New Curtin University research has revealed child food insecurity in developed countries is not solely driven by poverty but is also strongly influenced by factors such as housing instability, parental mental health and social isolation.

About The Study: In this survey study of older U.S. adults, most participants agreed that Medicare should cover weight management medications and more than half of those with body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater were interested in using them. These results should inform decisions to include weight management medications in the Medicare and commercial insurance programs, as well as utilization policies to control health care costs.

Los Angeles has some of the strictest tree planting rules in the nation. These policies limit tree growth, worsen shade disparities and don’t improve safety, researchers found. When USC Dornsife researchers modeled looser planting restrictions in a lower-income neighborhood, potential tree space increased by nearly 26%. But narrow sidewalks and dense infrastructure still limited where larger, shade trees could thrive. Many of L.A.’s strict tree-spacing rules are internal guidelines — not laws — meaning they could be updated more easily to allow for more trees. Closing L.A.’s shade gap, however, will require more than policy tweaks; infrastructure investments are also needed.