Registered nurse Derek Dimas learned kids need to eat healthier to help decrease the high rates of obesity in his hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas (50.7 % Latino). By starting a program to help kids see fruits and vegetables as delicious works of art, students in schools across the city are having fun learning how to create and enjoy healthier snacks.
The Obesity Problem
In spring 2014, Derek Dimas, a nursing student at the time, was certain he wanted to make a huge impact on the overall health of his community of Corpus Christi in Nueces County. While taking an epidemiology class, Dimas reviewed data and learned that the city had record-high levels of obesity, hypertension, and heart disease. About 42% of local Latinos and blacks are overweight or obese, he said. “For ...
A new released Toolkit on Sugary Advocacy from Healthy Food America helps explain the need to reduce sugar in our diets, why it's important to know amounts of sugar in foods and drinks and the latest on sugar reduction policies. According to the research from Healthy Food America, 68% of packaged foods include some type of sugar. Studies from Harvard T.H. Chan School of public health also reveal that regular consumers of sweet beverages like soda, sweet teas, not 100% juices had a 26% higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Latino kids, unfortunately, are already more likely to grow up with unhealthy weights and be more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, as they consume higher amounts of juices, and other sweetened drinks, studies show. For parents, teachers, health advocates and ...
Since 2001, due to larger socioeconomic forces, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of children benefiting indirectly from Social Security. Economic inequality, income stagnation, immigration, and the recession have all contributed to the rise of extended, multi-generation families with shared living arrangements. In 2014, 3.2 million children under the age of 18 received Social Security. Certain families receive benefits through the survivor insurance program that provides income to the dependents of covered workers how have passed away. Children under the age of 18 also qualify for benefits if they are dependents of a parent or guardian who is disabled or retired. According to the Social Security Administration, with longer life expectancies, elderly Latinos will live ...
Grants were recently given to help eradicate hunger and bring healthier foods to Southern Arizona, which currently deals with low food access, according to recent county health rankings. The grants were received by various organizations that have already started initiatives to bring healthier foods to Arizona, including The Willcox Community Food Pantry, The University of Arizona, The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, the Vitalyst Health Foundation, Feeding Matters, The Arizona Community Foundation and various other organizations. Many of the funds will go to help expand and develop programs that help to build or sustain programs around healthy eating, gardens, and agricultural supply chains. Healthy food access is vital for Latino youth, who often live in areas far from ...
Lo más seguro es que ya estés enterado sobre la aplicación que, en tan sólo unos días, tiene más usuarios que Twitter y otras aplicaciones populares. Estamos hablando de Pokémon Go, una aplicación de juegos de realidad aumentada basada en GPS que obliga a los jugadores a salir y explorar al aire libre con el fin de "atraparlos a todos” (criaturas de Pokémon). De acuerdo con expertos en salud mental, esta nueva aplicación del juego puede ayudar a las personas con depresión, obligándoles a salir de su casa y hacer actividad física e interactuar con otras personas y amigos. "Los desarrolladores de Pokémon Go no tenían la intención de crear una aplicación de juego de salud mental", el psicólogo John M. Grobol escribió para su sitio, PsychCentral "Pero lo han ...
According to a new report, the United States ranks ninth among the world’s 19 wealthiest nations in terms of overall child well-being. According to the Save the Children report, the U.S. has this dubious ranking despite having “the world’s largest economy.” The Child Prosperity Index looks at indicators in eight areas that affect children throughout the world; these indicators include: health, education, income, safety, employment, and gender equality. The index doesn’t directly report on child poverty data, but it does emphasize the prevalence of the issue in many high-income countries. According to research, 22% of American children live below the poverty line. “The U.S. really needs to make sure every child benefits from the economic growth of the country,” said ...
According to a local article, Representative Peter Welch announced support and co-sponsorship of two bills that support summer meals on July 19th at a local middle school. The bills will help support students in need of healthy meals while school is out and kids have less access to healthier school meals, that include more fruits and vegetables. The local article explains how the bills supported will help provide low-income eligible households with a debit card that gives families funds for fresh local foods that also in turn support Vermont's agriculture economy. Support of this legislation will also help redefine areas of which low-income economic conditions exist, to ensure more children have access to free meals. Summer meal sites are sparse in Burlington, where 2016 data ...
A new study from researchers at Tufts University and the University of Cambridge reports that eating more unsaturated fats or saturated fats in place of dietary carbohydrates lowers blood sugar levels and improves insulin resistance and secretion. According to the Mayo Clinic, healthy fats consist of mainly monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats, like certain types of fish and nuts, as well as room temperature oils like olive oil, safflower oil, and peanut oil. Fats to avoid are found in beef, butter, shortening and pork. The findings of the study looked at 102 randomized controlled trials of over four thousand adults, who had meals that varied in types of amounts of fat and carbs. The study revealed that for each five percent of dietary energy switched from carbs to saturated ...
Having access to clean drinkable water and healthy fresh foods is vital in ensuring children grow up to be a healthy weight. New funds from the state's congressional delegation recently announced that $2.1 million in funds will go to help position new AmeriCorps members into volunteer services for the state. One organization called the Washington County Youth Service Bureau Boys and Girls Club, will help to ensure children of veteran and military families grow up to be a healthy weight. They will receive $325,000 for 26 volunteers, that will help to implement initiatives to help prevent childhood obesity in the state. More funds will also be used to help position AmeriCorps members in addressing problems in affordable housing, water quality, and veteran affairs. To ...
