Center for Healthy Living News
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Researchers Recommend Planting Trees to Increase Outdoor Play Among Kids
Published: April 21, 2023
Lead author Kevin Lanza, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology, human genetics, and environmental sciences at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, and his team partnered with three elementary schools and the Parks and Recreation Department in Austin, Texas, for the Green Schoolyards Project, a study looking at the impact of green features in schoolyards (trees, gardens, nature trails, etc.) on the physical activity of children.
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Expert Advice: Finding the Best Health Insurance
Published: April 18, 2023
How do I know whether an HMO, PPO or another type of plan is best for me? You may not be given a choice of all the types of health plans, depending on your health insurance company and where you live. Managed care plans have a lot of similarities, but if you have a choice, there are some general differences in the types, so you will need to decide on your priorities.
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Interview with Marlene Schwartz, PhD
Published: April 12, 2023
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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Expert Advice: Health Insurance Costs
Published: April 12, 2023
What are the most important factors affecting the cost of my health insurance? Many factors affect the cost of insurance, such as the cost of living in your area, the level of competition in the healthcare marketplace, claims in the health plan and the overall healthcare system, as well as factors specific to you and your health plan. For example, for individual insurance, the premium costs increase as you get older or if you are a smoker. Costs also vary by geographic location and, of course, depending on the type of plan you pick.
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Your Guide To The Best Anti-Aging Supplements
Published: April 04, 2023
Dolores Woods, RDN, was featured in a Forbes Health article about nutrition and recommended supplements to support a healthy aging diet.
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Tips to maintain a healthy diet and improve our physical condition (Spanish)
Published: April 04, 2023
Diana Guevara, MPH, talked to Univision Houston Channel 45 about how to create a balanced diet and the benefits of good nutrition.
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The importance of a good diet and creating healthy habits (Spanish)
Published: March 16, 2023
Diana Guevara, MPH, RD, appeared on Univision Houston Channel 45 to share the importance of a good diet and creating healthy habits. The story also appeared online. (Interview conducted in Spanish)
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Hoelscher appointed to serve on national committee to advise the development of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines
Published: January 29, 2023
The Committee will be tasked with reviewing the current body of science on key nutrition topics and developing a scientific report that includes its independent assessment of the evidence and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Food and Drug Administration as they develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (the Guidelines).
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Moving Toward Transportation Justice
Published: January 19, 2023
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.
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TX SPAN Data Explorer
Published: January 17, 2023
The population of Texas is a bellwether for the larger demographic shifts we have seen nationwide. Texas’ young, multicultural population can tell us a lot about the health status of children in both the state and the nation, especially since one of every 10 children in the U.S. lives in Texas. The Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (Texas SPAN) is a statewide serial cross-sectional surveillance study that measures the health status of school-aged children by collecting state-representative data about their diets, activity levels, and other related behaviors.
