Liji Thomas

1 day ago | news-medical.net | Liji Thomas |Benedette Cuffari

Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc.New research reveals that excess abdominal fat, as measured by LAP, is a strong, non-linear predictor of reduced bone density in U.S. adults, especially in the spine, underscoring the hidden risks obesity poses to skeletal health. Study: The association between lipid accumulation products and bone mineral density in U.S. Adults, a nationally representative cross-sectional study.

1 day ago | news-medical.net | Liji Thomas

Even when restaurants want to serve healthier food to kids, hurdles like picky eaters, food waste, and profit margins can get in the way. This study reveals the tensions and the opportunities for healthier family dining. Study: Restaurants Offering Healthier Kids’ Menus: A Mixed-Methods Study. Image Credit: Irina WS / ShutterstockChildren are more likely to develop healthy food habits if they have a good food environment. Restaurants, however, typically provide unhealthy kids’ menus.

4 days ago | news-medical.net | Liji Thomas

New modeling reveals that high-emitting gas stoves can silently spread benzene throughout the entire home, raising cancer risk well beyond the kitchen, especially in small or unventilated dwellings. Study: Exposure and health risks of benzene from combustion by gas stoves: A modelling approach in U.S. homes. Image Credit: goodbishop / ShutterstockGas stoves in the US burn propane or natural gas, producing nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and benzene among the byproducts.

6 days ago | news-medical.net | Liji Thomas

A large Finnish study found that avocado consumption during pregnancy was linked to a 44% lower risk of food allergies in babies at one year, independent of other health and lifestyle factors. Study: Avocado consumption during pregnancy linked to lower child food allergy risk: prospective KuBiCo study. Image Credit: Cristina Indrie / ShutterstockThe mother’s diet and other lifestyle factors in pregnancy affect the developing baby.

1 week ago | news-medical.net | Liji Thomas

Children exposed to traffic-related air pollution show seasonal changes in their nasal bacteria, with winter pollution driving a shift toward less diverse, and potentially more harmful, microbial communities. Study: Short-term personal exposure to multiple air pollutants affects nasal microbiota in school-age children. Image Credit: khunkornStudio / ShutterstockRespiratory diseases are common in school-age children and are worsened by air pollution.