How the Exposome and “Invisible Pollution” Impact Human Health––from Microplastics to PFAs By Thierry Malleret, economist THE EXPOSOME IMPACTING OUR WELLBEING: The UN Plastic Treaty talks that just took place in Geneva ended in failure, with petrostates (including the US) and petrochemical producers’ lobby preventing any agreement on the alarming issue of plastics in the environment. And this despite…
Wellness Policies That Help Older Populations Stay Active By Tonia Callender, GWI research fellow Whether it’s seniors hitting the dance floors in Belgium or Korea, older adult outdoor group exercise in China and Uganda, or senior gym programs in North America, more older adults are keeping physically active as they age. And yet, too many older adults have limited access to exercise facilities. What policies…
A 2025 study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (on 85,000 predominantly Black and low-income participants) found that just 15 minutes of brisk walking daily were linked with a nearly 20% reduction in mortality. The positive effects of walking have been endlessly documented, but this research revealed that walking quickly delivers health benefits in a very short timeframe. Slow walking for more than three hours daily was…
The Life of Plastic: How Microplastics Contaminate Entire Ecosystems, Including the Food We Eat––The Guardian Microplastics have been found in the placentas of unborn babies, the summit of Everest and the organs of Antarctic penguins. But how do they travel through the world, and what do they do to the creatures that carry them? Since the 1950s, humans have produced in excess of 8.3 billion…
According to the most recent Gallup survey on wellbeing (based on their Life Evaluation Index interviews conducted in 142 countries), more people globally report that they are living better lives, while also becoming more hopeful about the future, significantly more than they have in years. In 2024, a median of 33% of adults across 142 countries rated their lives well enough to be…
How Wellness Policies Can Promote Responsible Tourism By Tonia Callender, GWI research fellow Wellness in tourism extends beyond a destination’s wellness businesses and services. It also involves protecting the wellbeing of the tourism workforce and the surrounding communities. As global tourism recovers from the pandemic’s impact, many destinations are feeling the strain of overtourism which threatens residents’ wellbeing, bringing noise, congestion and rising costs, while…
