New & Noteworthy in Nutrition, June 2008 (PDF: 450KB)
There have been two especially noteworthy nutrition "events" since the last NNN was issued in December 2007. The first was planned—the release of the Lancet series on maternal and child nutrition. An important part of this NNN covers that series and the reactions of a number of actors in global nutrition efforts. The second "event" was not planned&—the food crisis that has enveloped much of the world. Given the exceptional importance of what is happening with food prices, the availability of food, and their links with hunger and malnutrition, this edition of NNN also covers the food crisis. (June 2008)

Socioeconomic Status and Health Disparities in Old Age (PDF: 68KB)
This e-newsletter is the 11th in a series funded by the University of Michigan Demography Center. This issue, "Socioeconomic Status and Health Disparities in Old Age," highlights work by National Institute on Aging-supported researchers and others that aims to understand the underlying causes of persistent disparities between socioeconomic status and health. (June 2008)

Obesity Threatens the Health of Older Europeans
Obesity is a risk-factor for many preventable, highly prevalent, and potentially fatal chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. Obese individuals spend about one-third more on health care than similar individuals with normal weight. Obesity has a greater effect on health costs than smoking or problem drinking. The effect of obesity on health in 10 European countries was documented in a recent study from the RAND Corporation using data from the 2004 Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). About one-half of the men and more than one-third of the women ages 50 or older in these countries were overweight or obese. RAND researchers compared the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related health conditions among these older adults in the 10 countries. (June 2008)

PRB in the Field: Women's Edition Meets in Johannesburg
In early April, the Population Reference Bureau assembled a group of eight women journalists from seven developing countries in South Africa to participate in a weeklong seminar on the causes and consequences of rape and other violence against women. The eight journalists are members of PRB's global network called Women's Edition, funded by USAID. Johannesburg was chosen as the venue for a seminar on gender-based violence because it has one of the world's highest rates of rape. (May 2008)

Philippines Conference Energizes Integrated Population, Health, and Environment Approaches
The Philippines PHE Network convened the Third National Population, Health, and Environment Conference in March in Tagaytay City, Philippines. The conference, funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and other partners, brought together more than 300 practitioners, policymakers, advocates, researchers, and journalists from across the Philippines and five continents. Participants explored how to scale up the integrated PHE approach in the Philippines and internationally. (April 2008)

PRB Discuss Online: "Combating Malaria: A First-Hand Account From Congo"
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has unique and daunting challenges in its fight against malaria. In this PRB Discuss Online, Matthew Lynch, Global Health Council, answered participants' questions on this topic. Read a transcript of the questions and answers. (April 2008)

PRB Discuss Online: "Combating Malaria: What More Can We Do Now?"
Encouraging progress against malaria was made in the Americas and some parts of Asia in the last century, but the first global campaign to stop malaria didn't succeed. Experts, advocates, and communities have renewed efforts to stop malaria, but what will it take to ensure that the global health community is able to sustain the effort to stop malaria this time around. In this PRB Discuss Online, Nicole K. Bates, director of government relations at the Global Health Council, answered participants' questions on this topic. Read a transcript of the questions and answers. (April 2008)

Population, Health, and Environment Issues in the Philippines: A Profile of the National Capital Region
This regional profile of the National Capital Region, Philippines, highlights key population, health, and environment indicators and important development challenges for the region. It is part of a PRB series covering select regions of the Philippines. (April 2008)

Population, Health, and Environment Issues in the Philippines: A Profile of Central Visayas
This regional profile of the Central Visayas Region, Philippines, highlights key population, health, and environment indicators and important development challenges for the region. It is part of a PRB series covering select regions of the Philippines. (April 2008)

Regional Profiles of Population, Health, and Environment Issues in the Philippines
National data can sometimes blur internal, regional differences in population, health, and the environment (PHE). This is especially true in the Philippines, the 12th most populous country in the world. With some 7,100 islands and a highly decentralized government, the Philippines varies considerably from region to region. To help raise awareness of PHE links at the regional level, the Population Reference Bureau has published a new series of regional population, health, and environment profiles for the Philippines. The first three regional profiles cover the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Visayas (Region 7), and Cagayan Valley (Region 2). (April 2008)