Latest news with #RollinsSchoolofPublicHealth
Cosmopolitan
3 days ago
- Health
- Cosmopolitan
Wait, is your body rejecting your relationship?
Pop culture likes to romanticise steamy, flawed connections to the point where passionate yet toxic dynamics have come to seem normal to impressionable audiences (see: Babygirl or Fifty Shades of Grey). This kind of desensitisation can bleed over into real life, making it harder to realise when a relationship has gone sour. Luckily, we all have something in our corner capable of signalling when it's truly time to move on: if only we knew how to listen. You've probably questioned some of these signals before with friends over dinner, or maybe you saw them in a viral January 2025 Thread asking the question: 'Girlies, how did you know your body was rejecting your ex?' About 2,000 people flocked to the comment section to share a range of physical and mental health symptoms they experienced in problematic relationships, including nausea, yeast infections, chronic UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, weight fluctuations, pain during sex, depression, anxiety, and more. Of course, all these issues could be attributed to more than just bad relationships, but let's be clear: this is also 100 per cent a real thing your body does. 'Toxic relationships can lead to toxic bodies,' says psychologist Candice Nicole Hargons, PhD, an associate professor at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. Your body is constantly responding to your environment, including your relationships, adds licensed marriage and family therapist Cheryl Groskopf. 'When you're in one that feels unsafe, inconsistent, or emotionally draining, your nervous system reacts.' This is exactly what happened to Stephanie* when she experienced her first migraine nearly one year into dating her former boyfriend. The headaches were nonstop and resistant to every remedy she tried, from prescription painkillers to holistic approaches like acupuncture, reflexology, and deep-tissue massages. 'I met with every specialist under the moon,' she says. Clarity finally came during therapy, a safe space where she would regularly vent about her boyfriend. 'I was in agony and my therapist wondered if my body was rebelling against him,' she remembers. Once Stephanie became single, her migraines let up. The tricky thing is that doctors can brush off these symptoms or attribute them to something else - almost anything, really, because such physical and emotional signs could be explained by many other conditions, says Groskopf. A lot of times, physicians chalk them up to 'just stress,' and while they're not wrong, the source of that stress is important, too. 'When a relationship triggers nonstop stress, your nervous system is always over-activated,' says Groskopf. 'Your body perceives the relationship as a threat, even if you don't consciously think of it that way. If symptoms improve when you're alone, around supportive people, or after time away from your partner, that's a strong indicator that your relationship is the cause.' The problems in your relationship don't have to be extreme or abusive for this to be the case. Stephanie says her relationship 'sucked' but not in the way people typically think. 'He wasn't showing up for me emotionally and we just didn't gel. The headaches were how my body was letting me know he wasn't as good as it gets.' Six months after separating from her now ex-husband, Allison* says she finally 'looked like me again.' While married, she dealt with a lot of abandonment, emotional stonewalling, and cold-shouldering that stemmed from her ex's gambling problem. 'My unhappiness literally showed on my face,' she says. She was constantly puffy and acne-prone, and her skin was irritated. She hadn't gained weight, changed anything in her diet, or started a new medication—there was no explanation for it... until the marriage was over. Experiencing symptoms like this doesn't mean you have to end things immediately, says Groskopf. Sometimes, the symptoms can go away after a couple addresses their concerns. Other times, performing micro-experiments, like taking some space before going through with a full-fledged breakup, may give you better insight as well. It can be easy to lose yourself in any kind of relationship, but the most important thing you can do first and foremost is get to know and prioritise yourself. Listen to your body—it's sending you these signals, ultimately, as a way to try and keep you safe. Many experts suggest developing some sort of mindfulness practice, like breathwork or regular therapy, before you're in a relationship so that you can be more in tune with your body's 'normal.' This can help you identify when someone in your life throws it off. 'Check in with your emotions before your body has to scream for your attention,' says Groskopf. That can be easier said than done, so logging symptoms and feelings in a journal or in your Notes app is a practical and helpful way to track patterns. It will be a good reference for you and your health care providers, too. Paying attention to when symptoms strike is also key intel. You'll be able to establish your baseline and know what your body does and feels like when it's neutral, excited, or experiencing negative changes—so you can work toward a goal of overall well-being, including the romantic kind. As Hargons says: 'When your relationship is a healthy, happy one, you have better health overall.' Gabrielle Kassel (she/her) is a sex and wellness journalist who writes at the intersection of queerness, sexual health, and pleasure. In addition to Women's Health, her work has appeared in publications such as Shape, Cosmopolitan, Well+Good, Health, Self, Men's Health, Greatist, and more! In her free time, Gabrielle can be found coaching CrossFit, reviewing pleasure products, hiking with her border collie, or recording episodes of the podcast she co-hosts called
Hans India
5 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Proposed new criteria to impact obesity prevalence, say researchers
An international team of researchers has found that obesity prevalence would shift significantly under proposed new criteria that could hinder the prevention and early detection of serious health conditions. The study, published in Plos Global Public Health, analysed data from 56 countries to compare the prevalence of pre-clinical and clinical obesity using the existing BMI criteria with what the prevalence would be under the proposed criteria that requires at least one health condition to already be present before a person is considered clinically obese, such as diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol. 'Obesity is a serious problem and the definitions we use have implications for clinical treatment, health expenditures, disease surveillance, and for peoples' awareness of their own health risks. So, it is important to understand how much any new definition would impact the prevalence of obesity,' said lead author Rodrigo Carrillo-Larco, assistant professor of global health at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. The study was authored by researchers from Emory University and Johns Hopkins University in the US, University of Queensland in Australia, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China, and Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and Universidad Cientifica del Sur in Peru. When the additional health issues were included into the criteria for obesity, the prevalence dropped significantly among the 142,250 adults surveyed—with some nations seeing a drop of more than 50 per cent—but the results varied by nation and gender. For example, the East African nation of Malawi had among the highest decreases in obesity prevalence under the proposed definition, but the decline was uneven among men (68 per cent) and women (53 per cent). While the new definition could be more aligned with current disease risk, the researchers urged caution before considering a shift in obesity surveillance to the proposed standard because doing so would create substantial challenges in terms of measurement, equity, and implementation. And for individuals who would no longer be considered obese, it could provide a dangerous false sense of security. 'At the population level we would expect the prevalence of obesity to drop, but we should be mindful that it's an artificial drop because the new definition is more strict or complex—that reduction in obesity is not real,' Carrillo-Larco said.
Medscape
16-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Could Intervention in Pregnancy Boost Child Vaccine Uptake?
A study of vaccination intentions of pregnant women and mothers of young children found that uncertainty about childhood vaccination was highest (at 48%) in pregnant women. 'Given the high decisional uncertainty during pregnancy about vaccinating children after birth, there may be value in intervening during pregnancy to proactively support families with childhood vaccination decisions,' the authors of the study wrote, led by Lavanya Vasudevan, MPH, PhD, with the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta. The study findings were published in JAMA Network Open . First-Time Pregnant Group Compared to Parent Group Research on this topic is important, they note, because implementing such interventions would require substantial engagement of clinicians outside the pediatric setting. Vasudevan told Medscape Medical News those clinicians would include obstetricians, family physicians, nurse-midwives, and doulas. 'Key considerations include the providers' training on childhood vaccinations, as well as the time, reimbursement, and resources available for implementation,' she said. This study included survey responses from 174 pregnant women (64% were aged ≥ 30 years; 27% were Hispanic, 14.4% were non-Hispanic Black, and 52.9% were non-Hispanic White). The parent group included 1765 participants (78.1% were aged ≥ 30 years; 21.7% were Hispanic, 11.4% were non-Hispanic Black, and 56% were non-Hispanic White). About half in both groups had a bachelor's degree or higher — 49.4% in the pregnant group and 45.1% in the parent group. Responses Grouped into Six Categories The women were asked about their intentions regarding all vaccines recommended for children from birth to age 18 months. Researchers grouped responses into six categories: accept all vaccinations, delay some or all, delay some and refuse some, refuse some, refuse all, and undecided. The proportions intending to accept or accepting all recommended pediatric vaccines were similar among pregnant participants and parents. But other categories saw some wide gaps: The proportion intending to refuse or refusing some or all pediatric vaccines (without delays) was lowest among nulliparous pregnant women (4%) and highest among parents (33%). Uncertainty about childhood vaccination was highest among nulliparous pregnant participants (48%) and lowest among parents of young children (4%). 'Window of Opportunity' Medical educator Peter Chin-Hong, MD, a professor at the University of California San Francisco, who specializes in infectious diseases, told Medscape Medical News that 'identifying high uncertainty about childhood vaccines in pregnancy opens up a window of opportunity.' 'It's a time when people are generally more receptive to hearing messages about their own health and the health of their unborn child,' he said, 'and infectious disease prevention is one of the many things that can improve the health of both.' He said he agrees that interventions and coordination expanding to specialties outside of pediatrics can take substantial resources but some form of intervention 'can start tomorrow' he said, such as mentioning the benefits and safety of future childhood vaccines in conversations with pregnant women. Sometimes that is thought to be the job of pediatricians and skipped in other specialties, he said. Need 'Couldn't be Greater' 'The need couldn't be greater,' he said. 'There are so many reasons to focus on this population — not only for the decisions for when the child is 5 years old and getting their [measles, mumps and rubella] shot, but for now [with maternal vaccines that cross the placenta] — because I can't really do much when a baby has some types of infections within the first 6 months.' Pregnant people interact with the healthcare system at multiple points, he noted, so there are multiple times when an intervention could happen. 'In my experience, a person who's uncertain about vaccines doesn't reverse that in one visit. It requires a series of visits, just like stopping smoking.' Further Study May Answer Questions The appetite for introducing robust support for pregnant women in making vaccine decisions, 'particularly in this political climate,' will likely depend on cost-benefit analysis, Chin-Hong said. He said future work should decide who would do the interventions and how often, and how much intervention is needed to result in more vaccinations of children. Additionally, the authors wrote 'Future interventions should account for differences in uptake of seasonal (ie, COVID-19 and influenza) vs routinely recommended vaccines.' The authors and Chin-Hong reported having no relevant financial relationships.
Cosmopolitan
17-06-2025
- Health
- Cosmopolitan
Is Your Body Rejecting Your Relationship?
Pop culture likes to romanticize steamy, flawed connections to the point where passionate yet toxic dynamics have come to seem normal to impressionable audiences (see: Babygirl or Fifty Shades of Grey). This kind of desensitization can bleed over into real life, making it harder to realize when a relationship has gone sour. Luckily, we all have something in our corner capable of signaling when it's truly time to move on—if only we knew how to listen. You've probably questioned some of these signals before with friends over dinner, or maybe you saw them in a viral January 2025 Thread asking the question: 'Girlies, how did you know your body was rejecting your ex?' About 2,000 people flocked to the comments section to share a range of physical and mental health symptoms they experienced in problematic relationships, including nausea, yeast infections, chronic UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, weight fluctuations, pain during sex, depression, anxiety, and more. Of course, all these issues could be attributed to more than just bad relationships, but let's be clear: This is also 100 percent a real thing your body does. 'Toxic relationships can lead to toxic bodies,' says psychologist Candice Nicole Hargons, PhD, an associate professor at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. Your body is constantly responding to your environment, including your relationships, adds licensed marriage and family therapist Cheryl Groskopf. 'When you're in one that feels unsafe, inconsistent, or emotionally draining, your nervous system reacts.' This is exactly what happened to Stephanie* when she experienced her first migraine nearly one year into dating her former boyfriend. The headaches were nonstop and resistant to every remedy she tried, from prescription painkillers and Botox to holistic relations approaches like acupuncture, reflexology, and deep-tissue massages. 'I met with every specialist under the moon,' she says. Clarity finally came during therapy, a safe space where she would regularly vent about her boyfriend. 'I was in agony and my therapist wondered if my body was rebelling against him,' she remembers. Once Stephanie became single, her migraines let up. The tricky thing is that doctors can brush off these symptoms or attribute them to something else—almost anything, really—because such physical and emotional signs could be explained by many other conditions, says Groskopf. A lot of times, physicians chalk them up to 'just stress,' and while they're not wrong, the source of that stress is important, too. 'When a relationship triggers nonstop stress, your nervous system is always overactivated,' says Groskopf. 'Your body perceives the relationship as a threat, even if you don't consciously think of it that way. If symptoms improve when you're alone, around supportive people, or after time away from your partner, that's a strong indicator that your relationship is the cause.' The problems in your relationship don't have to be extreme or abusive for this to be the case. Stephanie says her relationship 'sucked' but not in the way people typically think. 'He wasn't showing up for me emotionally and we just didn't gel. The headaches were how my body was letting me know he wasn't as good as it gets.' Six months after separating from her now-ex-husband, Allison* says she finally 'looked like me again.' While married, she dealt with a lot of abandonment, emotional stonewalling, and cold-shouldering that stemmed from her ex's gambling problem. 'My unhappiness literally showed on my face,' she says. She was constantly puffy and acne-prone, and her skin was irritated. She hadn't gained weight, changed anything in her diet, or started a new medication—there was no explanation for the marriage was over. Experiencing symptoms like this doesn't mean you have to end things immediately, says Groskopf. Sometimes, the symptoms can go away after a couple addresses their concerns. Other times, performing micro-experiments, like taking some space before going through with a full-fledged breakup, may give you better insight as well. It can be easy to lose yourself in any kind of relationship, but the most important thing you can do first and foremost is get to know and prioritize yourself. Listen to your body—it's sending you these signals, ultimately, as a way to try to keep you safe. Many experts suggest developing some sort of mindfulness practice, like breathwork or regular therapy, before you're in a relationship so that you can be more in tune with your body's 'normal.' This can help you identify when someone in your life throws it off. 'Check in with your emotions before your body has to scream for your attention,' says Groskopf. That can be easier said than done, so logging symptoms and feelings in a journal or in your Notes app is a practical and helpful way to track patterns. It will be a good reference for you and your health care providers, too. Paying attention to when symptoms strike is also key intel. You'll be able to establish your baseline and know what your body does and feels like when it's neutral, excited, or experiencing negative changes—so you can work toward a goal of overall well-being, including the romantic kind. Says Hargons: 'When your relationship is a healthy, happy one, you have better health overall.' *Name has been changed. Gabrielle Kassel (she/her) is a sex and wellness journalist who writes at the intersection of queerness, sexual health, and pleasure. In addition to being in Cosmopolitan, her work can also be found in publications such as Shape, Well + Good, Women's Health, Health, Self, Men's Health, Greatist, and more! In her free time, Gabrielle can be found reviewing one of the nearly 1,000 pleasure products she's tested, reading smut, or recording episodes of the podcast she cohosts called Bad In Bed. Follow her on Instagram @GabrielleKassel.
The Herald Scotland
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Macron face shoving video ignites discussion on gender
President Macron dismissed speculation that the first lady shoved him, telling reporters on May 26 they were just being playful. But social media is discussing whether the candid moment would be considered so lighthearted if the roles had been reversed and a male partner put his hands on a female partner's face. That image has a connotation of harm, while the opposite gets to be called a game. "No matter how viral or lighthearted it seems, putting hands on your partner isn't a joke, and it's never okay, regardless of gender," one TikToker weighed in. "It does us no favors to ignore an incident and not talk about it," says Dabney P. Evans, associate professor at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. Rather, Evans says, this viral moment is an opportunity to discuss what is acceptable and what isn't in a relationship. In the news: The Diddy trial details are worse than anyone expected. Will how we treat victims change? How we react to that Macron video and why it matters While some laughed off the short clip and others quickly dismissed it, those reactions on may say more about the person posting than it does about the French couple. It's a commentary about how we expect men and women in couples to behave, Evans said. "If we reflect on ourselves, what kind of judgements and assumptions (do) we make about the situation based on an image we saw, knowing information about a person's sex and gender identity?" she said. "That is a call for people to reflect on what their read is when they see this kind of video and all the layers of information about gender relations ... that are automatically overlaid onto that very simple few second snippet." And while either partner in a relationship can exhibit unhealthy behaviors, typically one person holds more power than the other, Evans said. A physical action could be a lighthearted moment, a self-defense response informed by trauma or a more nefarious attempt to exert control, she said. Either way, it's important to remember we can never really know what goes on between two partners, and we should think about why we make the assumptions we do, Evans said. "Having this out in the world does leave an impression that plays on all the underlying gender norms and expectations about masculinity and femininity, strength and weakness, that surround us all the time."
