Health

Cover detail of Blue Dreams, by Lauren Slater

Long-Term Effects Of Psychotropic Drugs Are 'Cloaked In Mystery'

5:18pm February 27, 2018

by Terry Gross

When it comes to antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs, author Lauren Slater says, "We don't really know what we're taking into our bodies." Her new book is Blue Dreams.

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For Rogers, farming is a calling and a way of life. He says continuing financial pressure is threatening the survival of dairy farmers and the landscape of New England.

As Milk Prices Decline, Worries About Dairy Farmer Suicides Rise

3:52pm February 27, 2018

by Tovia Smith

The nation's dairy farmers are facing their fourth year of depressed milk prices. The outlook is so bleak, it's increased worries about farmer suicides. One recent outreach effort drew criticism.

June Jo Lee's interest in food anthropology inspired her husband Philip Lee to create a publishing company that would bring books about good food to kids.

Children's Publishing House Takes Food Literacy Literally

2:48pm February 27, 2018

by Lela Nargi

Teaching kids how to eat healthfully and appreciate the cultural diversity of food begins with getting books about these themes into their hands, says Readers to Eaters' founding publisher.

Despite a push in recent years for healthier snacks and more exercise for U.S. kids, the prevalence of obesity is still too high, pediatricians say.

No Downturn In Obesity Among U.S. Kids, Report Finds

9:47pm February 26, 2018

by Rob Stein

The childhood obesity epidemic rages on in the United States, with a big surge among the youngest kids, according to the latest government data.

It's easy to mistake adolescent depression for something else, child psychiatrists say; the signs can include misbehavior, eating problems or sleep trouble.

Pediatricians Call For Universal Depression Screening For Teens

5:11pm February 26, 2018

by Allison Aubrey

The nation's leading group of pediatricians has updated its guidelines for tackling teen mental health issues. One recommendation: Annual depression screening for all adolescents 12 and older.

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Rice farmers in Madagascar pan for gold to supplement their income.

Lost Art Of Bending Over: How Other Cultures Spare Their Spines

12:54pm February 26, 2018

by Michaeleen Doucleff

No, we're not talking about squatting. We're talking about a way to bend over that has nearly disappeared in our culture. And it could be one reason why back pain is so common in the U.S.

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The USDA has been providing food aid in the form of canned, shelf-stable nonperishables to Native Americans for decades.

How Might Trump's Food Box Plan Affect Health? Native Americans Know All Too Well

6:24pm February 25, 2018

by Maria Godoy

For some, the USDA's plan to deliver SNAP benefits as canned, shelf-stable food is painfully familiar. The agency has long given this type of aid to tribes, with devastating health effects.

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Amira Adawe has a radio show, Beauty-Wellness Talk, which is a platform where the Somali community can talk openly about skin lightening without fear of being outed or stigmatized.

'You Have Dark Skin And You Are Beautiful': The Long Fight Against Skin Bleaching

5:29pm February 25, 2018

by Nancy Rosenbaum

Minnesota public health educator Amira Adawe wants women to stop using harmful skin bleaching products — but hers is not an easy fight.

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Djerbrani checks food donations from a French grocery store before driving it across town to a church, which will distribute it to poor families.

French Food Waste Law Changing How Grocery Stores Approach Excess Food

3:35pm February 25, 2018

by Eleanor Beardsley

Two years ago, France introduced a law to force supermarkets to donate unsold food to charities and food banks. Skeptics called it unworkable at the time, but there are signs the effort is succeeding.

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Health & Safety

The Call-In: All About The Flu

8:14am February 25, 2018

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro poses listener questions about the flu to Dr. William Schaffner, infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University, and takes a closer look at Tamiflu.