The American Diabetes Association (ADA) continues to raise awareness among Latinos of the seriousness of diabetes. The group has launched a new Spanish-language blog about diabetes and those inspired to stop it, called No Más Diabetes. The have a great Facebook page in Spanish, too. Also, the ADA's por tu familia program, described in this video, contains Spanish-language, culturally relevant information on diabetes risk factors and warning signs. Contents focuses on healthy eating, understanding the link between heart diseases and diabetes, and the importance and impact of increasing physical activity. The program also encourages appropriate testing among those at risk and treatment for those diagnosed with ...
Health information can be overwhelming. People with a less "health literacy" can find it hard to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions. Some health providers have little "cultural competency," which is their ability to recognize individuals' cultural beliefs, values, attitudes, traditions, language preferences, and health practices and apply this knowledge to influence positive health outcomes. Improving both the health literacy and cultural competency of health professionals can improve healthcare consumer satisfaction, improve health outcomes, reduce the cost of care, and reduce health care disparities. That's why Maryland health officials created the "Cultural Competency and Health Literacy Primer: A Guide for Teaching ...
Check out these new videos from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that discuss progress in reversing childhood obesity. This video features Genoveva Islas-Hooker, regional director of the Central California Regional Obesity Prevention, about how California and Latino families are addressing the epidemic. This video features Eduardo Sanchez, MD, deputy chief medical officer, American Heart Association, provides his take on what needs to be done to address the childhood obesity epidemic. To learn more, go ...
Team Nutrition, through the USDA, provides a guide called Dig In! for those looking to engage 5th and 6th grade students in gardening, and the nutritional and educational experiences that go with it! They provide lessons, handouts, and posters. For teachers they provide a guide that discusses how to feature different items of produce in fun educational lessons that teach food safety, have tasting activities, teach food preparation, and gardening techniques. The resources created by Team Nutrition are made to be fun lessons, that give students hands on experience with new foods and teach them how to create sustainable gardens so that they may use this knowledge throughout their lives. ...
About 18% of all third-graders in Connecticut are obese. About 25% of Latino third-graders in the state are obese. Some experts in the region are highlighting unhealthy marketing as a contributor, given Latino kids' high exposure to media, the New Britain Herald reports. “In my opinion, Spanish-speaking children are more heavily targeted by junk food, dessert and sugar-sweetened beverage ads because their community is very disempowered and does not have the means to advocate for changes in these unhealthy marketing practices that have been seriously questioned by groups that have a higher social position in the country,” Dr. Rafael Perez-Escamilla, director of the Connecticut Center for Eliminating Health Disparities among Latinos at the University of Connecticut, told the ...
In an effort to get more people biking, a local volunteer group by the name of Open Austin has partnered with the Office of Council Member Chris Riley, the City of Austin Public Works Neighborhood Connectivity Division, and other bike organizations in Austin to create the Bike Buddy website. The Bike Buddy website aims to connect novice cyclists with experienced bikers to encourage more bike commuting in Austin. On the Bike Buddy website, one can also gain access to the Movability Austin website, which encourages individuals to break the habit of driving and consider adopting an alternative means of transportation. Learn more about Austin's Safe Passing Ordinance, which protects cyclists while on the road, by watching the ...
A recent study by the Children's Nutrition Research Center in Houston, Texas has discovered an interesting correlation between obesity and peanut consumption. According to their study, Mexican-American children who consume peanuts at least once a week are less likely to be overweight or obese. Currently, 39% of the Mexican-American children are classified as overweight or obese, compared to the 32% of all children in the United States- a fact that prompts studies like this, that explore what factors and foods affect childhood obesity. Studies have long shown the health benefits of nut consumption for adults, aiding in lower lipid levels, lower body mass indices, and reduced risk of coronary artery disease. This study looks specifically at how these benefits relate to children. It ...
Latino kids often have limited access to safe gyms, fields, and playgrounds, but shared use agreements and street-level improvements can improve access to these “active spaces” in underserved communities and may help young Latinos become more physically active and maintain a healthy weight, according to a new package of research materials from Salud America! The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children. The new Salud America! “Active Spaces for Latino Kids” has a research review of the latest science, an original animated video, and an infographic. A study shows that 81 percent of Latino neighborhoods did not have a recreational facility, compared with 38 percent of White neighborhoods. Fewer schools provided public ...
Check out this cool new animated video on how Latino families need better access to safe playgrounds, gyms, fields, and other "active spaces." The video, which is part of a new Salud America! “Active Spaces and Latino Kids” package of research, which also contains a research review, issue brief and infographic, can be found ...
