Issue At A Glance

IHPL periodically develops briefs on current issues with a special focus on oral health, hunger, and mental/behavioral health. We hope that our “Issue At A Glance” will inform our readers and spark a dialogue among stakeholders to better promote health and prevent disease. To access previous issues, please visit our archive.

Issue Briefs

October 2026. Blue Light Exposure

In light of October 10 being Blue Light Awareness Day in California, this brief reviews the health effects of artificial blue light and interventions to decrease exposure.

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September 2026. Social Isolation among US Adults

This issue brief explores social isolation as an urgent public health issue affecting 20-30% of US adults and contributing to a significant burden of morbidity and mortality.

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August 2026. Increasing Rates of Pediatric Myopia: Screen Use, Outdoor Play, and Prevention

As children return to classrooms, homework, and screen-based learning, this brief reviews rising pediatric myopia, how outdoor play may reduce risk, and why early prevention matters for long-term eye health.

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July 2026. Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer

This issue brief examines breast cancer disparities across racial and ethnic groups in the United States, highlights their negative consequences, and explores why inequities persist despite sustained policy and public health efforts.

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June 2026. Childhood Drowning in the US

This brief examines the burdens and risks associated with childhood drowning and outlines urgent prevention strategies to turn the tide on the number one cause of death for young children in the US.

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May 2026. Social Media and Rising Eating Disorders Among Youth

This brief provides an analysis of how engagement-based social media algorithms influence adolescent body image, reviews the systemic public health burden of rising eating disorders among youth, and explores ways to address this crisis.

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April 2026. Ultra-Processed Foods

This brief discusses the definition of ultra-processed foods, their prevalence, and associated health impacts, while considering regulatory and equity challenges in their regulation.

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