Articles by Amanda Merck

Rebecca (Adeigbe) Jones: Pushing the Public Health Envelope

March 13, 2015

Rebecca (Adeigbe) Jones grew up in South Texas’ Lower Rio Grande Valley, a mostly Latino area that often lacks basic infrastructure—like streets and running water—and also is short on doctors and public health services. Jones now works to improve health in this region and beyond. Jones, a researcher at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at UT Health San Antonio, empowers people to take control of their health, and emboldens others to focus on health research and changes. “I’ve been increasingly attuned to high poverty and disease rates—and I enjoy working hard to make a real difference in improving health and quality of life,” Jones said. Jones got her big break into public health in 2010. As an intern for Míranos!, an obesity prevention ...

#SaludTues Tweetchat 3/17/15: “How to Get Closer to My Grocer”

March 13, 2015

Unhealthy diets can contribute to obesity. But in many neighborhoods, there are more fast-food restaurants than grocery stores and farmers’ markets, which can offer affordable fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grain products, low-fat milk, and other healthy options. Let’s use #SaludTues on March 17, 2015, to tweet and discuss strategies on how to bring families closer to grocery stores and healthy foods in their neighborhoods: WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “How to Get Closer to My Grocer” DATE: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 TIME: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT) WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: The American Heart Association Voices for Healthy Kids Texas Campaign Team, The Food Trust (@thefoodtrust), and Voices for Healthy Kids ...

New TV Series: ‘Making Awesome Changes’ in San Antonio to Fight Obesity

February 26, 2015

Childhood obesity is a big problem in San Antonio. That's why Salud America! and KSAT-TV are teaming up for a new series, "Making Awesome Changes," which will regularly feature local Salud America! Salud Heroes—people and groups who are pushing for healthy changes—on the evening news. Salud America!, a childhood obesity research and communication network supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and directed by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, uses research, stories, and resources to help people drive healthy change in their own communities. Salud America! tells the stories of many youth, parents, teachers and other community members are working to improve physical activity and nutrition to help reduce ...

Tell Kellogg: Stop Marketing High-Sugar Recipes to Families

February 24, 2015

BerkeleyPasses Ban Junk Food in Store Checkout Aisles

Moms often have final say over family meals. Marketers know this. Kellogg Co., the name behind brands like Fruit Loops, Pop-Tarts, and Eggo Waffles, has a new digital marketing campaign, Días Grandiosos, that targets Spanish-speaking moms online and on social media like Facebook and Pinterest with recipes they tout as saludable (healthy). But many of their meals are high in sugar and salt. In other words, NOT saludable. Tell Kellogg to stop pushing moms to give their kids unhealthy, sugary foods, and instead add more healthy options! Almost all the campaign’s recipes—19 of the 29 recipes on its website—qualify as desserts based on their high sugar content, according to an independent nutritionist. Like: Five recipes using Rice Krispies and marshmallows; ...

Study: Hispanics More Likely To Develop Liver Disease From Alcohol

February 23, 2015

Hispanics are more likely to get alcoholic liver disease, and get it at younger ages, according to a new study, Inquisitr reports. The study, by the UC Davis Health System, conducted a retrospective chart review of more than 1,500 patients with alcoholic liver disease—a spectrum of diseases including alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis that often result from long duration of high amounts of alcohol. Not everyone is affected by alcohol the same way. Even if the same amount of alcohol is consumed, the liver damage from alcohol in some people can be more severe than in others, suggesting that other factors, such as genes and environment, can influence the development of liver damage. In the study, more Hispanic people get alcoholic liver disease, ...

#SaludTues Tweetchat 2/24/15: How Moms Can Fight Junk Food Marketing

February 18, 2015

Moms often have final say over family meals. Let’s use #SaludTues on Feb. 24, 2015, to help moms fight back against unhealthy food advertising by tweeting resources and strategies: WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “How Moms Can Fight Junk Food Marketing” DATE: Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015 TIME: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT) WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: The Center for Science in the Public Interest (@CSPI), Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity (@UConnRuddCenter), and MomsRising (@MomsRising) Be sure to use the hashtag #SaludTues to follow the conversation on Twitter/X and share your stories and resources. #SaludTues is a Tweetchat on Twitter/X that focuses on a variety of different health issues. From September 2014 to ...

#SaludTues Tweetchat 2/10/15: Why You Should #GetCovered Today

February 5, 2015

doctor and patient health care coverage insurance

Some people struggle with high rates of obesity, certain cancers and other diseases. This is often due to a lack of access to health coverage. With open enrollment set to close in just days for health care coverage, let’s use #SaludTues on Feb. 10, 2015, to chat on Twitter about strategies and resources on how to increase health coverage and access to care: WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Why Should You #GetCovered Today?” DATE: Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015 TIME: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT) WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (@RWJF_Live), Elianne Ramos, and VotoLatino (@VotoLatino) SPECIAL GUESTS: @HolaDoctor, @GetCoveredUS Be sure to use the hashtag #SaludTues to follow the conversation ...

Salud America! Gets $1.3M to Fuel Changes that Reduce Childhood Obesity

February 2, 2015

Who is stepping up for child and family health? Salud America! The RWJF Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Children this week received a one-year, $1.3 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to develop new educational content that empowers people to drive healthy changes for children. The new funding allows Salud America! to expand its membership, which has recruited more than 10,000 parents, leaders, academics, and more. The network also will conduct research reviews and recommendations to guide anti-obesity efforts. It also will enhance its award-winning Salud America! Growing Healthy Change website with: new campaigns to engage people in reducing obesity; new multimedia Salud Heroes stories and videos of successful healthy changes; expanded ...

#SaludTues Tweetchat 1/27/15: How to Spark A Culture of Fitness & Fun in Communities

January 23, 2015

From brain breaks to 5Ks and bike trains—parents and leaders all across the country are discovering creative ways to help kids find fun ways to stay fit. But there’s still more to do, and you can help share what's working! Join us for a #SaludTues Tweetchat, “How to Spark A Culture of Fitness & Fun in Communities,” on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015 at noon central (1 p.m. eastern) to discuss, innovative, practical solutions for inspiring healthy change. • WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “How to Spark A Culture of Fitness & Fun in Communities,” • DATE: Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015 • TIME: Noon CST (1:00 PM ET) • WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues • HOST: @SaludAmerica • CO-HOSTS: @AL_Research & @SafeRoutesNow Be sure to use the hashtag #SaludTues to ...

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Amanda Merck

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