News (External)

Family and Child Health Expertise Joins UTHealth Houston School of Public Health and the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living

Faculty, staff, and research initiatives, formerly from The UT System Population Health team, join UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin and the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living to expand maternal and child health expertise.

Blog

8 tips for staying safe on the road 

Texas traffic fatality data from 2022 shows September recorded the most motor-vehicle deaths1. Pedestrians and motorists can both take action to make roads safer. Here are 8 tips to help people on the go — in Texas and beyond —arrive safely.

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The Best Foods for Gut Health

If you’ve ever felt bloated and unwell after a greasy dinner, you know that what you eat can have a direct impact on how your food digests—and on how you feel. Dolores Woods, RDN, spoke with Health Central about the best foods for a healthy gut. 

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National Hispanic Heritage Month 2023

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month over the next several weeks, we hope you will join us in learning more about the Center’s work in the Hispanic community and the many ways you can support and benefit from the richness of Hispanic culture and heritage.

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Dove Springs Residents Stranded on Heat Island

The urban heat island effect means higher temperatures in places with less greenery. Dr. Kevin Lanza spoke with Austin PBS on the impact of heat on lower income communities and those living in older homes in Austin.

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This summer’s extreme heat could keep impacting Houstonians long into the winter

Kevin Lanza, PhD, spoke with Houston Landing about his new study that found that heat has a wide-ranging effect on vulnerable populations that could have repercussions for months to years – even when temperatures drop back down.

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“It’s like a sweatbox:” Houston bus stops reach dangerous temperatures this summer

Houston Public Media conducted an investigation looking into the impact of extreme heat on METRO riders in Houston and whether enough is being done to keep riders out of harm’s way. Kevin Lanza, PhD, provided guidance on Houston Public Media's methodology.

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Ascension seton contra el hambre

El Mundo highlighted Food is the Best Medicine, a new program at Ascension Seton Medical Center that aims to help alleviate food insecurity, improve health outcomes, and promote equitable food access. The program is in partnership with The Cook's Nook, Farmshare Austin, and Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living.

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Are heat days the new snow days? Schools are canceling class as temperatures soar

An intense, late-summer heat wave is putting pressure on schools, students and the education system this week as temperatures climbed into the triple digits in parts of the Northeast and Midwest — record-breaking highs for early September in some places. Kevin Lanza, PhD, spoke to CNN about the need for schools to prepare for extreme weather on both ends of the spectrum,

News (External)

Good or bad? What to know about your palm oil

FOX 26 interviewed Dolores Woods, MA, RDN, LD, about the health effect of palm oil. She also spoke on whether olive oil could be a healthier alternative, considering palm oil's high saturated fat content and its connection to heart disease.

News (External)

The Truth About Keto Diet Pills: Do They Really Work?

Chances are you’ve heard about – or possibly even tried – the keto diet, a low-carb, high-fat approach to weight loss that is widely popular but not the easiest or most sustainable diet to follow. U.S. World & News Report interviewed Diana Guevara, MPH, RDN, about keto diet pills and if they really work.

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Meet our Newest Center Faculty Member, Dr. Chris Pfledderer!

Dr. Pfledderer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin and a faculty member at the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living. His expertise relates to school-based physical activity promotion, optimization of childhood obesity-related interventions, and rural health promotion.

News (External)

13 Investigates: Couple 'miserable' as heat index reaches 109 inside their home

Kevin Lanza, PhD, spoke with ABC 13 about the impact of extreme heat in low-income communities.

Blog

August Healthy Summer Challenge

This summer, the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living challenges you and your kids to build healthy habits while school is out! See our last challenge of the year.

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July Healthy Summer Challenge

This summer, the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living challenges you and your kids to build healthy habits while school is out!

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June Healthy Summer Challenge 2023

School is out, and summer is here! Summer is a great time for kids to develop healthy habits for life. With all of the extra time, they can learn to cook their favorite dishes, explore different vegetables, and create a balanced eating pattern that will fuel them through their summer activities and beyond! Each month this summer, the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living is advocating for creating healthier habits with our Healthy Summer Challenge calendars.

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National Women's Health Week with Anna Wilkinson, PhD

UTHealth Houston School of Public Health Austin Campus professor Dr. Anna Wilkson’s research focuses on the primary prevention of tobacco and alcohol use as well as obesity prevention and the promotion of physical activity among youth and young adults.

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Kelly Bloodworth, Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Last month, the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin partnered with the CDC Science Ambassador Program to host a regional training workshop for public high school and middle school teachers in Central Texas. One of the CDC epidemiologists leading the training was UTHealth SPH graduate from the Austin Campus, Kelly Bloodworth. After the training, we had the opportunity to chat with Kelly to learn more about her experiences as a public health practitioner and the path that led her to her current work with the CDC.

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Interview with Marlene Schwartz, PhD

We are excited to welcome Dr. Marlene Schwartz as the 2023 Michael & Susan Dell Center Lectureship in Child Health Award Recipient on April 27, 2023. Dr. Schwartz’s research addresses how nutrition and wellness policies implemented in schools, food banks, and local communities can improve food security, nutrition quality, and health outcomes.

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Moving Toward Transportation Justice

Researchers from the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living recently published a case study on the City of Austin’s process of dividing and prioritizing $27.5 million dollars for Safe Routes to School (SRTS) improvements from the 2016 Mobility Bond. To the authors’ knowledge, this was the largest amount of money allocated to SRTS improvements within one municipality to date. Council members chose to split the money equally across city council districts, so that improvements could be implemented across the city; however, data show that there might have been a better way to distribute the funds to more adequately address areas with greater need.