Physical inactivity is one of the 10 leading risk factors for death worldwide and causes economic harm at both the social and individual level. Good news is that physical inactivity is modifiable and regardless of weight status, you can reduce your risk of disease and death by being physically active for 150 minutes per week, or 22 minutes per day. However, lack of access to safe places to walk, bike, and play is a major barrier for Latinos to be active and healthy. The America Council on Exercise (ACE) released a new policy position statement on The Inactivity Epidemic. ACE seeks public policies that will reverse the epidemic of inactivity by making physical activity more accessible for all populations. ACE believes a public-policy change is required to reverse decades-long ...
School playgrounds, fields, and gyms sit unused afterschool and on weekends in Maricopa County, Arizona (30.5% Latino), and across the country, because schools are locked up after classes end. Access to safe places to play is critical to reduce obesity among Latino kids and families and boost their mental, physical, and emotional health. However, schools close their gates for many reasons such as, concerns about liability, vandalism, and additional staffing and maintenance costs. Noteworthy, Arizona state law protects schools from liability when outdoor facilities are open to the public. Also vandalism decreases with better lighting and when more people utilize the park, and many schools across the country establish partnerships with parks and recreation departments to help with ...
Malls are often partially blamed for the decay of walkable downtowns and linked with greater vehicle dependence, thus depriving cities of sustainable economic growth and safe places for kids and families to walk. A failed mall in Meriden, Connecticut (28.7% Latino) was transformed into the type of public space that boosts mental, physical, and emotional health, as well as the economy. A mall was built in a small town between Hartford and New Haven in 1970. Due to inadequate flood control-underground pipes blocked three brooks-during construction of the mall, flooding was an issue. In 1992 and 1996, flooding caused $26 million in damages to the downtown area. The City began the Harbor Brook Flood Control project which continues today. The vacancy rate of retailers the mall ...
The annual Get It Done! Festival will take place on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 at Marc T. Atkinson Middle School in Phoenix, AZ (40.48% Latino population). The free family event provides medical, dental, and vision checkups to school-age kids. There are also free immunization shots, haircuts, and other services for the whole family. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, connect with others, and get involved. Experts will also be on hand to answer medical questions, help with health insurance, tax preparation, education, and more. There will also be live entertainment, arts and crafts, and games for the family. Read more about the event here. Read stories similar to this ...
Walking is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your health! Unfortunately many Latino families lack access to safe places to walk and play, thus face health disparities. The America Public Health Association is hosting a billion mile challenge to encourage everyone to log some steps and to start the conversation about designing communities that promote physical activity. The Billion Steps Challenge begins January 9, and continues through April 9, 2017. Learn more and register yourself or a team here. They provide the technology platform as well as sample promotional ...
Perceptions of place impact behavior, thus health. Think of specific places, like neighborhoods, sidewalks, and parks; specific physical activity behaviors like walking, playing, and biking; and specific health issues, like heart disease, diabetes, and depression. Latino children often lack access-both real and perceived-to safe, available places to be physically active, thus their mental, physical, and emotional health suffer. Literature regarding inequity in places to walk and play and subsequent health disparities is continuously growing. According to a new survey, perceptions of place also impact civic engagement. The Center for Active Design (CfAD) analyzed data from the Soul of the Community survey to explore the relationship between qualities of place and civic ...
According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a report from the JAMA Internal Medicine journal, more than 75% of all American adults today are either overweight or obese. For the first time in history, the number of obese people has surpassed that of the overweight, Wallethub reports. Wallethub studied new data published by the Physical Activity Council to compare the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., to determine which were the unhealthiest. Focusing on 17 indicators of weight-related health problems, including the percentage of adults that were overweight or obese and sugary-beverage consumption by adults. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, ...
When city leaders in Loretto, Tenn. (2% Latino) began discussion of closing the city's only pool, residents turned to social media to stay informed and engaged, and they won. Swimming may be most the promising activity to get and keep Latino kids active in and out of school. In 2011, the Loretto City Pool closed because of safety concerns. In early 2013, Loretto residents started a Facebook page to get a new pool built. Through the “Save the Loretto City Pool” Facebook page, residents stayed informed of city council meetings and project updates and encouraged each other to attend public meetings. The Loretto Parks and Recreation Department conducted a needs assessment asking residents what the top three priorities were over the next five years when it comes to parks and ...
Seventy-three percent of parents report that their child's afterschool program is located in a public school building, according to the Afterschool Alliance. However, Latino kids in underserved communities have limited options for healthy afterschool programs, which is part of the reason they are more likely to be overweight or obese than their peers. Schools and communities must work together to create a support network to provide healthy food and active play for Latino and all children to succeed. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation consulted with seven experts to talk about why school-community collaborations are essential and how to craft successful partnerships. One of the takeaways is to utilize existing resources/facilities/networks. For example, one of the ...
