NCIOM President Michelle Ries and NC Child's Erica Palmer Smith on the 2025 Child Health Report Card
NCIOM President Michelle Ries and NC Child's Erica Palmer Smith (courtesy photos)
For nearly three decades, a pair of nonprofits – the North Carolina Institute of Medicine and NC Child – have released a biennial study known as the Child Health Report Card. The goal, as you might expect, is to provide legislators, public health officials, school administrators, parents and other nonprofit leaders with the latest information on the health and well-being of our state's kids.
This year – as in 2023 – the focus of the report is on the mental health struggles that plague so many children and the urgent need for better (and better funded) public responses. And recently, to learn more about this issue and several others detailed in the report, NC Newsline caught up with the leaders of the two organizations – Institute of Medicine President and CEO Michelle Ries and NC Child executive director, Erica Palmer Smith.
Listen to the full interview here with Institute of Medicine President and CEO Michelle Ries and NC Child executive director Erica Palmer Smith.
Click here to read the 2025 Child Health Report Card.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Medscape
4 days ago
- Medscape
Effects of BMI and Socioeconomic Status on GWG
Body mass index (BMI), socioeconomic position, and mental health were key determinants of unhealthy gestational weight gain (GWG) among UK women. METHODOLOGY: Researchers performed a secondary analysis of the Born in Bradford cohort to evaluate determinants of unhealthy GWG among UK women. They included 7769 singleton pregnancies and live, term births (≥ 37 to ≤ 42 weeks' gestation). Maternal weight was measured at the first antenatal appointment (median, 11 weeks), study recruitment (~26-28 weeks' gestation; height also recorded), and third trimester (median, 36 weeks); baseline BMI was assessed, and mental health was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire-28. GWG was categorised as less than the recommended weight gain (RWG), RWG, and more than the RWG on the basis of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2009 criteria for weekly average weight gain. TAKEAWAY: Only 22.4% of women achieved the recommended GWG; 20.3% gained less and 57.3% gained more than the recommended GWG. Compared with women with a healthy baseline BMI, women with underweight (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.78; P < .001), overweight (aOR, 1.37; P < .001), and obesity (aOR, 1.30; P = .014) had higher odds of gaining less weight than the RWG. < .001), overweight (aOR, 1.37; < .001), and obesity (aOR, 1.30; = .014) had higher odds of gaining less weight than the RWG. Women in the "benefits but coping" socioeconomic class (aOR, 1.42; P = .002) and those in the "most deprived" category (aOR, 1.37; P = .014) had higher odds of having GWG below the RWG. = .002) and those in the "most deprived" category (aOR, 1.37; = .014) had higher odds of having GWG below the RWG. Women with underweight had lower odds of experiencing GWG above the RWG (aOR, 0.58; P < .001), whereas those with overweight (aOR, 3.56) and obesity (OR, 5.86; P < .001 for both) had dramatically higher odds. Pregnancies with a high risk for psychiatric morbidity were linked to increased odds of having GWG above the RWG (aOR, 1.22; P = .003). IN PRACTICE: "Our results may help inform organisations on which groups of women are at greater risk of unhealthy weight gain during pregnancy, such as those with mental health issues, unhealthy baseline BMI, and/or facing economic deprivation," the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Petra A.T. Araujo, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, England. It was published online on May 23, 2025, in PLOS One . LIMITATIONS: Obtaining accurate GWG measurements posed challenges due to the varying timing of measurements and lack of universal pre-pregnancy weight data. The IOM-recommended criteria might not be optimal for non-US populations and do not initially account for ethnic differences. The study cohort lacked data on late third trimester weight, restricting the ability to assess the absolute GWG. DISCLOSURES: This study was supported by an Intermediate Research Fellowship from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. The authors declared having no competing interests.
Health Line
29-05-2025
- Health Line
What Is Choline? An Essential Nutrient With Many Benefits
Choline is a vital nutrient, but many people do not consume the recommended intake. Beef and chicken liver, salmon, and eggs are among the richest dietary sources of choline. Choline was only acknowledged as a required nutrient by the Institute of Medicine in 1998. Although your body makes some choline naturally, you need to get it from your diet to avoid a deficiency. Many people are not meeting the recommended intake for this nutrient. This article provides everything you need to know about choline, including what it is and why you need it. What is choline? Choline is an essential nutrient. This means it's required for normal bodily function and human health. Though your liver can make small amounts, you must obtain the majority through your diet. Choline is an organic, water-soluble compound. It is neither a vitamin nor a mineral. However, it is often grouped with the vitamin B complex due to its similarities. In fact, this nutrient affects a number of vital bodily functions. It impacts liver function, healthy brain development, muscle movement, your nervous system and metabolism. Therefore, adequate amounts are needed for optimal health. Serves many functions in your body Choline plays an important part in many processes in your body, including: Cell structure: It is needed to make fats that support the structural integrity of cell membranes. Cell messaging: It is involved in the production of compounds that act as cell messengers. Fat transport and metabolism: It is essential for making a substance required for removing cholesterol from your liver. Inadequate choline may result in fat and cholesterol buildup in your liver. DNA synthesis: Choline and other vitamins, such as B12 and folate, help with a process that's important for DNA synthesis. A healthy nervous system: This nutrient is required to make acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter. It's involved in memory, muscle movement, regulating heartbeat and other basic functions. How much do you need? Due to a lack of available evidence, a Reference Daily Allowance (RDA) for choline has not been determined. However, the Institute of Medicine has set a value for adequate intake (AI). This value is intended to be sufficient for most healthy people, helping them avoid negative consequences of deficiency, such as liver damage. Nevertheless, requirements differ according to age, gender, and genetic makeup. In addition, determining choline intake is difficult because its presence in various foods is relatively unknown. Here are the recommended AI values of choline for different age groups: 0–6 months: 125 mg per day 7–12 months: 150 mg per day 1–3 years: 200 mg per day 4–8 years: 250 mg per day 9–13 years: 375 mg per day 14–18 years: 400 mg per day for females and 550 mg per day for males Adult females: 425 mg per day Adult males: 550 mg per day People breastfeeding: 550 mg per day Pregnant people: 430 mg per day Deficiency is unhealthy but rare Choline deficiency can cause harm, especially for your liver. One small, older study in 57 adults found that 77% of men, 80% of postmenopausal women and 44% of premenopausal women developed fatty liver and/or muscle damage after going on a choline-deficient diet. Another older study noted that when postmenopausal women consumed a diet deficient in choline, 73% developed liver or muscle dysfunction. However, these symptoms disappeared once they began getting enough choline. Choline is especially important during pregnancy, as a low intake may raise the risk of neural tube defects in unborn babies. Another older study determined that a higher dietary intake around the time of conception was associated with a lower risk of neural tube defects. In addition, low choline intake may raise your risk of other pregnancy complications. These include preeclampsia, premature birth and low birth weight. Top dietary sources Choline can be obtained from a variety of foods and supplements. Food sources Dietary sources are generally in the form of phosphatidylcholine from lecithin, a type of fat-like molecule found in lecithin. The richest dietary sources of choline include: Food Portion Amount of choline contained (mg) Pan-fried beef liver 1 slice (3 ounces or 85 grams) 356 Hardboiled eggs 1 large egg 147 Lean braised beef top round 3 ounces or 85 grams 117 Roasted soybeans Half a cup 107 Roasted chicken breast 3 ounces or 85 grams 72 Cooked fresh cod 3 ounces or 85 grams 71 Baked red potatoes with skin 1 large potato 57 Canned kidney beans Half a cup 45 Additives and supplements Soy lecithin is a widely used food additive that contains choline. Therefore, it is likely that extra choline is consumed through the diet via food additives. Some additive and supplemental forms of chlorine include: lecithin phosphatidylcholine choline chloride CDP-choline alpha-GPC betaine Some sources claim that choline in nutritional supplements may reduce body fat, but there is little to no evidence supporting these claims. Impact on heart health Elevated levels of homocysteine in your blood have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and strokes, as well as lower blood pressure. However, evidence is mixed, and more studies are needed to confirm any positive link. Choline helps convert the amino acid homocysteine to methionine. Therefore, a deficiency of choline can result in an accumulation of homocysteine in your blood. Impact on your brain Choline is required to produce acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in regulating memory, mood and intelligence. It's also needed for the process that synthesizes DNA, which is important for brain function and development. Therefore, choline intake is associated with improvements in brain function and cognitive performance. Observational studies link higher choline intake to better brain function and a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. However, further studies on this subject are needed to better understand whether choline supplementation would affect cognitive function. Too much can be harmful Consuming too much choline has been associated with unpleasant and potentially harmful side effects. These include drops in blood pressure, sweating, fishy body odor, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The daily upper limit for adults is 3,500 mg per day. This is the highest level of intake that is unlikely to cause harm. It is very unlikely that someone could ingest this amount from food alone. It would be almost impossible to reach this level without taking supplements in large doses.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
NCIOM President Michelle Ries and NC Child's Erica Palmer Smith on the 2025 Child Health Report Card
NCIOM President Michelle Ries and NC Child's Erica Palmer Smith (courtesy photos) For nearly three decades, a pair of nonprofits – the North Carolina Institute of Medicine and NC Child – have released a biennial study known as the Child Health Report Card. The goal, as you might expect, is to provide legislators, public health officials, school administrators, parents and other nonprofit leaders with the latest information on the health and well-being of our state's kids. This year – as in 2023 – the focus of the report is on the mental health struggles that plague so many children and the urgent need for better (and better funded) public responses. And recently, to learn more about this issue and several others detailed in the report, NC Newsline caught up with the leaders of the two organizations – Institute of Medicine President and CEO Michelle Ries and NC Child executive director, Erica Palmer Smith. Listen to the full interview here with Institute of Medicine President and CEO Michelle Ries and NC Child executive director Erica Palmer Smith. Click here to read the 2025 Child Health Report Card.
