Obesity linked to higher risk of stillbirt
Obesity increases the risk of stillbirth as pregnancy progresses to full-term, according to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (March). Researchers of Dalhousie University analysed data from the Better Outcomes Registry and Network on 681,178 singleton births, 1,956 of which were stillbirths, in Ontario between 2012 and 2018. After adjusting for other stillbirth risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure, they found that pregnant women with class I obesity had double the risk of stillbirth at 39 weeks gestation compared to those with normal BMI (body mass index).
“Pregnant women with obesity, especially those with additional risk factors, may benefit from timely referral and greater surveillance closer to term. The presence of additional risk factors may warrant earlier delivery,” says Dr. Naila Ramji, lead author and assistant professor, Dalhousie University.
Combination of pollutants inducing asthma in children
Exposure to several combinations of toxic atmospheric pollutants is likely to trigger asthma symptoms in children, says a study published in Science of the Total Environment (March). Researchers of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University (WSU) found that 25 different combinations of air pollutants were associated with asthma symptoms among 269 elementary school children diagnosed with asthma in Spokane, Washington. In line with previous research, the study revealed that children from lower-income neighbourhoods were exposed to more toxic combinations.
“It’s not just one pollutant that can be linked to asthma outcomes. This study examined the variety and combinations of air pollutants that may be associated with asthma symptoms,” says lead author Solmaz Amiri. While other studies have focused on a limited number of pollutants, Amiri and her colleagues used the data-crunching power of machine learning techniques to analyze the exposure effects of 109 air pollutants and their combinations on asthma outcomes. The researchers examined data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency on toxic pollutants present in neighbourhoods surrounding ten Spokane elementary schools.
Venting is not an effective way of dealing with rage
Venting might feel good in the moment, but it is least effective in reducing rage, reveals new research published in Clinical Psychology Review (March 11). Researchers led by first author Sophie Kjærvik, a doctoral scholar at Ohio State University, analyzed over 150 studies involving over 10,000 participants and found that what really works to reduce anger is lowering physiological arousal i.e, turning down the heat. Activities that increased arousal overall had no effect on anger, and some activities made it worse — particularly jogging.
Kjærvik, now a postdoctoral fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University, says the study was inspired in part by the rising popularity of rage rooms that promote smashing things (such as glass, plates and electronics) to manage anger. “I wanted to debunk the whole theory of expressing anger as a way of coping with it. We wanted to show that reducing arousal, and actually the physiological aspect of it, is really important,” says Kjærvik.
School uniforms are deterring students from exercising
School uniform policies could be restricting children from being physically active, particularly primary school girls, says a study of the University of Cambridge. The study analysed data pertaining to the physical activity participation of over a million five-to-17-year-olds worldwide. It found that in countries where a majority of schools require students to wear uniforms, fewer young people met the 60 minutes of physical activity per day recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Regardless of uniform policies in most countries, fewer girls than boys met WHO recommended exercise hours. There is already evidence that girls feel less comfortable in participating in active play if they are wearing skirts or dresses.
“Schools often prefer to mandate uniforms for various reasons. We are not trying to suggest a blanket ban on them, but to present new evidence to support decision-making. School communities could consider design, and whether specific characteristics of a uniform might either encourage or restrict opportunities for physical activity across the day,” says Dr. Mairead Ryan, researcher at the faculty of education and MRC epidemiology unit at Cambridge University.
