Genetic researchers are overwhelmingly focused on white populations, which could have negative implications for the health of minorities, Vocativ reports. The report cites a new op-ed in the journal Nature that found that 81% of participants were of European descent (white) and only 19% non-European descent in all scientific studies that "correlated a genetic mutation with a particular disease." The white participant percentage, while down from 96% in the same analysis in 2009, means minorities remain vastly underrepresented. In fact, less than 1% of genetic research had Hispanic-descent participants in 2016. Only 3% of participants were of African descent. Genetic research can uncover the causes of many diseases, and allow scientists to create drugs to treat the underlying ...
The latest annual report on the nation’s health by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows Latinos are living longer than whites and blacks and health disparities are narrowing. Despite the latest improvements in health disparities, Latinos still have the highest incidence of high blood pressure and childhood obesity, The American Heart Association News (AHA) reports. “High blood pressure remains much more common among black Americans, and Hispanic children and teens are still more likely to be obese than their black, white and Asian counterparts.,” AHA said in a written statement. The CDC’s annual health report is a “snapshot” of the nation’s health “highlighting recent successes and challenges in fighting critical health problems in the United ...
A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that, while the rate of cigarette smoking among U.S. teens did not increase, the use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco vaping products has been on the rise over the last four years, according to Mashable. "E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, and use continues to climb," CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said in a release. "No form of youth tobacco use is safe. Nicotine is an addictive drug and use during adolescence may cause lasting harm to brain development." The CDC collected data from 20,000 middle and high school students between 2011-2015. The rate of high school students who reported using an e-cigarette at least once in the last month increased from 1.5% in 2011 to 16% in ...
April is National Minority Health Month and we’re excited to tweet about ways to prevent the greatest health disparities affecting Latinos across the U.S. today! The rising Latino population is creating an urgent need to tackle disparities in obesity, diabetes, and cancer. The estimated cost of health inequities is over $309 billion! Time to take action! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Taking Action to Address Latino Health Disparities
TIME/DATE: Noon CST (1 p.m. EST) Tuesday, April 19, 2016
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
HOST: @SaludToday
CO-HOSTS: The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (@NIMHD), Kaiser Permanente (@kpvivabien) & 100 Million Healthier Lives (@100MLives) We’ll open the floor to your comments, stories and ...
Health messaging is a critical way to empower health equity. But without relevant, culturally competent health messages, Latinos will continue to face vast health disparities in diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers, especially in the face of conflicting unhealthy marketing by the food and beverage industry. Let’s use #SaludTues on April 12, 2016, during National Minority Health Month, to tweet about how healthcare professionals, public health professionals, city leaders, businesses, schools, and you can alter language and images in their health messaging to promote health for Latinos. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “How to Alter Health Messaging to Promote Prevention for Latinos”
TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. EST Tuesday, April 12, 2016
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag ...
Today is the kick-off of National Public Health Week (April 4-10) and this year's theme is “Healthiest Nation 2030,” with the goal of making the U.S. the healthiest nation in one generation! How can you participate? • Organize a health walk around your office with your co-workers and post it on social media using #NPHW #SaludNPHW.
• Promote healthy habits by posting recipes and/or workout routines. You can also join any of the events organized by the American Public Health Association, see their full calendar here. Happy NPHW and together let’s make the U.S. the healthiest nation, free of cancer and ...
It is national public health week!#NPHWchat! #SaludTues! We are excited about Latina Leaders who are driving public health efforts! Latinas are more likely to deal with certain health disparities, and we need your help! Let’s use #SaludTues to tweet about, encourage and say thank you to the #LatinaLeaders in Health & Public Health! We also plan to give tips to anyone interested in being a health leader! Follow #SaludTues to join the conversation. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Latina Leaders in Public Health”
DATE: Tuesday, April 5th 2016
TIME: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT)
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
HOST: @SaludToday
CO-HOSTS: Hispanic Heritage Foundation( @HHFoundation), National Hispanic Media Association(@NHMAmd), Latina Researchers ...
Latinos tend live in neighborhoods with few supermarkets and other sources of healthy, affordable food options, but several promising solutions are emerging, according to a new package of research from Salud America!, a national network for childhood obesity prevention and communication funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Salud America!’s Better Food in the Neighborhood research package includes an in-depth review of the latest science on the U.S. food environment and recommendations based on that research. It also includes an issue brief, animated video, and infographics. The research shows that Latino neighborhoods have one-third as many supermarkets as non-Latino ones, corner stores with few healthy options, and more marketing of unhealthy foods. Promising ways to ...
Following the lead of other large fast-food chains like McDonald's and Wendy's, Dairy Queen has agreed to remove sodas from its listing of kids’ meals on menu boards and replace them with milk and water. According to a letter addressed to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), who had urged Dairy Queen to take such action, Dairy Queen's Franchise Advisory Council voted unanimously to remove soft drinks from kids’ menu. The change will go into effect on Sept. 1, 2015 when new menu board panels arrive at franchise locations. “Dairy Queen deserves credit for being responsive to the concerns of parents, who increasingly want to be able to order off the kids’ menu without having to say ‘no’ to soda,” said CSPI nutrition policy director Margo G. Wootan in ...
