Insights from End Chronic Disease https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/ Research explainers and spotlights from End Chronic Disease: what new studies found, and the policy moves, journalism, and events shaping prevention. en-us Wed, 04 Nov 2026 22:31:53 GMT Americans are trying to eat healthier. The data tells a more complicated story. https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/food-and-health-survey-2026/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/food-and-health-survey-2026/ For the first time in 21 years of a national food survey, convenience outranked healthfulness as a reason Americans choose food. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Nutrition Access to care Policy Calories in, calories out? What a new ultra-processed food study found. https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/ultra-processed-foods-study/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/ultra-processed-foods-study/ Researchers matched two meals on calories and nutrients. One was ultra-processed. The body still responded differently. We break down why it matters for prevention. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Nutrition Policy What Amish communities can teach us about chronic disease prevention https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/amish-communities-chronic-disease-prevention/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/amish-communities-chronic-disease-prevention/ Several major studies have found markedly lower rates of diabetes, hypertension, and cancer among Amish adults. Kelly McKenna looks at the daily habits behind the numbers. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Nutrition Physical activity Mental health California update: two End Chronic Disease-backed bills signed into law https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/california-bills-signed-2026/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/california-bills-signed-2026/ SB 1133 brings nutrition, sleep, and physical activity into California health education, and SB 1047 makes California the second state to track frontotemporal degeneration. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Policy Health education Neurodegenerative disease Health data Back-to-school season brings renewed attention to student cellphone and screen use https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/back-to-school-screen-use/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/back-to-school-screen-use/ From a federal symposium to phone-free classrooms in New York and Arkansas, the goal is to keep technology from crowding out what healthy development needs. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Screen use Health education Policy Why did taxi and ambulance drivers have the lowest share of Alzheimer’s deaths? https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/taxi-ambulance-drivers-alzheimers/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/taxi-ambulance-drivers-alzheimers/ A study of nearly 9 million Americans found the lowest proportions of Alzheimer’s deaths in two occupations built on constant navigation. What the research does and does not tell us. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Neurodegenerative disease Health data Volume on the recess conversation amplifies as parents and policymakers push for more play https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/recess-momentum-2026/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/recess-momentum-2026/ New pediatric guidance, a parent-led movement, and landmark laws in Tennessee and Oklahoma are putting unstructured play back on the agenda. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Recess Physical activity Policy Alabama schools report great progress and cultural shifts after one year of phone-free classrooms https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/alabama-phone-free-classrooms/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/alabama-phone-free-classrooms/ Schools that went phone-free report stronger engagement, more conversations at lunch, better discipline, and less cheating. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Screen use Health education Policy California neurodegenerative disease registry bill moves forward; new momentum on dementia research, prevention, and early detection https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/dementia-registry-research-2026/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/dementia-registry-research-2026/ More than 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s today. Better registry data, new research on diet, and earlier warning signs are sharpening the focus on prevention. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Neurodegenerative disease Health data Nutrition Policy Play, passion, literature, arts: can these help fight chronic disease? https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/arts-play-chronic-disease/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/arts-play-chronic-disease/ Diet, exercise, and sleep dominate the prevention conversation. A growing body of research is examining another piece of the puzzle: creativity, culture, play, and meaningful activity. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Mental health Physical activity Neurodegenerative disease Journalism spotlight: Staten Island investigates its local cancer crisis https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/staten-island-cancer-investigation/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/staten-island-cancer-investigation/ Staten Island has the highest overall cancer rate of New York City’s five boroughs, and no comprehensive study explains why. A new investigative series is asking the question. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Environmental exposures Health data AAP calls for universal school meals nationwide https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/aap-universal-school-meals/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/aap-universal-school-meals/ The nation’s pediatricians say free meals for every student improve diet quality, reduce food insecurity, and support learning. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT School food Nutrition Policy Illinois advances statewide classroom cellphone restrictions; New York celebrates success from bell-to-bell bans https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/illinois-cellphone-restrictions/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/illinois-cellphone-restrictions/ States across the political spectrum are limiting phones in class, early results from New York are encouraging, and new research ties screen time to what teens eat. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Screen use Policy Nutrition Groundbreaking “food is medicine” study reduces hospitalizations among Medicaid recipients by 31% https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/food-is-medicine-medicaid-study/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/food-is-medicine-medicaid-study/ Medically tailored meals cut hospital visits, emergency visits, and costs for Medicaid patients with chronic conditions, and the savings covered nearly the whole cost of the meals. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Nutrition Access to care Health data End Chronic Disease continues to elevate recess as a public health priority https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/recess-public-health-priority/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/recess-public-health-priority/ Only 10 states require a minimum amount of daily recess for elementary students. New pediatric guidance says it should be protected and never withheld. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Recess Physical activity Policy Journalism spotlight: “The number of people with Parkinson’s is exploding. Are chemicals to blame?” https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/parkinsons-chemical-exposure-journalism/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/parkinsons-chemical-exposure-journalism/ Student reporters at the University of Florida, published by WUFT and the Tampa Bay Times, examine the evidence linking pesticides and industrial chemicals to Parkinson’s disease. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Environmental exposures Neurodegenerative disease Mike Mooney joins Fox & Friends to discuss his Parkinson’s battle https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/mike-mooney-fox-friends-paraquat/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/mike-mooney-fox-friends-paraquat/ After Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, a former landscaper diagnosed at 49 took his story national, and the EPA announced a roundtable on the herbicide’s safety. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Environmental exposures Neurodegenerative disease Policy Bipartisan Vermont bill to phase out paraquat marks a major public health milestone https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/vermont-paraquat-ban/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/vermont-paraquat-ban/ Vermont is the first state to pass a ban on the herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease. More than 70 countries have already done so without losing crop yields. Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Environmental exposures Neurodegenerative disease Policy Los Angeles Unified School District announces sweeping plan to reduce classroom screen time https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/lausd-classroom-screen-time/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/lausd-classroom-screen-time/ The nation’s second-largest school district voted unanimously to limit screens in class. What the policy would do, and how it fits a wider push in California and beyond. Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Screen use Health education Policy AAP issues first updated recess guidance in more than a decade as the national recess debate intensifies https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/aap-recess-guidance-2026/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/aap-recess-guidance-2026/ Pediatricians say recess is essential for physical health, not just learning. Only 10 states require a daily minimum, and the picture is moving in both directions. Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Recess Physical activity Policy Kansas governor vetoes recess bill https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/kansas-recess-veto/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/kansas-recess-veto/ HB 2763 would have guaranteed 30 minutes of daily recess for elementary students and passed both chambers with bipartisan majorities. Governor Laura Kelly vetoed it. Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Recess Physical activity Policy Texas launches $60 million rural health prevention initiative https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/texas-rural-health-initiative/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/texas-rural-health-initiative/ Wellness centers, farmers markets, free screenings, and after-hours clinics for rural hospital districts, the first of about $1.4 billion in federal rural health funding over five years. Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Access to care Nutrition Policy Kelly McKenna introduces Arthur Brooks at national youth health summit sponsored by End Chronic Disease https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/champions-for-youth-summit-2026/ https://www.endchronicdisease.org/insights/champions-for-youth-summit-2026/ At the Champions for Youth Summit, a reminder that meaningful lives are built in small daily moments of presence, joy, beauty, and connection, and that those moments shape our biology. Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Mental health Health education Screen use