First-Ever Healthy Checkout Policy Shows Promise for Reducing Purchases of Sugary Drinks and Snacks

A new study led by Justin White and Ziyue Xu found that a healthy checkout ordinance implemented in Berkeley, Calif. supermarkets, drug stores, and mass-market retailers in 2021 was linked to notable decreases in soda sales overall and small-package candy in supermarkets, but greater enforcement of such policies is essential for sustained and meaningful public health benefit. Read more.

CELEBRATING OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY

50 Years, Countless Champions

The Builders: Shaping SPH and the Field

Since 1976, the SPH community has hosted many influential, instructive, and impactful public health advocates. Over the next five weeks, we will highlight 50 of these advocates.

To kick off this series, here are the people who built the school, established its academic foundation, led departments and programs, or helped define SPH as an institution: Norman Scotch, Robert Meenan, Sandro Galea, Leonard Glantz, Ted Colton, David Ozonoff, Judith Bernstein, Ralph D'Agostino, Alan Jette, and Dzidra Knecht.

ACADEMIA

**New World Health Summit Academic Alliance-Lancet Commission to Strengthen Academic Responsibility and Trust in Science**

The first-of-its-kind, 30-member commission of global leaders, including SPH Dean Adnan Hyder, will assess and strengthen the value of academic institutions to society, build greater public trust, and support their contributions to society. Read more.

SCHOOL NEWS

From SPH to the UN: An MPH Student Researches Respiratory Health in Ethiopia

What started as a course paper became a research fellowship with BU’s Institute for Global Sustainability, and ultimately led Feven Lencha to the Global Youth Summit for Change in Geneva, Switzerland, where she met with other young leaders to discuss peace, sustainability, and social justice. Read more.

PUBLIC HEALTH POST

Hormonal Hunger: How Birth Control Drives Emotional Eating

Emotional eating among women on combined oral contraceptives is higher during active hormone pill days compared to inactive pill days, writes PHP fellow Kylee Cochran. Read more.

SCHOOL NEWS

Why Public Health? Why Now? Why SPH?

In honor of SPH’s 50th anniversary, we asked five new students to share why they chose this field, at this time, here at Boston University School of Public Health. Read more.

PUBLIC HEALTH POST

Murder: A Leading Cause of Maternal Mortality

Firearm access is the leading driver of maternal homicides, with each one-percent increase in gun ownership linked to an eight-percent rise in maternal deaths, writes PHP fellow Priyanka Athalye. Read more.

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Keep up with SPH on Instagram.

Our students hail from all over the globe, each with their own stories that fuel their passion for public health. Hear why they believe now is the right time to pursue public health. See more.

In the Media.

PROPUBLICA

Ectopic Pregnancy Deaths Have Nearly Doubled. It’s Worse in States With Abortion Bans.

Quotes Eugene Declercq, professor of community health sciences.

NPR

'Her Body Temperature Was 106': How Heat Is Killing Americans in Their Homes

Features research by Quinn Adams, research scientist for the Center for Climate and Health (CCH), Gregory Wellenius, Beverly A. Brown Professor for the Improvement of Urban Health; CCH research scientists Chad Milando and Zachary Popp; and CCH research fellow Alison James.

NEW FOOD MAGAZINE

Healthy Checkout Rules Reduce Soda and Small-Pack Candy Sales, Study Finds

Quotes Justin White, associate professor of health law, policy & management.

INSIDE CLIMATE NEWS

Can Studying Heat Waves in Real Time Save Lives?

Quotes Mary Willis, assistant professor of epidemiology.

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The mission of the Boston University School of Public Health is to improve the health and well-being of populations worldwide, particularly the underserved, through excellence and innovation in education, research, and practice.
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