Stop ignoring the data — “Backed by an explosion of scientific data

underscoring the importance of behavioral and

social factors in health, an interdisciplinary group of

scientists is arguing that the sheer weight of that

evidence demands a restructuring of how social

and behavioral research and interventions are

conducted.

At a May 23 symposium organized by the National

Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of

Medicine (IOM), “Through a kaleidoscope: viewing

the contributions of the behavioral and social

sciences to health,” experts drew on six recent NRC

and IOM reports (viewable here). Each concludes that

the nation’s health can be significantly improved if

the scientific and medical communities–as well as

policy-makers–heed the wealth of data that show

how behavior and social environments shape

health.” American Psychological Association