Newsletter

Sore spots

By Heather Arsenault

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when my obsession with food, diet, and exercise began. From a young age, I was always smaller than my peers, and remained on the low end of the height and weight charts. I was a very active child, involved in several athletic activities from an early age, including swimming, soccer, gymnastics, and track and field. My parents were physically active, as well. My mom taught aerobics at the local YWCA, and both my mom and dad cycled, ran, and frequented the gym.

On October 6th, over 65 guests to launch the NWHN’s Barbara Seaman Award for Activism in Women’s Health. While the event honored the memory of the Network’s co-founder, Barbara Seaman, it was also a fundraising success that generated $31,000 for the Network. We were delighted to be hosted by Sybil Shainwald at her Fifth Avenue apartment in New York City. Sybil is a pioneering women's health activist and litigator, past NWHN Board Chair, and long-time friend and colleague of Barbara Seaman.

By Amy Allina

In November, the United States elected a president who campaigned by calling on all of us to believe and engage in making real change in the country. The Congressional election results – which strengthened support for abortion rights and family planning in both the House and the Senate -- also signal popular support for change. And, after eight years of an administration that has been openly hostile to women’s reproductive rights, reproductive health policy is one of the areas most badly in need of a new direction.

By Cynthia Pearson

By Cynthia Pearson

Improving health care for pregnant women has been one of NWHN’s goals since the very beginning. We’ve made a lot of headway since 1975, when pregnant women were still subject to untested drugs, unsafe advice, and inhumane hospital routines. But we’re still far from where we’d like to be: with a health care system that welcomes all women; treats them respectfully; offers them information; and provides support and care that’s been proven to be safe and effective.

By Susan K. Flinn, MA

By Cindy Pearson, Executive Director

NWHN has had its “watchdog” eye on osteoporosis for over 25 years. During that time, the condition has gone through a pendulum swing – first it was ignored by all but a few specialists, now it’s falsely promoted as a threat to every middle-aged woman. Over the years, NWHN has produced a series of fact sheets, investigative articles, book chapters and position papers about various aspects of osteoporosis. This article contains material from our latest Fact Sheet.