Six Flags theme parks offer family fun in the sun—but no tips on how to eat healthy while having fun. Six Flags’ “healthy food” webpages have no nutritional facts! They list churros, nachos, pizza, and fried chicken as nutritious, and only have vague references to healthy options, like salad. The parks’ 26 million annual visitors deserve better. Tell Six Flags to list and describe its specific healthy menu options and add nutritional information to its website so families can make plans to eat healthy while at the theme parks! For example, 9 of the 10 foods claimed as “nutritious” at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in Latino-majority San Antonio are not actually that nutritious if prepared traditionally, according to a dietician—they’re high in cholesterol, sodium and ...
One-third of adults in the U.S. suffers from metabolic syndrome, but Latinos suffer the most, according to a new study, Latina Magazine reports. About 39% of Latinos suffer from the syndrome, a higher rate than both whites (37.4%) and blacks (35.5%). Metabolic syndrome is called a "perfect storm" of several health conditions that include high blood pressure, increased levels of blood sugar, cholesterol and wider waist circumference. What’s alarming to doctors and researchers is that metabolic syndrome dramatically increases with age. Half of Latinas age 60 or older have the syndrome. "That's concerning, because we know the population of the U.S. is aging," said senior author Dr. Robert Wong, an assistant clinical professor at University of California, San Francisco. "I ...
The average age of a stroke in Latinos is 67 and 80 for non-Latinos, heightening their risk of severe disabilities, according to the The Northern Manhattan Stroke Study. A stroke, or "brain attack," occurs when an artery to the brain gets clogged or ruptures depriving a part(s) of the brain from blood flow and glucose. It can cause paralysis, problems with thinking and speaking, and emotional problems. Doctors recommend exercising and leading an active lifestyle in order to reduce stroke risk. That's especially important for Latinos, who are about 70% obese. Obesity is the main factor in determining someones propensity to cardiovascular illnesses later in life, which is one of the main causes of strokes. The average amount of excise recommended is 30 minutes a day, five days a ...
Bicycling is one of the healthiest and greenest ways to get around. The number of people peddling to work has significantly increased over the last couple of years, according to the League of American Bicyclists. But the number may not be high enough to make a difference in the health of millions of Americans, especially Latinos who are at a higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. According to doctors the benefits of bike riding include Increased cardiovascular fitness
Increased muscle strength and flexibility
Improved joint mobility
Decreased stress levels
Improved posture and coordination
Strengthened bones
Decreased body fat levels
Prevention or management of disease
Reduced anxiety and depression Data from a research in Finland showed ...
Hispanics, blacks, and American Indians were more likely to surpass a normal weight by age 18 than whites were, which increases their risk of adult obesity, according to a new study, HealthDay reports. The study, unveiled at an American Heart Association meeting March 5, examined 31,000 adults. The study found that, among those ages 18-30, those most likely to move from a normal-weight category to overweight or obese categories were American Indian males and females, Hispanic males and black females. The number of Hispanic males with normal weight decreased by 5.6% a year. The authors cited an "obesogenic" environment, low-income status, cultural factors, and genetics (to a lesser extent) as reasons for the disparities. They named eating as a family, limiting high-sugar and ...
Latina moms are 15 times more likely to give their toddlers coffee, according to a new study, VoxxiNews reports. The study found that 2% of infants were drinking coffee and 15% of 2-year-olds drink as much as four ounces of coffee a day, and that Latina moms were more likely to report giving their babies coffee, CBS Boston reports. Also, 2-year-olds who drank coffee or tea had triple the risk of being obese in kindergarten. "Our results show that many infants and toddlers in Boston – and perhaps in the U.S. – are being given coffee and that this could be associated with cultural practices,” said study leader Dr. Anne Merewood of the Boston University School of Medicine. VoxxiNews noted the cultural aspects of coffee among Latinos: "In some cultures, however, children ...
Mexicans are guzzling fewer sugary drinks since a national sugary drink tax took effect one year ago, and U.S. health proponents say they hope this can help sway local voters to adopt similar measures, the International Business Times reports. Studies indicate raising the price of sugary drinks can reduce consumption and potentially lower obesity and health risks. U.S. Latino kids consume an above-average amount of sugary drinks (soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, and flavored milk), which contributes to increased rates of obesity, diabetes, and other health issues that disproportionately affect the Latino community. Mexico's sugary drink tax, a reaction to the country's large sugary drink intake (3.6 million cans of soda each day) and high diabetes rates ...
The American Heart Association (AHA) is urging Hispanic families to discuss heart health, given their struggles with heart disease, VoxxiNews reports. More than one-third of Hispanics have heart diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, hypertension, heart failure, and irregular heartbeat. Hispanics also have elevated risk factors, like obesity and diabetes. Here are seven reasons Latinos should take heart disease seriously, via VoxxiNews: Among Mexican-American adults age 20 and older, 33.4% of men and 30.7% percent of women have cardiovascular disease (CVD).
2.8% of Hispanic adults have had a stroke.
Men, blacks, and Mexican Americans have higher rates of TIA (mini-stroke) than their female and non-Hispanic white counterparts.
Mexican Americans have higher cumulative ...
Spanish-language TV advertising for sugary drinks and energy shots increased by 44% over the past few years, according to a new report. The report, Sugary Drink FACTS 2014, updates the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity's 2011 research on sugary drinks and advertising to children. The report highlights industry progress but also indicates that companies still have a long way to go to improve their marketing practices and the nutritional quality of their youth-marketed products. This is particularly relevant to Latino youth, who consume more sugary drinks than their white peers, with 74% of Latinos having their first sugary drink before age 2. Some progress was made in marketing to Latino kids: On Spanish-language TV, Kraft Foods and Red Bull eliminated virtually ...
