New scientific results this spring

While the links between overweight, obesity and mental health are well known, few studies have examined how changes in weight influence the mental health of individuals over time. In an article published in Nature's Journal of Obesity, a team from the Population Epidemiology Unit of the Department of Primary Care Medicine at the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) show that body dissatisfaction and emotional eating, i.e. eating food in response to positive or negative emotional feelings rather than out of physiological need, play a role in the relationship between changes in a person's weight and mental health.

Twenty years of hypertension trends in Geneva
Drawing on valuable data from the Bus Santé study, which began in 1992, a recent study has examined changes over twenty years in the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in Geneva. Over this period, although some groups remain at risk, the prevalence of hypertension and its control have improved overall, with a reduction in socio-economic disparities.

Mental health of family carers, well-being of children 
A third study shows that family carers suffered more psychological distress than others during the COVID-19 pandemic, underlining the importance of public health policies strengthening formal and informal support networks and providing rapid solutions to ensure continuity of care for both family carers and those being cared for.

Finally, the results of the SEROCoV-KIDS study show that the well-beingof children and adolescents with special health needs was more affected than that of others after the restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted, with no obvious improvement over time.

To find out more, visit the Research page.