Many kids have access to unhealthy snacks in schools. But when schools take action and set stricter nutrition standards, students consume 158 fewer calories and less fat/sugar, and more water, according to our new infographic on food at school and kids. The infographic is part of Salud America!’s Healthier Schools and Kids research review, which tackles the latest issues on the school health environment and offers recommendations. Share this infographic today! Salud America! is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded national childhood obesity prevention and communication ...
Schools are where kids consume half of their daily calories. But many kids are widely exposed to unhealthy foods at school, and are less likely to engage in physical activity in school, according to a new research review from Salud America!, a national network for childhood obesity prevention and communication funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Salud America!’s Healthier Schools and Kids research review shows that Latino-majority schools tend to: have weaker policies on school snacks and drinks than other schools; may be less likely to implement nutritional guidelines; and offer few programs or access to facilities for physical activity. Solutions are emerging to create healthier schools: School policies that reduce access to unhealthy snacks and drinks are likely ...
In January 2016, MotherToBaby launched a new bilingual (English/Spanish) digital initiative for expectant or breastfeeding moms and health care providers to get free expert information about the risks of medications and other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding through free, private instant messaging. In addition to live chatting, MotherToBaby also provides emailing-an-expert, texting an expert, and a library of free downloadable facts sheets in both English and Spanish. Expectant or breastfeeding moms can access instant messaging or emailing an expert by visiting www.MotherToBaby.org, or access texting with an expert by texting questions to ...
SaludToday Guest Blogger
Jefferson Dental Clinics Women with gum disease have up to a 36% higher risk of breast cancer, according to a recent study. That’s alarming given that 6 in 10 Latinos have gum disease (known as periodontal disease). Gum disease, which is mainly caused by poor oral health and smoking, occurs when pockets in the gums form around teeth, allowing the growth of bacteria that can cause teeth to loosen and even fall out. The connection between gum disease and cancer is profound. “Women with periodontal disease who were former smokers had a 36% higher risk of breast cancer, women who were smoking at the time of the study had a 32% higher risk of breast cancer, and non-smokers with gum disease were still at a 14% elevated risk,” said Dr. Leslie Renee ...
All kids, including Latinos, need a healthy school environment. How can we healthy schools become then norm? Some students are more exposed to unhealthy food in and out of school. Stronger nutrition standards for snack foods and drinks will help all students access to healthier snacks at school, which can positively influence body mass index (BMI) trends for all populations. In addition, some students also engage in less physical activity in school, and before and after school. Implementing relevant programs that reduce challenges can increase activity opportunities for Latino and all kids. See the Full Research Review with references (PDF)
Read the Issue Brief in English (PDF)
Read the Issue Brief in Spanish (PDF)
Contents
Introduction & Methods. This Salud America! ...
Recent data show communities living under the U.S. poverty line are more aware of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and vaccination rates in some of these communities is higher than in more affluent ones, The Guardian reports. However, not all patients are completing the entire vaccine series. For the article The Guardian interviewed Dr. Daisy Morales-Campos, a research instructor at the Latino Research Initiative at The University of Texas at Austin (formerly with Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio). Dr. Morales-Campos directs Entre Familia, an HPV campaign aimed at people in South Texas. There are still a lot of challenges to access, according to Morales-Campos. “People there [in Hidalgo County] often do not have the transportation ...
What does a healthy school look like? Most people would agree that a healthy school would include learning well, eating well, and having time for breaks that include physical activity. Unfortunately, many kids are losing out on recess to increase activity in schools. Studies suggest that children are less likely to meet the recommendations for daily physical activity and are more likely to engage in sedentary behaviors. So how can we ensure all kids, including Latinos, eat and play well for a healthier life? Schools are where kids spend most of their time and consume half of their daily calories. Follow #SaludTues to tweet with us on Jan. 19, 2016, as we unveil the results of a new study that explores the impacts of unhealthy foods and unhealthy school environments that ...
The east side neighborhood of San Antonio struggles with socioeconomic hardships, health issues, and a lack of access to quality healthcare. In the past few years, the nonprofit Eastside Promise Neighborhood (EPN) has sought ways to improve conditions for residents in the city’s east side. To solve the gap in the availability of healthcare options in the area and fight health issues, the EPN partnered with a provider, CommuniCare Health Partners, to open a new health clinic in the area.
Health improvement needed in San Antonio
San Antonio’s historic east side neighborhood is home to 17,955 residents (mostly Latino), more than 200 private businesses, and six schools on 3.5 square miles bounded by Interstate 37 to the west, Fort Sam Houston to the north, AT&T Center Parkway ...
Penny Parham is helping students in Miami-Dade County make healthier food choices more easily thanks to highlighted, veggie-promoting "Lean & Green" school lunch food menus. By providing more vegetarian options, officials with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools hope to increase students’ consumption of fruits and vegetables and make healthy food the easy choice. How did they make it happen?
Lean & Green
Penny Parham, the administrative director at Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Florida, realized the school district’s initiative of “Meatless Mondays” were popular for students. However, these vegetarian meal options were only available to students on Mondays. The Miami-Dade school district is the fourth largest in the nation, and having healthy eating ...