Latino kids consume more soft drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, and other sugary drinks on average than do their White peers. Sugary drink consumption contributes to increased rates of obesity and diabetes, studies show. Raising the price of sugary drinks could reduce consumption among Latino kids, and potentially improve weight outcomes, according to a new package of research materials produced jointly by Salud America! and Bridging the Gap, two national research programs funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The new Sugary Drinks & Latino Kids research materials start with an in-depth review of the latest science on sugary drink consumption by Latino kids and how pricing strategies could influence such consumption. The materials also provide policy implications ...
Check out this cool new animated video on the science behind the consumption of sugary beverages among Latino kids. The video, which is part of a new Salud America! “Sugary Drinks and Latino Kids” package of research, which also contains a research review, issue brief and infographic, can be found here. Latino kids consume an above-average amount of sugary drinks (74% have had a sugary drink by age 2!). Raising the price of sugary drinks could reduce consumption among Latino kids, and potentially improve weight outcomes, according to ...
What’s the impact of pricing on sugary drink consumption among Latino kids? Check out this cool infographic that indicates that higher sugary drink prices were linked to lower body weight in school kids, with a greater impact on Latino students, according to research. The infographic is part of a new Salud America! “Sugary Drinks and Latino Kids” package of research, which also contains a research review, issue brief and animated video. All materials can be found ...
San Antonio sisters Makayla Esparza, 9, and Alyssa Esparza, 8, led largely inactive lifestyles. They saw a weight-loss contest on TV and decided to get active and help others get active, but they didn’t know of any afterschool programs to join and they didn’t have anyone to be active with. This led to their big idea: invite all the kids from their neighborhood for a 90-day get fit challenge to improve. With the help of their grandmother, Dawn Guerrero, Alyssa and Makayla posted an ad on Craigslist to invite kids to be active with them. They also invited members from the fitness community to show them ways to be fit. Soon kids from all over the neighborhood started showing up, and the group “Fitness FUNatics” was born. Although their 90-day challenge is now over, the Fitness ...
An abandoned alley in Lake Worth, Fla., was re-developed into an attractive greenway through team work and perseverance by a researcher, school district employee, city staff, and the community. The greenway, which is located near a school in a predominantly Latino area, will increase the area’s walkability and connect two neighborhoods to a nearby high school.
EMERGENCE
Awareness: Dr. Ruth McCaffrey, a trained nurse and professor at Florida Atlantic University, was keenly aware that obesity was a growing concern in Lake Worth, Fla. About 30% of the city’s 35,000 residents live in poverty, and 40% are Latino—with a growing number of families migrating there from Guatemala. Several parts of town lack adequate spaces for physical activity, and the way the city was designed impedes ...
Childhood obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes. A new website, notmykids.net, offers healthier recipes, tips on how to eat healthier, and ideas about how to help families be more physically active, to promote healthy lifestyle changes and prevent obesity. The site is produced by the California Department of Public Health’s Network for a Healthy California. Watch their video here or ...
Have you ever wondered how you can bring a walking trail to your community? This action guide or toolkit developed by the Partnership for Prevention and the CDC explains the steps to getting a trail in one's community. Learn about identifying resources and promoting your plan to bring a walking trail to your community. By bringing a walking trail to your community, you can provide local residents with a safe and calming environment to help boost levels of physical activity and prevent ...
The Youth Activism Project, a youth-driven leadership development program, believes that "kids should be seen and heard!" Because 26% of the U.S. population is under the age of 18, the Youth Activism Project is working to empower youth across the world to be change agents for their community. Since 1992 they have worked to: Promote youth civic engagement
Provide free advice via email and their toll-free hotline
Train adults on how to work with young people
Convince community, educational and government leader to engage young people in meaningful roles
Share best practices and strategies for lasting change
Serve as a network for like-minded individuals Check out their youth strategies page to learn more about the first steps in change, ways to find funding, and more about 100 ...
The Get Fit & Flourish Enhanced Physical Activity Manual was developed in 2013 by the Illinois Public Health Institute with support from the American Cancer Society. This manual is intended to serve as a resource for programs to increase the amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity offered during P.E. time or after-school settings. The handbook contains lessons and handouts geared towards getting kids to ...
