoms like upset stomach to serious issues like increased risk of infections and cancer. Side effects can introduce new health problems and cause people to stop treatment for their initial health issue. 

Peter Rentzepis, BA 

​We’re living in GLP-1’s world now. Across the country – from TV to social media to doctor’s offices – the clamor for these new weight loss drugs is deafening, and for good reason. In the seminal STEP trials for semaglutide (brand name: Ozempic/Wegovy) and SURMOUNT trials for combined GLP-1/GIP agonist Tirzepatide (brand name: Mounjaro/Zepbound), the highest doses conferred average weight loss of ~10%-20% for up to two years in those with obesity.