Medical Notes this week…
A new review finds that chemicals called endocrine disruptors cause 32 different health problems ranging from infertility to diabetes and impaired brain development. The study in the journal The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology adds 17 conditions to the 15 that were already linked to the chemicals, which are found in non-stick pans, waterproof clothing, can linings and many plastics. Researchers say regulations in both Europe and the United States don’t go far enough to limit them.
The COVID-19 pandemic is making working moms cut their hours on the job… but not dads. A study in the journal Gender, Work and Organization shows that between February and April… moms’ work hours among those who could work from home fell four to five times as much as fathers’. In fact, fathers’ work hours didn’t really go down at all. The impact was greatest among mothers of young children who’ve now had to be home schooled during the pandemic. Researchers worry moms may never get those work hours back.
And finally… research shows that men who rigidly endorse traditional masculine roles tend to feel more depressed, drink more, have poor relationships and unhealthy lives. But when they become a dad for the first time… they often clean up. A study in the journal Psychology of Men and Masculinities shows that becoming a dad gives men a greater sense of purpose…which often leads to healthier and less risky choices. So at least at first… the “dad bod” is a myth.
