Here are the top health headlines from the week.
YORK, Pa. —
Mediterranean diet reduces diabetes risk by 31%
A new study suggests the Mediterranean diet can reduce a person’s diabetes risk when following a particular version of it.
The study by Spanish researchers shows that eating a low-calorie, “energy-reduced” version of the Mediterranean diet that’s full of fruits, whole grains and extra virgin olive oil and goes light on the meat can slash type 2 diabetes risk by about a third. This version has 30% fewer calories and only limits meat, ultra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages and substitutes levels of nuts and extra virgin olive oil.
AAP recommends annual mental health screenings for children
A new report suggests pediatricians should screen children for mental health or development issues every year.
The American Academy of Pediatrics found that up to one in five children in the United States, including kids as young as two, are living with a mental or behavioral problems. They include depression, anxiety, ADHD or suicidal thoughts.
Data also found that in 2020, suicide became the second-leading cause of death among kids ages 10 to 14. Health experts with the AAP say pediatricians hold the power to catch these concerns early with annual screenings, and that they should start at just 6 months old.
First human case of new world screwworm in United States
Health officials are confirming the first human case of “New World Screwworm” in the United States.
The parasitic fly lays its eggs in the tissue of living animals, primarily livestock like cattle. This week, however, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the first human case in the United States. The person in Maryland had traveled to El Salvador, where there’s an ongoing outbreak. The maggots can cause serious damage and can kill those infected.
The Maryland Health Department said the patient has since recovered.
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