Author: Melissa Patrick
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Kentucky ranks fifth in obesity and its high-schoolers rank first
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Obesity and health problems go hand in hand, and Kentuckians are known for both. Kentucky now has the fifth highest adult obesity rate in...
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Kids Count report says hard times in early childhood are more likely in Ky. than rest of U.S.; bad times have long-term effects
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News One of every five children in Kentucky, by the time they are 5 years old, has experienced two or more adverse childhood experiences such...
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Study shows tailored advocacy for local smoking bans in rural Kentucky gets results
Local smoking bans are only possible if the community is ready for this change, Ellen Hahn, director of the Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy, writes in a report of a...
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Study shows students, especially those with ADHD, have improved academic performance after they exercise
Children do better in school when they aren’t forced to sit still all day, especially those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Gretchen Reynolds reports in The New York Times. Recent...
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Survey finds 1 in 7 Kentuckians over 44 say they have worsening confusion or memory loss; few say they get needed help
Worsening memory loss reported by Kentuckians in a survey could be indicative of a future Alzheimer’s or dementia public health crisis, according to a press release from the Alzheimer’s Association....
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Beshear bans use of tobacco products and e-cigarettes on or near buildings and property the state owns or leases
Gov. Steve Beshear issued an executive order Sept, 4 that soon ban all tobacco products and e-cigarettes from more than 26.4 million square feet of executive branch buildings and grounds...
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UK cancer-center director urges lawmakers to raise cigarette tax and pass a statewide smoking ban to reduce cancer deaths
The Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky supports a statewide smoking ban and an increase in the state cigarette tax to significantly reduce cancer deaths in the state, the...
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School fundraisers that involve food must meet the new federal nutrition guidelines; state hasn’t sought an exemption
Fundraising with foods that don’t meet schools’ new federal nutrition guidelines will not be allowed during the school day in Kentucky, Valarie Honeycutt Spears reports for the Lexington Herald-Leader. One...
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UK-EKU center gets $5 million to address occupational health and safety issues in Central Appalachia and Kentucky
A center based in the University of Kentucky College of Public Health has received a five-year, $5 million grant to advance occupational health and safety in Central Appalachia and Kentucky,...
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KET series to explore how chemistry, technology, fast food, “supersizing,” marketing, and lobbying have made us fat
KET will air a three-part series, “Men Who Made Us Fat,” in which Jacques Peretti blames American obesity on high-fructose corn syrup, fast food, “supersizing,” marketing, and lobbying. In the first episode...