In the Media: News Roundup (August 22, 2025)
Content
SPHHS researchers Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson, Hannah Laue, Andrew Lover, Zhengqing Ouyang and Rachel Volberg (Biostatistics and Epidemiology), Sasha Adkins, Richard Peltier and Laura Vandenberg (Environmental Health Sciences), Michal Horný (Health Promotion and Policy), Wouter Hoogkamer and Amanda Paluch (Kinesiology), and SPHHS dean's advisory board members Jessica Collins (Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts) and Ben Wood (Health Resources in Action) comment on premenstrual disorders and heart health; antimicrobial chemicals and children's skin problems; COVID; RNA modeling; problem gambling; flooding and environmental pollutants; air pollution; plastic contaminants; inequities in health insurance claims; optimizing running speed; optimal number of steps per day; and federal funding cuts.
Updated August 22, 2025:
COVID levels tick up in Massachusetts as ‘Stratus’ variant dominates nationally - Andrew Lover, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Boston Globe (paywall), 8/22/25)
I’ve tested 17 carbon plate running shoes this year — this is my favorite racer - Wouter Hoogkamer, Kinesiology (Tom's Guide, 8/15/25)
Counting steps for health? Here’s how many you really need - Amanda Paluch, Kinesiology (NPR, 8/14/25)
Five super shoe trends every runner needs to know - Wouter Hoogkamer, Kinesiology (Runner's World UK, 8/11/25)
Problem Gambling on Rise in Massachusetts Per Recent Study - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Legal Sports Betting, 8/7/25)
Massachusetts Sees Concerning Rise in Problem Gambling - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Gambling News, 8/7/25)
Is Sports Betting Increasing Problem Gambling? New Study Suggests So - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Casino.org, 8/7/25)
How many steps do you need to stay healthy? - Amanda Paluch, Kinesiology (NPR, 8/6/25)
Problem gambling on the rise in Massachusetts, new report warns - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (CDC Gaming, 8/6/25)
MA Gambling Survey: Problem Gambling Surges as Public Perception Shifts After Sports Betting Launch - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Casino Beats, 8/6/25)
UMass Amherst Lands $2M NIH Grant for 3D RNA Modeling - Zhengqing Ouyang, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (GenomeWeb, 8/5/25)
Problem gambling on the rise in Massachusetts, new report warns - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Boston.com, 8/5/25)
The Big Money and High Cost of the US Military’s On-Base Slot Machines - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Wired, 8/4/25)
The growing mobile gambling industry is built on debt. Is there a fix? - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Texas Standard, 8/4/25)
Sports betting brought trouble for gamblers, not jobs for Mass., UMass research finds - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (MassLive, 7/31/25)
New reports show little positive impact from sports betting legalization - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Boston Herald, 7/31/25)
Rates of sports betting, problem gambling show increase among monthly gamblers in Massachusetts in 2024 - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Medical Xpress, 7/31/25)
Taxes, but not jobs, pouring in from sports betting - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (WGBH, 7/31/25)
Taxes, but not jobs, pouring in from sports betting - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (WWLP-TV, 7/31/25)
Why ‘Illegal’ Super Shoes Aren’t Your Best Choice for Daily Runs - Wouter Hoogkamer, Kinesiology (Self, 7/30/25)
What Springfield lost when the feds clawed back a $20 million grant - SPHHS dean's advisory board members Jessica Collins, Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, and Ben Wood, Health Resources in Action (WBUR, 7/23/25)
Chemical found in common household items could be behind painful skin condition - Hannah Laue, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Daily Mail (U.K.), 7/22/25)
Common antimicrobial chemical associated with skin problems in kids - Hannah Laue, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Washington Post (paywall), 7/21/25)
Childhood exposure to antimicrobial linked to elevated risk for eczema, allergic rhinitis - Hannah Laue, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Healio, 7/21/25)
Health Insurers Are Denying More Drug Claims, Data Shows - Michal Horný, Health Promotion and Policy (The New York Times, 7/18/25)
Scientists Say This Is the World’s Fastest Running Shoe. Guess Who Made It - Wouter Hoogkamer, Kinesiology (Stadium Talk, 7/16/25)
Low-income Patients Experience Greatest Financial Burden from Claim Denials - Michal Horný, Health Promotion and Policy (Healthcare News, 7/16/25)
Low-income patients face uphill battle when fighting health insurance denials, Umass research finds - Michal Horný, Health Promotion and Policy (Medical Economics, 7/15/25)
Expert Advice: How to Protect Yourself From Wildfire Smoke - Richard Peltier, Environmental Health Sciences (CNET, 7/14/25)
Chicago Catholics start environmental justice group in response to flooding, pollution - Sasha Adkins, Environmental Health Sciences (Earthbeat/National Catholic Reporter, 7/14/25)
Premenstrual disorders may indicate a higher risk for heart disease, study finds - Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (NBC News, 7/11/25)
Low-income patients more likely to have health claims denied, research finds - Michal Horný, Health Promotion and Policy (NEPM, 7/8/25)
These are the three shoes we will be wearing for marathon training - Wouter Hoogkamer, Kinesiology (Live Science, 7/8/25)
Widely used antimicrobial linked to increased allergies in kids - Hannah Laue, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (New Atlas, 7/3/25)
Hidden two-letter code reveals if your plastic containers are toxic - Laura Vandenberg, Environmental Health Sciences (Daily Mail [U.K.], 7/1/25)
"It blows up in their face." Can a public health model lead the future of gambling in MA and U.S.? - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (NEPM, 7/2/25)
Insurance Claim Denials Hit Low-Income Patients Hardest - Michal Horný, Health Promotion and Policy (Science Blog, 7/2/25)
Low-income patients face greater barriers in challenging health insurance denials - Michal Horný, Health Promotion and Policy (New Medical Life Sciences, 7/1/25)
CNN Chasing Life (podcast) - Laura Vandenberg, Environmental Health Sciences (CNN Podcasts, 7/1/25)
“How much can you afford to lose?” Gambling in Norway is tightly controlled. Could that work here? - Rachel Volberg, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (NEPM, 6/30/25)
Low-income patients experience greatest financial burden from health insurance claim denials - Michal Horný, Health Promotion and Policy (Medical Xpress, 6/30/25)