Sleep and Health- Essential Bedfellows
Many of us know what a bad night's sleep feels like- we may go for that extra cup of coffee during the day, we may feel lower energy levels,…
Dog Ownership is Good for You!
Several friends speak the importance of pets for their health. They offer comfort in stressful times, add much-needed humor to their day, and for dog owners, they get them…
Intersectional Thinking Necessary to Address Obesity
This week's headlines are dominated by a series of new papers that address red meat consumption and health. I am not going to discuss those papers in this blog post.…
Social Media Use and Mental Health in Adolescents
Latest reports indicate that smartphones are now in the hands of 81% of Americans and 97% of adolescents use social media daily. Phone use has become a signal and…
More Opportunities to Leverage Digital Phenotypes- Some Cautions
In last week's blog post, I wrote about the value of being able to make personalized care recommendations based on the evidence base. The challenge of Randomized Control Trials…
Beyond Blood- The New Era of Digital Biomarkers
With the Theranos scandal now fading into Silicon Valley lore, the reality of digital biomarkers and the data derived from devices is teeming with information, opportunity and the need for…
Behavior Change and Mechanisms of Action- How are they Related?
Whether healthcare interventions are conducted in an in-person setting or via an app, developing a deeper understanding of what works for whom is imperative. What makes some interventions successful…
Digital Health Apps- How do consumers decide what good is?
The space under the digital health umbrella resembles a crowded beach In the Summertime - apps for behavioral health, obesity, and diabetes dominate the early-to-market solutions. On the app…
Nature is Healing…How Much Do We Need?
A large body of literature points to the healing powers of spending time in nature; positively impacting obesity, cardiovascular disease, mental health, and asthma. Recent work in the NHS…
Sleep- an Elixer to Combat Obesity?
Evidence shows the importance of getting a good night's sleep- 7 hours seems to be the magic number; more or less is associated with negative implications for blood pressure,…