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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

Webinars on Childhood Obesity



The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity offers a webinar series, “Let’s End the Childhood Obesity Epidemic,” at noon ET each Thursday to focus on childhood obesity research, advocacy and other hot topics in the field. The topic for Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, is "Getting Back in Balance: Influencing Policy and Environmental Factors to Increase Children's Physical Activity Levels and Consumption of Nutritious Foods." For a prior Webinar on Latino childhood obesity, watch the presentation or view the slides by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, head of SaludToday, Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the UT Health Science Center at San ...

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Wrap Up on Latino Child Obesity Summit



The team behind SaludToday recently held its first-ever Scientific Summit on Latino childhood obesity.  Salud America!, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation national research program to prevent obesity among Latino children, united researchers, community leaders and policy-makers from Sept. 9-11, 2009, in San Antonio to discuss the latest advancements and progress in reducing Latino childhood obesity. View the Summit Report. It includes commentary by: Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the U.S. Lance Armstrong, champion cyclist Sean Elliott, ex-NBA player, and his wife, Claudia Zapata, health columnist (pictured at left) Texas Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. And many more Visit Salud America! ...

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Story: Latino Mother Shares How She Improved Her Family’s Health



From the Alliance for a Healthier Generation: Andrea is a Latino mother who adapted her Mexican culture’s traditional recipes with healthy alternatives to honor her ancestors and show her love. Some of Andrea's quick tips are: Take favorite ethnic recipes and make them healthier without sacrificing taste. Instead of frying beans in lard, you can steam them in a slow cooker. If you know in your heart that a food isn’t healthy, then avoid feeding it to your child on a regular basis. Watch Andrea's story below. Read more about her story and other mother's stories at the Alliance's new Be Well ...

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‘Did You Know’ Truth about Latino Child Obesity?



Watch this dramatic video about the obesity epidemic among Latino children. Is it powerful? Are you interested in helping fight the epidemic? Please comment! For more on Latino childhood obesity, visit Salud ...

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Welcome!



The SaludToday blog brings you the latest stories, news, research and information on many different aspects of Latino health, including cancer, obesity and culture’s impact on health. This blog will feature news, polls and stories about Latino life and health, from research on Latino health to interventions to boost fitness and prevent obesity among Latino children to unique stories of Latino cancer survivors, and much more. Sign up with us to comment on blog entries and suggest ...

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