Watch San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro's award-winning introductory video about SABalance.org, the city's new website touting healthy eating and physical activity for local families, schools, and more. The video won bronze Telly awards in the health and wellness and instructional categories. Watch the winning video here or below. Watch other SABalance videos ...
Read MoreEpidemiologists predict about 1.6 million new cancer cases and 571,950 cancer deaths in the U.S. in 2011, according to the new Cancer Facts & Figures 2011. Cancer Facts & Figures provides a concise summary of frequently used cancer statistics, including projections of new cancer cases and deaths, general information on leading cancer sites, and information on major cancer risk factors, such as tobacco use, nutrition, and physical activity. This year's special section focuses on cancer disparities, including providing the estimated numbers of premature cancer deaths that occurred in 2007 as a result of socioeconomic disparities. Other highlights from Cancer Facts & Figures 2011 include: Cancers of the lung and bronchus, prostate, and colorectum in men, and cancers of the ...
Read MoreIf you missed it June 2, go here to watch the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) webinar, "A Multicultural Lens: Focusing on RWJF's Work in African-American and Latino Communities." The event highlighted RWJF programs to address health issues within these communities. It also featured the RWJF Multicultural Newsroom, a dynamic online site that provides extensive health-related resources for journalists whose coverage serves African-Americans and Latinos. RWJF President and CEO Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey addressed the Foundation's work within communities of color, and five RWJF senior leaders talked about programs targeting key issues, such as health care disparities, childhood obesity prevention, greater health care quality, the impact of social factors on health, and increased ...
Read MoreAlthough high school students report drinking plenty of water, milk, and real fruit juice, they still gulp down more sugar-sweetened beverages than is probably good for them, CDC researchers found, ABC News reports. About 24% of teen respondents said they had a soda every day. Several racial/ethnic differences were found, according to the story, which originated at MedPage Today. Teen boys were more likely report drinking milk and whole fruit juices than girls, and whites were more likely than blacks and Hispanics to have water and milk every day. Boys and blacks were also more likely to drink soda and sports drinks than girls and white or Hispanic teens. For more, watch the ABC News report here or ...
Read MoreA new report on the recent 2nd Annual SALSI Research Forum: Latino Obesity highlights innovative strategies and programs to reduce obesity among San Antonio and South Texas Latinos. Nearly 75% of Latinos were overweight or obese in Texas as of 2009. That’s why Latino obesity-focused research and programs are so vital. “The researchers and leaders present at the forum are working at ‘ground zero’ of the Latino obesity epidemic in Texas,” said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, which coordinated the forum with UT San Antonio. “It’s important to highlight these efforts to better understand what works to encourage Latinos’ healthier lifestyles.” The forum on May 10, ...
Read MoreDr. Deborah Parra-Medina, a professor at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, is leading a new project to teach Latina moms and daughters in South Texas about the HPV and cervical cancer, which disproportionately affects Latinas. Conexión, a publication of the San Antonio Express-News, has more: A new program called Entre Mujeres from the Cancer Therapy & Research Center at the UT Health Science center will allow mothers and daughters, ages 11-17, in the lower Rio Grande Valley to come together in a unique setting to educate themselves on HPV and its prevention. Entre Mujeres will combine community health workers, or “promotoras,” and college students from UT Pan American's Kappa Delta Chi sorority to present educational ...
Read MoreThe Social and Health Research Center in San Antonio has received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use cameras and innovative computer software to estimate children’s dietary intake. The proposed instrument is the Digital Food Imaging Analysis technique (DFIA). The DFIA will program cameras and develop software to interface with the USDA nutrition database for nutrient analysis, in hopes of providing the most comprehensive and quantitative estimation of children’s food consumption and nutrient analysis. The system would photograph kids' meal trays before and after they ate. The computer system would analyze the photos to calculate exact calories eaten and values of more than 100 other nutrients. Parents will receive the data for their ...
Read MoreSylvia Meléndez Klinger, a registered dietitian and founder of Hispanic Food Communications, offered several tips for healthy Latin meals in a recent column for Fox News Latino: Alternatives to frying and tips for using oil. For example, use vegetable oil such as canola oil or olive oil instead of lard. Tasty seasoning suggestions. Use cinnamon for sweet potatoes, cereals, hot beverages, etc., and limit the amount of oil and, if needed, use no more than 1 to 2 teaspoons of olive oil Trimming the fat. Trim the fat from the meat and throw it away before preparing beef, lamb or pork. Also, choose extra lean cuts and go easy on the cheese. Trimming the calories. For flan, switch condensed milk for skim or fat-free condensed milk, or use egg substitute for whole eggs. ...
Read MoreEfforts to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic are reaching new heights all across San Antonio, a city with a large Latino population: City officials have rolled out SAbalance, a new Web site and social media campaign to increase awareness of local health and wellness opportunities. Mayor Julián Castro has placed public health and education on the front-burner of the city’s agenda. The mayor also appointed a Mayor’s Fitness Council, which features Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Ramirez leads Salud America! The RWJF Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children, based at the IHPR. IHPR researchers are working with the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas to ...
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