There is a surge of products, services, and events promising to support women during the menopause transition.

Our new study in @healthpromint.bsky.social explores how women think that commercial actors shape menopause-related narratives, products, and practices.
academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...

🌍 Next year marks 40 years of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion.

In a new editorial,
@docsamantha.bsky.social
#IlonaKickbusch, #MihályKökény & #OrkanOkan reflect on this legacy and reaffirm the vision of #HealthforAll.

Read: doi.org/10.1093/heap...

Example of visual social science. Participants took photos of their walks, recorded audio field notes of their sensory experiences, annotated a Google map, and participated in interviews

bsky.app/profile/docs... #socialscience #health

Practice of public health coordination in Sweden: roles, responsibilities, and realities: academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...

I really love these studies in @healthpromint.bsky.social that share young peoples views. Really nice methods and photos in this study. Fascinating theme around mobility as connection:

"It is very lonely walking by yourself, even though it is a quick walk."

academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...

Tuesday marks 75 years since the historic September 30, 1950 Doll & Hill BMJ paper confirming smoking as a cause of lung cancer. For 75 years tobacco companies have been selling and promoting products they know are lethal when used as intended.

www.bmj.com/content/2/46...

Recognising the information environment as a determinant of health #ottawa40 @ottawacharter40.bsky.social

Editorial: academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...

Interview with Tina Purnat, Elisabeth Wilhelm and Becky White:

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5uvj...

YouTube: youtu.be/ChRESMxyojY?...

And a massive thanks to the peer reviewers who provided such brilliant and thoughtful reviews on the paper 🙏.

Huge thanks to @sarahwhit10.bsky.social and Jean Hailes for supporting the data collection for this study! And brilliant coauthors @simonemccarthy.bsky.social @gracearnot.bsky.social @hannahpitt.bsky.social @katrinawood.bsky.social

We conclude that ensuring the availability of independent, evidence-based information, and regulating commercial influence in health communication, are all critical steps as part of a comprehensive public health approach to supporting individuals during the menopause transition.

“Who can you trust?”

Participants advocated for an increased focus on the provision of credible, trustworthy, and accessible information - from governments, health professionals and services.

“Yes misinformation can exacerbate feelings of confusion or anxiety during an already challenging time.”

Participants acknowledged that misinformation created significant financial and emotional risks for women.

“A lot of companies are trying to make money but are not addressing the real issues for women. Not everyone has access to reliable facts.”

However, there were concerns that those with vested interests (e.g wellness industry, some influencers, pharma) were driving menopause narratives for profits.

“Women are learning that we don't have to suffer in silence. We don't have to be ashamed and society is a little more tolerant.”

Participant’s said public awareness was important in challenging stereotypes, stigma and shame, in normalising menopause and breaking intergenerational silence.

Public narratives about menopause are framed by a range of stakeholders, who contribute to shaping women's experiences of and attitudes towards menopause.

Our new study sought
Australian women's opinions about increased public attention to menopause. 🧵/

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

What are the #DigitalDeterminantsOfHealth – and why do they matter now? #Editorial by @louiseholly.bsky.social, #SoeYuNaing, #HannahPitt, @docsamantha.bsky.social & #IlonaKickbusch explores how #DigitalTech, #AI & #DataSystems are reshaping health.

Read: academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...

“The club is chaired by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese. Its corporate members include fossil fuel company Ampol, alcohol companies Lion and Diageo, outsourcing company Serco, consultancy firm Canberra Consulting and other companies.”

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Natural disasters forecast to cost Australia’s young people $100bn by 2060

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Some of Australia’s biggest thinktanks refuse to reveal their biggest donors. Should they?

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

New article in Social Theory & Health, co-authored with
@judegreen.bsky.social, open access.

In a nutshell we argue that that lived-experience research is not the same as qualitative sociology in health research. The difference exists and matters.

Read here: rdcu.be/evZ7F

Important new study in BMJ Open.

"A wide range of claims is made for HRT (MHT) for menopause. Conflicts of interest are common but may not be highly visible. Information free of commercial interests is relatively uncommon."

bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/9...

Mining magnate Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo charity makes undisclosed donation to the Australia Institute

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Good, careful review justifying calls for action on alcohol marketing – and also noting that in some areas such as sport and sporting events, gambling exposure and advertising were even more common than alcohol. As so often, predatory industries use similar strategies.

It's so devastating because with political will we can reign in the predatory tactics of the gambling industries.