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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

9 Essential Intersections in Active Transportation



Rates of active transportation are a result of a complex set of factors unique to communities and states. Based on the 2016 Alliance Benchmarking Report, the Alliance for Biking and Walking compiled 9 Essential Intersections in Active Transportation. Community Size & Mode Share Gender &  Commuting Race & Mobility Age & Safety Income & Walking/Transit Infrastructure & Access Health & Active Commuting State Policies & Bike/Walk Levels Economic Development & Biking "Recognizing the connection between access to active transportation and better health outcomes, a growing number of states and cities are setting goals to increase biking and walking — and improve health." Learn more about the "9 Essential ...

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2016 Alliance for Biking and Walking Benchmarking Report



With funding through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the Alliance for Biking and Walking conducted the 2016 Alliance Benchmarking Report exploring the rise of walking and biking and the intersections between transportation, health, economics, equity, government funding, advocacy efforts, and more. By illuminating key indicators that shape American mobility, the Benchmarking Report can help you make the case for safe, equitable, active transportation options in your community and begin conversations to improve or establish effective, equitable, active transportation systems in your community. "Positive health outcomes from increased active transportation may have the greatest impact on low-income communities and youth." Table of Contents Part I. ...

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Syracuse Establishes 17 One-Mile Routes to Encourage Mile Monday



The Monday Mile began in the city of Syracuse (4.6% Latino) and Onondaga County, in 2012, with the Monday Campaigns Move It Monday campaign to encourage more physical activity on Mondays-because research suggests that exercising on Monday can encourage more exercise through the rest of the week. Through the Lerner Centers for Public Health Promotion, the Healthy Monday Syracuse team worked with the offices of the mayor and county executives, city and county parks, SUNY Upstate, and Syracuse University to establish way finding signs along ten 1-mile routes across the city and county. Walking has numerous health benefits; however, many Latino's don't have access to safe places to be physically active. Therefore, establishing safe routes for resident's to walk while including ...

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Peanut Butter Can Help Achieve a Healthy Weight



A new study of Latino students indicates that snacking on peanut butter or peanuts up to four times a week could be the key to fighting childhood obesity, according to a news report. Researchers from the University of Houston Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP), Baylor College of Medicine, and Texas Woman’s University studied 257 Latino middle school students in Houston. Students were given a choice of accepting or not accepting a daily snack of peanuts or peanut butter offered at the end of the school day, according to the news report: Over the course of the study, the students who were deemed favorable toward accepting peanuts or a peanut butter snack daily did so much more frequently than members of the group who were less likely to accept the snack choice. ...

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3 Ways to Boost Your Health



If you’re like many parents, you probably don’t have enough time to go to the gym every day. Being a parent can be hectic—especially when you have to juggle work, children, and family. What can you do to stay healthy without spending hundreds of hours at the gym every week? Exercise Doctors recommend exercising your heart at least 30 minutes a day to stay in optimal health conditions. For example, you can walk during lunch time, run/jog in place while you watch your favorite novela, or go bicycle riding with your children to the nearest park. Eat Healthy Mom was right, we are what we eat. Stop eating foods high in saturated fats, salt, and cholesterol. Replace junk food with fruits, vegetables, and plenty of water. Meditate Plenty of studies have proven that ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 3/8/16: How to ‘Veg Out’ for Latino Kids



Latino and other minority kids are disproportionately exposed to unhealthy foods and drinks, creating a need for increased access to and education about fresh fruit and vegetables. That’s why, for National Nutrition Month in March, we’re inviting YOU to use #SaludTues and tweet your favorite recipes and tools, and learn cool ways to “Veg Out”! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: Ways to "Veg Out" for Healthy Eating TIME/DATE: Noon CST (1 p.m. EST) Tuesday, March, 8, 2016 WHERE: On Twitter , hashtag #SaludTues HOST: Salud America! (@SaludToday) CO-HOSTS: Recipe For Success (@R4SFoundation), The Coalition for Healthy School Food (@CoolSchoolFood), Chop Chop Magazine (@chopchopmag), the Chef Anne Foundation (@ChefAnnFnd) During the Tweetchat you’ll get to hear about the ...

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San Antonio’s New 5K Series Targets History and Fitness



The City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) is hosting a series of guided walks/runs across the city (63.2% Latino) throughout 2016, called SApreservation 5K. The primary mission of the OHP is to protect the historical, cultural, architectural, and archaeological resources that make San Antonio unique. The OHP is also committed to outreach and education to help residents understand the value of preserving historic, archaeological, and cultural resources. Connecting historic preservation with walking and running is a creative way to promote the importance of safeguarding the City’s unique heritage while also drawing attention to environmental factors that influence resident's physical activity. "Data shows that our historic neighborhoods outperform ...

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San Antonio SApreservation 5K Series



The City of San Antonio’s Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) is hosting a series of guided walks/runs across the city (63.2% Latino) throughout 2016, called SApreservation 5K. See dates and locations below: March 5, 2016, at 9:00 am, at San Antonio Water Works at 2809 Broadway (Lions Field). May 14, 2016, at Amazing Preservation Race (special timed event; separate registration). September 10, 2016, at Monte Vista. October 29, 2016, at Eastside Cemeteries. December 6, 2016 at Downtown Holiday Lights. Registration for each tour is $25 and includes a shirt (or $10, shirt excluded). SPECIAL OFFER: Register for all four 5k tours for $40 and receive your shirt at the first tour. Learn more about the  2016 SA Preservation 5k ...

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Get Snap-Happy and Celebrate National School Breakfast Week!



Do you and your kids eat breakfast? Research shows that when kids have a nutritious breakfast, they do better academically and have less risk of obesity-related diseases. Unfortunately, about half of low-income students don’t eat breakfast, a recent study shows. For National School Breakfast Week (March 7-11), we at Salud America! (@SaludToday on social media) are using social media to promote healthy breakfast at school and at home for Latino and all kids. We invite you to snap a picture of you and/or your child having breakfast at home or at school and share it using #SaludNSBW / #NSBW16 on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for your chance to win a T-shirt and jump rope! Salud America!, a Latino childhood obesity network funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and ...

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