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Amanda Merck

Merck completed her MPH with a concentration in Physical Activity and Health. She curates content for Salud America! (@SaludAmerica), a Latino childhood obesity prevention project based at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. She focuses on the latest research, resources, and stories related to policy, systems, and environmental changes to enhance equitable access to safe places for kids and families to walk, bike, and play.

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Articles by Amanda Merck

Study: Soda Tax Would Boost Health of Latinos, Blacks



A tax on soda would carry the greatest health benefits for black and Latino Californians, who face the highest risks of diabetes and heart disease, according to recent research findings, California Watch reports. According to the news report: The study found that if a penny-per-ounce tax was applied to soda, cuts in consumption would result in an 8 percent decline in diabetes cases among blacks and Latinos. The statewide reduction in new diabetes cases is projected at 3 to 5.6 percent, according to researchers from UC San Francisco, Columbia University and Oregon State University, who released their findings at a recent American Public Health Association annual meeting. The study was unveiled as a sugar-sweetened beverage tax faces votes in El Monte, in Los Angeles County, and ...

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Study: Hispanic Parents Don’t See Food Companies’ Impact on Their Kids’ Eating Habits as Bad



Parents are concerned about food marketing and the way it impacts their children’s eating habits and would support policies to limit the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children, according to a new report from Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity. Black and Hispanic parents reported believing that their children saw more food advertising and were more affected by that advertising compared with white parents, the report found. They also perceived more obstacles to ensuring healthy eating habits for their children, and were more supportive of most policies to promote healthy eating habits and limit food marketing. Black and Hispanic parents, however, did not view the influence of food companies on their children’s eating habits more negatively, the ...

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Two Futures for America’s Health



Editor’s Note: This post is part of an ongoing series that will highlight work of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in Latino communities. SaludToday Guest Blogger: Risa Lavizzo-Mourey President and CEO, RWJF RWJF and the Trust for America’s Health recently released our annual report, F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future. Obesity rates in the United States remain unacceptably high, and the epidemic persists in affecting Blacks and Hispanics disproportionately. For the first time, this year’s report examined how the obesity epidemic could impact our future 20 years from now. Ironically, this forecast has made me reflect on the past. Thirty years ago, I lived in Philadelphia and was an instructor at Temple University. After a long day ...

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Obesity: Mexico Starts War Against Sugary Drinks, Fatty Foods



With the second-highest national rate of obesity in the world (after the U.S.) and the fourth highest rate of childhood obesity, Mexico has started an initiative to help educate children about healthy eating habits and the dangers associated with sugary beverages and fatty foods, Voxxi reports. Mexican officials recently started a “Week of Taste” program in 124 schools to show children natural and simple flavors while creating a desire to eat healthy. Last year, they started a campaign to focus on getting young people to drink more water, eat more vegetables and fruit, and to exercise more. Read more here or check out this special video report by ...

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Texans Compete in First-of-its-Kind Community Health Competition



Obesity is a serious health challenge, but what if everyone around you is eating better and moving more? What if Austin and Houston were shaping up? Would San Antonio shape up, too? The Healthy at H-E-B Community Challenge pits Texas cities against each other to see which community can demonstrate the greatest commitment to health. Individuals, schools, organizations or business and mayors can all help their communities earn points. Points are earned for cities when community members upload a description and picture of their healthy activities. The competition runs until Nov. 1. At that time, one winner will be announced from each of the three size categories: small, midsize, and large. Although San Antonio is winning, many other cities are active and uploading healthy ...

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Cool Video & More: Creating Latino Policy Change Agents



How can... Researchers be Policy Change Agents? (Pg 1) Latinos Take a "No-Soda Challenge? (Pg 3) Parents Communicate Better w/Kids? (Pg 5) Latinos Face Unhealthy Marketing? (Pg 6) Find out in the Salud America! E-newsletter. Also find lots more news, research and funding inside the E-newsletter, and discover the preliminary research results of several Salud America! grantees working in Latino clinics, communities, and schools. Salud America! is funded by RWJF and directed by the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, which developed SaludToday. To sign up to receive Salud America! E-newsletters, go ...

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Infographic: Can Culture Help Prevent Latino Health Problems?



Check out Balsera Communications' infographic on how culture may help prevent Latino health problems. Latinos face a high risk of certain health problems—heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and certain cancers—but the infographic argues that, "by infusing some of the most cherished traits of our culture into solutions for our health disparities, we can help overcome them in a fun and effortless ...

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Revamped Website Tackles Latino Health Issues



You’re invited to check out the new revamped website of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, which investigates the causes of and solutions to the unequal impact of cancer, chronic disease and obesity among Latinos in South Texas and across the nation. The website now features: Additional areas for news, research and materials Better organization for rapid access to research Seamless video player Social media integration You can also now sign up to get the latest Latino health news via e-mail. “Our website aims to raise awareness of our work to improve the health of Latinos, a diverse, culturally rich population that faces a higher burden of certain diseases than other groups,” said Amelie G. Ramirez, ...

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IHPR Promotora Programs Take Center Stage at White House



Sandra San Miguel de Majors, a research instructor at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at the Health Science Center at San Antonio, touted the use of community health workers—called promotores—to improve people's health at the Latina Health Policy Briefing for Promotores de Salud on Sept. 26, 2012, at the White House in Washington, D.C. The policy briefing, organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to review the affordable care act, united key Latino health care providers, researchers, stakeholders and promotores to discuss successful evidenced-based Latino research initiatives utilizing promotores. The briefing featured Cecilia Muñoz, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and Kathleen Sebelius, HHS secretary. San ...

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