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Latinos: Take New Survey on How to Improve Cancer Services for Spanish Speakers



Spanish-speaking Latinos, have you been affected by cancer? If so, you're invited to take a new survey about how to improve cancer-related services from LIVESTRONG. LIVESTRONG, which is currently reaching out to Latinos to offer information about the Spanish services available to those being affected by cancer, hopes survey respondents will identify what additional or future actions need to be taken to improve the cancer community. Find out more information in Spanish or take the survey ...

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Study Uses Promotoras to Increase Physical Activity among Latinas



Latinas are less physically active than Latino men and are less likely to meet physical activity guidelines than other population groups. This inactivity may lead to obesity and associated conditions like diabetes and heart disease. To improve Latinas’ health, a new five-year, $3.48 million study will use promotoras—trained community health workers—to lead culturally appropriate group education and exercise sessions for Latinas in community centers in South Texas’ Lower Rio Grande Valley, says study leader Dr. Deborah Parra-Medina, professor at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) in the School of Medicine of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Participants also will get newsletters and telephone counseling. The effort, ...

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Initiative Aims to Improve Health, Success of Young Men of Color



Editor’s Note: This post is part of an ongoing series that will highlight the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s work in Latino communities across the country. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today announced that it is investing $9.5 million in new funding for its Forward Promise initiative, aimed at improving the health and success of young men of color. The centerpiece of the announcement is a new call for proposals that seeks innovative, community-based projects working to strengthen health, education, and employment outcomes for middle school- and high school-aged boys and young men of color. “To build a strong and prosperous future for our nation, it is critical that we expand opportunities for boys and young men of color to grow up healthy, get a good ...

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Infographic: ‘The Busine$$ of Obesity’



Increased medical costs, gasoline, diet products, plus-size clothing—it isn't cheap to be obese, according to a new infographic by Top-Nursing-Programs.com, via ...

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Poll: Hispanics Cite Obesity, Lack of Exercise as Biggest Health Problems for Kids



U.S. adults rate "not enough exercise" at the top of the list of top health problems for children in their communities, according to the sixth annual survey of top health concerns conducted by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health. Other top overall health concerns include childhood obesity, smoking, drug abuse and bullying. Hispanic adults were more likely to rate childhood obesity first, followed by "not enough exercise." Hispanics also rated drug abuse higher than smoking and tobacco use. Hispanic and black adults both identified sexually transmitted infections as a greater concern for kids in their communities than did white adults. Despite these differences, Hispanic, black and white adults agreed that "not enough ...

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Cuídate, Corazón: Misleading Food Marketing Campaign Tugs at Heartstrings



Editor’s Note: This post is part of an ongoing series that will highlight the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s work in Latino communities across the country. SaludToday Guest Blogger: Dr. Jennifer Harris Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity Obesity continues to hit the Latino community the hardest. About 39% of Hispanic adults are overweight compared with 33% of non-Hispanic whites. As obesity increases, so does the risk for chronic diseases like diabetes and congestive heart failure. Food marketers see the Latino community as an important target because it is a large, young and growing segment that is sure to yield lots of future sales. The barrage of food marketing to Latinos—particularly when the pitch is for unhealthy cereals, fast foods and sugary ...

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Video: How You Spend Your Free Time Can Lower Risk for Heart Disease



Spending your free time plopped in front of the TV or computer? New research shows you may be able to lower your chances of heart disease by using just a small amount of that free time on simple physical activity such as brisk walking, riding a bike or even gardening or housework, according to a new video from the American Heart Association (AHA). The research found that middle-aged adults who were more active in their leisure time had lower levels of internal indicators of inflammation of the arteries. People with less inflammation tend to have lower risk of heart disease. Almost half of study participants met the AHA's recommendations for cardiovascular health (two-and-a-half hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity a week). However, this rose to 83% later in the study as ...

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Video: Preventing Obesity among Latino Children



As the percentage of Latinos among U.S. children ages 18 or younger surges (rising from 17% in 1998 to 22% today to a projected 30% by 2025), Mexican-American children ages 2-19 have strikingly higher obesity rates than their white counterparts. Evidence-based, culturally adapted approaches are critically needed to spur policy changes and reverse the obesity epidemic among Latino children. In response, Salud America! The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children has developed an online network of nearly 2,000 Latino childhood obesity researchers, academics, community leaders, etc. The network is led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. The ...

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Bilingual Fotonovela Teaches Latinas How to Reduce Their Diabetes Risk



The National Diabetes Education Program's new bilingual fotonovela, Do it for them! But also for yourself (Hazlo por ellos! Pero por ti también), helps Latinas at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The fotonovela uses role models to demonstrate how women can reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes through increased physical activity, healthy food choices, and weight loss. The fotonovela tells the story of three friends, Elisa, Raquel, and Lourdes, who work at a local dry cleaners/laundry facility. All of them have children. Elisa is Mexican, married, and has two small children. Her wise and humorous mother, Doña Emma, gives her lots of advice about how to be healthy. Raquel is from Puerto Rico. She is single and raising her 13-year-old sister. Lourdes is from ...

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