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Background  Sleep is crucial for recovery, yet hospital environments often disrupt it, particularly affecting pediatric patients. Hospitalized children experience late bedtimes, frequent awakenings, and reduced sleep time, intensifying their anxiety and discomfort. Medical clowns, a non-pharmacologic intervention, have demonstrated potential in reducing stress and anxiety, enhancing overall well-being and cooperation in pediatric care, yet further research is essential to conclusively establish their effectiveness in improving sleep quality and overall recovery outcomes in hospitalized children. About the study This single-center, prospective observational study, conducted at The Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center in Israel from July 2019 to January 2022, involved pediatric patients aged 2-18 years, predicted to stay for at least two nights. Patients were recruited based on admission order and matched 1:1 for age and clinical condition with controls. Exclusions included children unde...

Is managing emotions more effective than boosting wellbeing in curbing teens' sweet tooth? A recent study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity explored whether emotion-driven impulsiveness or psychosocial well-being contribute more to healthy or unhealthy food choices. Their findings indicate that an intervention that targets emotion-driven impulsiveness would be slightly more effective in reducing adolescents' consumption of sweet and high-fat foods. Background During childhood and adolescence, environmental factors play an important role in eating behaviors and food choices. During this age, individuals may respond to negative emotions and stress by eating unhealthy foods that activate the brain's reward system and make them feel better. However, this emotion regulation strategy is maladaptive since it can lead to health outcomes such as obesity and other issues. Emotional well-being has been associated with making healt...