Latino and Black children have the highest prevalence of severe obesity according to a recent study, Univision Salud reports. Researchers analyzed data from 1999 through 2014 and concluded that one-third of U.S. children are overweight, 25% are obese and more than two percent are severely obese. "Despite other recent reports, all categories of obesity have increased from 1999 to 2014, and there is no evidence of a decline in the last few years." lead researcher Asheley Skinner said. According to Skinner, there are 4.5 million children who are severely obese in need of immediate treatment. "Unless we make big changes on a national level, we're not going to see huge changes in obesity," Skinner said. "We have created a culture where kids aren't very active and one where it's ...
New research suggests type 2 diabetes—a condition that severely affects Latinos in the U.S.—may cause hearing impairment, according to researchers at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center, HealthAim reports. According to the researchers, there’s “compelling evidence” that suggests diabetes damages the auditory system and clinicians should include a hearing test in managing type 2 diabetes. “An association between diabetes and hearing impairment in human subjects has been shown in many, but not all, studies,” said Dr. Elizabeth Helzner, assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the School of Public Health at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. According to the American Diabetes Association, 16.9% of Latinos have ...
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Campaign for Dental Health Community water fluoridation is the practice of adjusting the level of fluoride in the local water supply so there is just enough to help protect teeth from decay. It’s called ‘community’ water fluoridation because the whole community benefits. But Latino kids and families with low incomes, who suffer more than others from tooth decay, benefit the most. For every $1 invested in community water fluoridation we save as much as $38 in money that CHIP, Medicaid, insurance companies, and individuals would have to spend to treat unhealthy teeth. What is fluoride? Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens teeth so they’re more resistant to the bacteria that cause decay. It is found naturally in all sources of water. (It ...
Researchers at Purdue University have found evidence that diet soda may not be the healthiest option if you’re trying to lose weight or improve your health. According to numerous studies reviewed by the group of researchers led by Prof. Susan Swithers diet soda may not be the solution to fight obesity—in fact, it may lead to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. "The concern that these non-caloric sweeteners might not be healthy is a message that many people do not want to hear, especially as the prevalence of artificial sweeteners increases in other products," Swithers said. If you want to stay fit and healthy the best option will always be ...
New research suggests social isolation and loneliness can increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke by 30%, Time Magazine reports. Researchers analyzed over 20 studies involving 181,000 people and concluded that loneliness was linked to a 29% increased risk of heart disease and 32% chance of stroke. According to researchers the size of the effect is comparable to other well-known factors including anxiety and job stress. "We take risk factors like obesity and physical inactivity for granted, whereas we do not yet with social isolation and loneliness,” lead researcher and University of York research fellow Nicole Valtorta said. According to numbers from the American Heart Association over 30% of Mexican-Americans, age 20 and older have coronary heart disease, a ...
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved folic acid fortification of corn masa flour widely used by Latinos, NBC News reports. According to the FDA, folic acid is a B vitamin that when taken by a pregnant woman may help prevent neural tube defects, which are birth defects affecting the brain, spine, and spinal cord. “Increased consumption of folic acid in enriched flour has been helpful in reducing the incidence of neural tube defects in the general population,” said Susan Mayne, Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “Our analysis shows that adding folic acid to corn masa flour will help increase the consumption of folic acid by women who consume this flour as a staple in their diet.” Data from the FDA shows that adding folic ...
Students consume up to half their daily calories at school. WATCH and VOTE for new Salud America! #SaludHeroes who push healthy food and physical activity at school by April 29, 2016, and be entered in a random drawing to win a FREE T-shirt and jump rope! #SaludHeroes at school are: School Navigators. Rocio Muñoz helped embed bilingual, bicultural health navigators to increase parents’ access to health services into elementary schools in Corvallis, Ore. Breakfast is Back. Michaelie Love, a high-schooler in San Antonio, Texas, worked with her school to get a cart to make eating breakfast easy, healthy and cool. BMX Fun. School principal Doug Johnson used biking and a sweet BMX trail to make physical activity fun for elementary students in Mountlake Terrace, ...
Around the world, 1.5 million people die of diabetes each year according to figures from the World Health Organization. In the United States, diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death and 12.8% of U.S. Latinos suffer from it. "Diabetes is an ancient disease that is taking a growing toll on the modern world. In 1980, 108 million adults were living with diabetes. By 2014, that number had risen to 422 million—8.5 percent of adults—reflecting a global increase in risk factors such as being overweight or obese. Even though we have the tools to prevent and treat it, diabetes now causes some 1.5 million deaths a year. High blood glucose causes an additional 2.2 million deaths," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in commemoration of World Health Day. On its first Global Health ...
Did you take a 30-minute walk today? According to research, going for a stroll during your lunch break or after work can significantly reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. To raise awareness of the health benefits of walking the American Heart Association is challenging everyone to lace up their sneakers and go for a 30-minute stroll! To learn more click ...
