We all have some memory of this time. Fourth down, it’s the last play to win the daily recess Nerf football championship. You run to the corner of the parking lot end zone and catch the winning touchdown right before the teacher calls you in. The instant rush of becoming a classroom hero consumes you—even if only until the bell rings. Physical education class and recess are among the most physically and socially formative times in a young life. Those moments will have to take new shape this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and schools moving to online learning. Furthermore, we must prioritize supporting daily physical activity for students amid the uncertainty of this time.
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We all want a “magic bullet” that will remove or mitigate the threat of COVID-19, particularly one that is inexpensive, widely available, and well-tolerated. While we wait hopefully for a vaccine, various alternatives have been proposed, some with scientific basis and some without. One of the more scientifically sound ideas suggests that vitamin D may help protect people from COVID-19 infection and/or severe illness following infection. It is certainly refreshing to see something positive among today’s seemingly endless stream of depressing news headlines, which may explain why various media outlets have seized on this theory. Bold headlines have made proclamations such as “Vitamin D Can Help Reduce COVID-19 Risks” and “Study Finds Vitamin D Reduces COVID-19 Risk”. But is the enthusiasm supported by science?
Before starting a new medication, patients and their providers must weigh their options: how do the benefits of treatment compare to the drug’s potential side effects? For chronic medications, patients will receive treatment for the foreseeable future, so the potential risk of medication-induced weight gain can play an important factor in treatment decision making. When evaluating the side effects of chronic medications, how well can we tease apart a real risk from a perceived risk?
As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on our health and economy, it should come as no surprise that food security is another casualty of this pandemic for many U.S. residents. More than 20% of U.S. households reported being food insecure in April 2020, which is defined as not having sufficient access to food due to a lack of resources. By comparison, in 2018 11% of U.S. households were food insecure at some point, suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on the ability of U.S. residents to feed themselves and their families. The numbers are even more dire for households with children aged 12 and under, 40% of which report some level of food insecurity in the wake of COVID-19. This is especially troubling because food insecurity has lasting long-term health implications for children, including higher prevalence of obesity and emotional, behavioral, and academic problems.
Fitness and health influencers around the globe have promoted coconut oil as a superfood, and a quick internet search reveals numerous lists of alleged benefits, ranging from seizure prevention to weight loss. One of the claims that seems to top almost every list of purported benefits is that coconut oil has a positive effect on heart health. But is an oil higher in saturated fat than butter really heart healthy? Should we all be replacing olive oil, butter, or other vegetable oils with coconut oil for to help our hearts?
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