Latest news with #HarvardChanSchool
The Independent
5 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Your baby's sex at birth isn't a coin toss and can be influenced by these factors, new study claims
Gender reveals have become increasingly popular with families anxiously waiting to see if their newest addition will be born a boy or a girl. But despite popular belief, it's not a coin toss, according to a new study. A study published in the Science Advance journal Friday found families have a 'unique probability' when it comes to whether they will have a boy or a girl and there are certain factors influencing the odds. Researchers analyzed just over 58,000 women with two or more singleton births from 1956 to 2015, finding mothers with three or more kids were more likely to have children of the same sex. Rather than a 50-50 chance of having either a boy or a girl, families with three girls had a 58 percent chance of having another girl, and families with three boys had a 61 percent chance of having another boy. So why does this happen? Researchers point to the mother's age when she gives birth and genetics. Women who started having kids after the age of 28 were slightly more likely to have children of the same sex. The study also identified two genes associated with giving birth to only boys or only girls. Jorge Chavarro, the senior author of the study and a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told The Washington Post, 'We don't know why these genes would be associated with sex at birth, but they are, and that opens up new questions.' There are some limitations to the study including that there was no data on fathers. Additionally, an expert outside of the study warned about the study's genetic analysis. Iain Mathieson, a professor of genetics at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, told the Post the analysis was based on a relatively small sample and could be influenced by other factors. Researchers in the study concluded more research was needed to study the extent to which the factors mentioned explain why some families are more likely to have children of the same sex. 'Until then, families desiring offspring of more than one sex who have already had two or three children of the same sex should be aware that when trying for their next one, they are probably doing a coin toss with a two-headed coin,' the authors wrote.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
As federal funding cuts hit Harvard, a private investment firm and other donors step up
At a time when Harvard University is experiencing deep cuts to its federal funding and looking for alternative avenues for money, Turkish investment firm, İş Private Equity, committed $39 million over 10 years to support a Harvard faculty member's lab, according to the university. The investment, through the private equity firm's biotech startup, is aimed at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health faculty member Gökhan Hotamışlıgil's work, aiming to create potential therapies for obesity and other metabolic diseases. Read more: Federal judge delays decision over Trump admin barring Harvard foreign students The privately sourced funding could be a highly pursued avenue for the institution, as the federal government strips nearly $3 billion of its federal dollars and additional contracts in the name of addressing antisemitism. 'Harvard Chan School has long welcomed industry collaborations and research sponsorship, with strong guardrails to prevent conflicts of interest,' Andrea Baccarelli, Dean of the Faculty at Harvard Chan School, wrote in a letter to the community last week. Initial funding of Hotamışlıgil's more than 20 years of work came from the National Institutes of Health. It helped uncover new insights about the metabolic system and identified a protein that plays a critical role in obesity and age-related disorders, according to the university. The lab didn't have any current federal grants canceled at the time of the investment firm's announcement, a university spokesperson said. Harvard has also been dealing with a wave of federal research grant terminations and was barred from acquiring new federal grants. While a federal judge on Monday ordered that the Trump administration restore 367 National Institutes of Health grants, it doesn't apply to a broad swath of grants, including the large numbers at Harvard. The Harvard Chan School announced in April that it was facing a 'significant budget crisis' resulting in layoffs and the non-renewal of two building leases. Since then, every one of the school's direct federal grants have been terminated and the school has even taken to social media to ask for donations. Federal funding makes up 46% of Harvard Chan School's budget. At the same time as the investment firm is putting money into Harvard, others have been pitching in as well. Donors have contributed more than $3.5 million in recent weeks and alumni and members of the public have raised $350,000 for Harvard Chan School, according to a letter from Dean Baccarelli. 'Each contribution is a vote of confidence in our mission, our people and our future,' she said. The school also created a new Dean's Leadership Fund for existing donors to support. 'Harvard Chan School will emerge from this crisis a focused, resilient and unambiguously world-class school of public health, dedicated to excellence and impact and strengthened by surprising, solutions-focused partnerships," she wrote. 20 NIH grants restored to UMass system after judge rules against Trump admin Trump admin asks court to rule against Harvard without a trial Federal judge orders Trump admin to reinstate hundreds of NIH grants Federal judge delays decision over Trump admin barring Harvard foreign students Harvard's Monday court date will be important for international students. Here's why Read the original article on MassLive. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Bathroom scales not showing any change? Stop before you call your weight loss a failure
Weight loss isn't just about seeing smaller numbers on the scale. Despite popular trends on the internet that equate success with a shrinking figure or smaller clothing sizes, true weight loss encompasses much more; improved health, increased strength, and overall well-being. Also read | Woman who lost 55 kg without dieting reveals what she eats in a day to maintain the weight: 'I finally began to heal' According to a recent study led by Anat Yaskolka Meir, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 761 people across three major studies were followed to understand the effects of weight loss on the body. The study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, followed the participants for a span of 18 to 24 months and analysed results intensive lifestyle programmes. It was observed that even when the participants were not dropping kilos off their bodies, they were making serious advancements in other health factors, such as protection from heart disease, diabetes, and other life-threatening conditions. The study was conducted on participants with an average age of 50 years, and their body mass indexes were followed through structured programs, including Mediterranean diets, low-carb plans, and exercise routines. It was observed that healthy habits pay off more than we can see, or the bathroom scale can show. More than dropping body weight swiftly, following a healthy diet and a structured workout routine targeting weight loss can reap other health benefits. Lead author Anat Yaskolka Meir from Harvard Chan School, in a statement said, 'We have been conditioned to equate weight loss with health, and weight loss-resistant individuals are often labeled as failures. Our findings reframe how we define clinical success. People who do not lose weight can improve their metabolism and reduce their long-term risk for disease. That's a message of hope, not failure.' Also read | Woman who lost 30 kg without hitting gym shares 5 daily habits that worked for her: Detox water to eliminating maida The Internet has us believing that unless we fit into smaller clothes or watch drastic changes on the bathroom scale, our weight loss journeys are failures. However, the study throws light on how structured routines and healthy eating habits can influence overall wellbeing. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Healthy eating in middle age has this key longevity benefit
Adopting healthy eating habits during middle age boosts the likelihood of healthy aging. That's according to a new study from the Harvard T.C. Chan School of Public Health, which found that a "moderate intake of healthy, animal-based foods" and a "lower intake of ultraprocessed foods" could increase the chances of reaching age 70 with good "cognitive, physical and mental health" and no major diseases. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Montreal also contributed to the study, which was published in the journal Nature Medicine. Diabetes Risk Lowered By Eating One Surprisingly Sweet Food, Study Suggests "Studies have previously investigated dietary patterns in the context of specific diseases or how long people live. Ours takes a multifaceted view, asking, how does diet impact people's ability to live independently and enjoy a good quality of life as they age?" said co-corresponding author Frank Hu, Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology and chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard Chan School, in a Harvard press release. The researchers analyzed diet and health data for more than 105,000 women and men aged 39 to 69 over a 30-year period, drawn from the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Read On The Fox News App Based on the participants' self-reported diets, they were given scores for eight different healthy eating plans based on their intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts and legumes, as well as some healthy animal-based foods, including fish and certain dairy products, the release stated. Federal Dietary Guidelines Will Soon Change For Americans, Hhs And Usda Announce They also investigated the participants' consumption of ultraprocessed foods containing added sugars, sodium and unhealthy fats. The diet with the most benefits for healthy aging was the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), the researchers found, which was linked to an 86% greater likelihood of healthy aging at 70 years old. This diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes and healthy fats, with limited amounts of red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, sodium and refined grains, the release stated. Participants who ate more processed foods had less likelihood of healthy aging, with processed meat and sugary or diet beverages named as the biggest culprits. "Our findings suggest that dietary patterns rich in plant-based foods, with moderate inclusion of healthy, animal-based foods, may promote overall healthy aging and help shape future dietary guidelines," said co-corresponding author Marta Guasch-Ferré, associate professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Copenhagen and adjunct associate professor of nutrition at Harvard Chan School, in the release. "Our findings also show that there is no one-size-fits-all diet. Healthy diets can be adapted to fit individual needs and preferences," added lead author Anne-Julie Tessier, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Montreal and researcher at the Montreal Heart Institute. Sherry Coleman Collins, a food allergy dietitian and expert from the Atlanta metropolitan area, was not involved in the study but reviewed the findings. "This data helps emphasize the importance of how we eat throughout life, in particular at midlife, on our ability to remain healthy and strong into our golden years," she told Fox News Digital. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "Since the majority of healthcare dollars are spent at the end of our life, this has huge implications on the potential to save money on costly interventions, as well as improving quality of life throughout the lifespan." Most of the beneficial diets in the study were primarily plant-based, Collins noted. "They aren't all vegetarian or vegan, but they all include an eating pattern made up of primarily fruits, vegetables, whole grains, foods high in unsaturated fats, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds." She agreed, however, that there is no one-size-fits-all diet, and that people can be healthy by eating many different types of diets. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "The most health-promoting diets all exclude or only include small amounts of high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, ultraprocessed foods," she said. The study did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged — chiefly that it was limited to only health professionals. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings with more diverse populations, they said. The Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study were supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For more Health articles, visit Other support was received from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the release stated. Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for article source: Healthy eating in middle age has this key longevity benefit
Fox News
30-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Healthy eating in middle age has this key longevity benefit
Adopting healthy eating habits during middle age boosts the likelihood of healthy aging. That's according to a new study from the Harvard T.C. Chan School of Public Health, which found that a "moderate intake of healthy, animal-based foods" and a "lower intake of ultraprocessed foods" could increase the chances of reaching age 70 with good "cognitive, physical and mental health" and no major diseases. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Montreal also contributed to the study, which was published in the journal Nature Medicine. "Studies have previously investigated dietary patterns in the context of specific diseases or how long people live. Ours takes a multifaceted view, asking, how does diet impact people's ability to live independently and enjoy a good quality of life as they age?" said co-corresponding author Frank Hu, Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology and chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard Chan School, in a Harvard press release. The researchers analyzed diet and health data for more than 105,000 women and men aged 39 to 69 over a 30-year period, drawn from the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Based on the participants' self-reported diets, they were given scores for eight different healthy eating plans based on their intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts and legumes, as well as some healthy animal-based foods, including fish and certain dairy products, the release stated. They also investigated the participants' consumption of ultraprocessed foods containing added sugars, sodium and unhealthy fats. The diet with the most benefits for healthy aging was the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), the researchers found, which was linked to an 86% greater likelihood of healthy aging at 70 years old. This diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes and healthy fats, with limited amounts of red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, sodium and refined grains, the release stated. Participants who ate more processed foods had less likelihood of healthy aging, with processed meat and sugary or diet beverages named as the biggest culprits. "There is no one-size-fits-all diet. Healthy diets can be adapted to fit individual needs and preferences." "Our findings suggest that dietary patterns rich in plant-based foods, with moderate inclusion of healthy, animal-based foods, may promote overall healthy aging and help shape future dietary guidelines," said co-corresponding author Marta Guasch-Ferré, associate professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Copenhagen and adjunct associate professor of nutrition at Harvard Chan School, in the release. "Our findings also show that there is no one-size-fits-all diet. Healthy diets can be adapted to fit individual needs and preferences," added lead author Anne-Julie Tessier, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Montreal and researcher at the Montreal Heart Institute. Sherry Coleman Collins, a food allergy dietitian and expert from the Atlanta metropolitan area, was not involved in the study but reviewed the findings. "This data helps emphasize the importance of how we eat throughout life, in particular at midlife, on our ability to remain healthy and strong into our golden years," she told Fox News Digital. "Since the majority of healthcare dollars are spent at the end of our life, this has huge implications on the potential to save money on costly interventions, as well as improving quality of life throughout the lifespan." Most of the beneficial diets in the study were primarily plant-based, Collins noted. "They aren't all vegetarian or vegan, but they all include an eating pattern made up of primarily fruits, vegetables, whole grains, foods high in unsaturated fats, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds." She agreed, however, that there is no one-size-fits-all diet, and that people can be healthy by eating many different types of diets. "The most health-promoting diets all exclude or only include small amounts of high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, ultraprocessed foods," she said. The study did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged — chiefly that it was limited to only health professionals. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings with more diverse populations, they said. The Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study were supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For more Health articles, visit Other support was received from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the release stated. Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.
