See Who’s Stepping Up Vs. Latino Child Obesity



How can... Bilingual kids' books teach Latinos about healthy lifestyles? (Page 1) School cafeterias transform into healthy cafés? (Page 3) Researchers more easily investigate American childhood obesity? (Page 4) Find the answers and more in the latest Salud America! E-newsletter. Also find out the latest in Latino childhood obesity policy, news and updates on Salud America!, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) network to prevent obesity among Latino kids. The network is directed by the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, which developed SaludToday. To sign up to receive Salud America! E-newsletters, go ...

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Arthritis Takes Varying, Heavy Toll on Hispanic Groups



Rates of arthritis vary among different Hispanic groups, but its overall effects appear to be substantial across groups, according to an analysis of national CDC survey data, MedPage Today reports. According to the report: Subgroups of Hispanic patients reported different rates of doctor-diagnosed arthritis, with 11.7% of Cubans and Cuban-Americans saying they had some form of arthritis, compared with 21.8% of Puerto Ricans -- similar to rates of 22.6% among non-Hispanic whites and 21.4% among non-Hispanic blacks, reported Louise Murphy, PhD, of the CDC, and colleagues. At the same time, more than 20% of all Hispanic subgroups with some form of arthritis also reported suffering one or more of its effects -- activity and work limitations and severe joint pain -- Murphy and her ...

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Hispanics, Other Minorities Less Likely to Get Treatment for Depression



The percentage of white adolescents who received any major depression treatment was higher (40%) than blacks (32%), Hispanics (31%), and Asians (19%), according to a new study. Black, Hispanic, and Asian adolescents were also significantly less likely than whites to receive treatment for major depression from mental health professionals or medical providers, and to have any mental health outpatient visits (all after adjusting for demographics and health status). The adjustment for socioeconomic status and health insurance status accounted for only a small portion of the estimated differences in major depression treatment measurements and outpatient utilization across racial/ethnic groups. Other factors, such as stigma and limited proficiency in English, possibly contributed to ...

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Educating Hispanics About Diabetes is Critical



For clinicians providing health care for vulnerable populations, such as low-income patients, ethnic minorities or immigrants who speak little English, educating about the risks of diabetes can be daunting, but it is especially critical among Hispanics, the Clinical Advisor reports. Health care practitioners may need to navigate language barriers, cultural differences and health-literacy challenges to effectively educate patients, according to the news report.  Diabetes is the seventh-leading cause of death in the U.S. Hispanics face many grim diabetes disparities, according to the report: 10.5% percent of Hispanics ages 20 or older have diabetes 8.2% percent of Cubans 11.9% percent of Mexican Americans 12.6% percent of Puerto Ricans Other data show that Hispanics ...

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Liver Cancer Rapidly Increasing in Latino Men in California



Rates of liver cancer in U.S.-born Hispanic men in California have increased by 87%, according to scientists at the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC), who looked at a recent 16-year span of statewide cancer registry data, Hispanically Speaking News reports. These men are at a significantly higher risk of liver cancer than California Hispanic men born outside of the U.S. Liver cancer risk is also higher among both Hispanic males and females in more ethnically isolated and lower income areas of the state. The results of this study, which is the first to examine liver cancer rates by neighborhood acculturation level and socioeconomic status, were recently published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. “California Health Interview Survey data show ...

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Heart Disease is No. 1 Killer of Latinas; Find Helpful Resources in Spanish



Heart Disease is the No. 1 killer of Hispanic women, taking the life of one woman a minute. However, despite this heightened risk, most are still unaware of the threat to themselves and their families. The treatment of diseases like high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, and high cholesterol is guided by a set of general recommendations that the American Heart Association has been publishing since 1999 as a critical “weapon” in the fight against heart disease. Recently, these official guidelines were updated to include new research information, especially with regard to heart health in women. The updated guidelines also emphasize the importance of recognizing racial and ethnic diversity and its impact on cardiovascular disease. "These recommendations underscore the ...

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Gaining Costs, Losing Time: The Obesity Crisis in Texas



The number of Texans who are overweight or obese continues to grow, accounting for a significant jump in the costs borne by Texas employers, according to the Texas State Comptroller of Public Affairs's new report, "Gaining Costs, Losing Time: The Obesity Crisis in Texas." Today, 66.7% of adult Texans are overweight or obese, up from 64.1% in 2005. In Texas, Hispanic and black adults had the highest obesity rates in 2009, at 36.4% and 35.7%, respectively. Child obesity is more common among blacks and Hispanics, too. And Hispanics, which are Texas’ fastest-growing population group, are expected to drive obesity rates higher in future years. The rising cost of treating obesity-related diseases and an aging population with higher rates of obesity also have increased the ...

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Latina, Black Women Face Delays in Breast Cancer Treatment



Black and Hispanic women newly diagnosed with breast cancer often face delays in care of more than a month, a large study has found, according to a news report. The study, which appears in the February issue of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, found that 62.4% of African-American women and 59.3% of Hispanic women received a diagnosis of stage II or stage III breast cancer compared with 48.9 percent of white women. Delays in treatment were apparent in the new study, as African-American and Hispanic women had higher risks of 30-, 60- and 90-day delays compared to white women. The risk of a 60-day treatment delay was 76% higher among black patients with private insurance than that of white patients with comparable insurance. Hispanics with private insurance had ...

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Web-Based Anti-Smoking Program Targets Hispanic Youth



The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center's free Web-based teen smoking-cessation and prevention program, ASPIRE, now speaks Spanish. ASPIRE (A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience) aims to prevent middle-school and high-school teens from smoking or help them quit before it becomes a lifelong addiction. The site integrates interactive media, customized messages, graphics, animations and streaming videos. "We've found that participating students are more aware about the dangers of smoking, are making more informed decisions about smoking and are less tempted to start in the first place," said developer Dr. Alexander V. Prokhorov, a professor at MD Anderson. "Removing the language barrier will help tremendously in reaching and educating Hispanic teens, especially those ...

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