Dear AJPM Reader,

President Biden's recent announcement that the U.S. government will forgive up to $10,000 in student loan debt for most borrowers—and up to $20,000 for those who received Pell Grants to attend college—will provide a broad swath of Americans with financial relief but also potentially improved health outcomes as well. A study in our August issue found evidence of higher levels of biomarkers for cardiovascular disease risk among people who had student debt between young adulthood and early middle age compared with those who never had such debt or had repaid their loans.

Other recent research in AJPM has also shown associations between debt and health. For example, a study in our July 2022 supplement issue found unsecured debt—which includes student loans as well as credit cards and medical bills—increases odds of obesity by 20%. This extends prior research published in AJPM and elsewhere showing a correlation between wealth, of which debt is a significant component, and health-related outcomes, including maternal and child health and influenza vaccination, among others.

While President Biden's loan forgiveness program may improve the long-term health of past and present borrowers, future borrowers may still face the specter of heavy loan burdens with their attendant health effects. Further policies are needed to address this and other types of debt that negatively affect health and access to care. AJPM welcomes more research on these topics to inform future policy decisions.

We hope you find our September 2022 articles to be timely, topical, and informative.

Yours in prevention and health,