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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

Understanding the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Physical Activity-Induced Health Benefits


Molecular Mechanisms of Physical Activity-Induced Health Benefits

Although maintaining a healthy weight is critical for health promotion and disease prevention, the complex cellular and molecular mechanisms of physical activity are not fully understood. In October, 2014, the National Institute for Health (NIH) convened a workshop entitled ‘‘Understanding the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Physical Activity-Induced Health Benefits’’ to identify gaps in current knowledge, obstacles to obtaining that knowledge, and possible solutions that would advance the field. Working groups addressed physiological mechanisms by which acute and adaptive responses to physical activity benefits multiple tissues and organ systems and how these systems are altered by age, body composition, fitness level, and exposure to exercise. In response to ...

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Infographic: Tiendas/Bodegas & Kids


tiendas bodegas corner stores tiendas or bodegas healthy food

Many people, including Latinos, live in areas with poor access to supermarkets and easy access to corner stores, also called tiendas or bodegas. Research indicates that when corner stores offer a wider selection of healthy foods and promote them, people are more likely to buy them and eat healthier, according to our new infographic on tiendas/bodegas, which is part of the new Salud America! Better Food in the Neighborhood research package on the latest science and recommendations on healthy food options. Share this infographic ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 1p ET 12/15/15: Redefining Physical Activity for Health: Evidence & Anecdote


Walking Physical Activity and Exercise

Research over the past two decades has shown numerous health benefits associated with moderate intensity physical activity. This is why the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) developed the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (PAG), recommending 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week for adults and 60 minutes of moderate physical activity per day for kids, to include muscle-strengthening activities, for important health benefits and even more physical activity for greater health benefits. Join #SaludTues on December 15, 2015, to tweet about how we can use evidence and anecdote to redefine physical activity for lifelong health, and how we can stay motivated to move more and sit less throughout the day. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: ...

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News Media Highlight Research on Healthy Food Access Among Families


healthy food in the neighborhood

Many news media outlets covered the release of the new Salud America! Better Food in the Neighborhood research package on Dec. 8, 2015. The new research package offers an in-depth review of the latest science on the U.S. food environment and recommendations. KSAT-TV in San Antonio covered the research as part of its Making Awesome Changes series, which partners with Salud America! to feature people who are driving healthy changes to benefit the health of children and families. Here are a few other top stories: NBC News: Latino Neighborhoods Have Fewer Supermarkets, Less Healthy Options Latina Lista: Research: Latino Families Have Worse Access to Healthy Food Medical News Today: Research: Latino families struggle to access to healthy food See all the research ...

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Infographic: Supermarkets & Families


Infographic: Supermarkets & Families healthy food

Did you know Latino neighborhoods have one-third as many supermarkets as non-Latino ones? Research indicates that adding supermarkets improves access to healthy food and boosts economic vitality in areas where families experience financial hardships, according to our new infographic on supermarkets, which is part of the new Salud America! Better Food in the Neighborhood research package on the latest science and recommendations on healthy food options for families. Also, kids’ body weight outcomes improved when the number of chain supermarkets in their neighborhood increased. Share this infographic ...

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Important Distinction Between Physical Activity and Exercise



Decades of conflicting health, fitness, and weight-loss messages has lead to major confusion about what Latinos and all Americans need to do to be healthy. Every Body Walk! is clarifying health messages by redefining physical activity. "We could be raising the first generation in modern society to end up with statistically shorter life expectancies  than their parents," said Mark Fenton, adjunct associate professor at Tufts University. "And it won't be because of some infectious disease. It will be the diseases of sedentary living, like diabetes." Walking or Running Which sounds more doable on a daily basis: walking or running? Walking! Regardless of fitness level or weight status, complex biological and molecular processes occur within our body when we walk, which ...

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Research: Latino and Other Families Have Less Options for Healthy Food


food in the neighborhood Farmers' food market stall with variety of organic vegetable.

Latinos tend live in neighborhoods with few supermarkets and other sources of healthy, affordable food options, but several promising solutions are emerging, according to a new package of research from Salud America!, a national network for childhood obesity prevention and communication funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Salud America!’s Better Food in the Neighborhood research package includes an in-depth review of the latest science on the U.S. food environment and recommendations based on that research. It also includes an issue brief, animated video, and infographics. The research shows that Latino neighborhoods have one-third as many supermarkets as non-Latino ones, corner stores with few healthy options, and more marketing of unhealthy foods. Promising ways to ...

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Thanks for the Nomination, #LATISM!


Salud America Logo

Our @SaludAmerica (formerly @SaludToday) health social media handle was honored to be nominated for the Best Health channel to reach people through Tech Innovation and Social Media award from LATISM, a nonprofit group that empowers people through tech innovation and social media. Although we didn't win (congrats to our friends at the American Heart Association!), we love being part of a huge push to improve health. During the LATISM conference, our social media coordinator, Carlos Valenzuela of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at the UT Health Science Center, was honored to speak on behalf of IHPR Director Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez about how we’re using using our social media accounts and digital communications via Salud America! to raise awareness of childhood ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 1p ET 12/8/15: Envisioning a Healthier Food Environment


Envisioning a Healthier Food Environment

What will happen to the future environment? How are leaders, restaurants, and communities impacting food in neighborhoods? Use #SaludTues to tweet with us on Dec. 8, 2015, as we unveil the results of a new study that explores the ways we can envision a healthier food environment for neighborhoods and communities. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Envisioning a Healthier Food Environment TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m., ET, Dec. 8, 2015 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: Food Corps (@FoodCorps); Voices for Healthy Kids (@Voices4HK) We’ll open the floor to your stories and experiences as we explore: The results of a new research package, "Better Food in the Neighborhood," by Salud America!, the team behind the #SaludTues tweetchats. How ...

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