In a study of more than 5,000 mothers and their children, exposure to air pollution during the three months before pregnancy predicted higher child body mass index (BMI) and related obesity risk factors up to two years of age. In one of the largest studies to date of preconception environmental exposures, researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Duke University and Fudan University in Shanghai, China studied 5,834 mother-child pairs recruited from maternity clinics in Shanghai. They found that greater exposure to PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and NO₂ before pregnancy was linked to increases in BMI or BMIZ, a standardized score that shows how a child’s BMI compares to others of the same age and sex. The findings imply that the three months before conception are important, and that people who plan to bear children should consider taking measures to lower their air pollution exposure to reduce their children’s risk for obesity.

The seafood industry is known for its complex global supply chains and diverse market offerings, which can make accurate labeling a challenging task. Now, a new study from Schmid College of Science and Technology at Chapman University and Oregon State University offers a fresh perspective on seafood labeling practices in the United States: Substitution rates for the most popular seafood species in the U.S. remain relatively low, providing consumers with greater confidence in the seafood choices they make.

A comprehensive new review by leading experts in the sustainability science field, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, is challenging the long-held assumption that economic growth is necessary for societal progress. The review, led by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) and titled “Post-growth: the science of wellbeing within planetary boundaries,” explores the rapidly advancing field of post-growth research and presents a compelling case for prioritizing human wellbeing and ecological sustainability over endless economic expansion.

A new study by Mass General Brigham investigators shows persistent racial disparities and growing sex disparities between patients who discussed and received weight loss surgery between 2000 and 2020. Using artificial intelligence to analyze the medical records of more than 120,000 patients with obesity, researchers found that Black people were less likely than non-Black people to undergo metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) – even though both groups were equally likely to discuss it with health care providers.