Voters chose health in California and Boulder, where measures were passed on November 8th, 2016 to tax sugary beverages in hopes to decrease high rates of chronic disease and fund more public health programs. Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association said, "From sports drinks to sodas to fruit-flavored drinks, today’s children are drinking their age in these sugary drinks each week. Reducing consumption will improve rates of diabetes, heart disease and tooth decay." In California, support for soda taxes was reported in all cities. San Francisco had support with 62% of votes, Albany with 71%, and Oakland came out with 61% of support for votes to pass a penny-per-ounce soda tax. While measures in Boulder, Colorado, were also supported with over 54 % of voters leading the ...
November 8th, 2016 is an important day for health advocates and the beverage industry alike as voters line up in four cities to decide on taxing sugary beverages. Sugary beverages have been tested by various researchers and found to be linked to higher risks for heart disease, type two diabetes and more in those who consume these beverages daily and now not only are health organizations like the American Heart Association supporting sugary beverage taxes, but also wealthy health advocates like Michael Bloomberg and Laura and John Arnold. On the other hand, the beverage industries are also fighting back against the taxes, spending over thirty million to lobby and campaign against these tax initiatives. As rising rates of obesity take over the nation, many cities are educating ...
Marketing infant formula to pregnant Latinas is associated with reduced rates of initiating breastfeeding, shorter duration of breastfeeding, and increased use of formula. In September 2016, the National WIC Association (NWA) announced that they were ending their relationship with infant formula manufacturers. The NWA is the education arm and advocacy voice of the nation’s 12,200 WIC public health service provider agencies and the 8 million WIC mothers and young children. In 2004, the NWA began taking the first steps to prohibit infant formula manufacturers from exhibiting, sponsoring, or promoting formula at NWA Nutrition & Breastfeeding Conferences. Their efforts expanded over the next decade, and in 2015, the NWA Voting Members approved a resolution that dissolves ...
Many millennials have been the beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which allows certain undocumented immigrants who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a renewable two-year work permit and exemption from deportation. However, many young immigrants “feel alone” or are unaware of their options during the immigration process, Al Día News, reports. Obstacles ranging from a lack of access and information to a lack of healthcare and public schools impede the academic progress of many undocumented students. Even a lack of knowledge about college or college-access programs have been obstacles for many. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, ...
In Orange County, California, diabetes, heart disease and obesity are serious challenges that disproportionately affect the Latino community. Orange County’s Latino population (34% Latino), like many cities throughout the nation, is growing and changing the demographics of the county and consequentially changing the way healthcare is provided.
A new bilingual campaign called, “Shop With Your Doc” gives shoppers the opportunity to ask questions in a non-clinical environment and allows the St. Joseph Hoah Health system to provide care beyond their hospital walls. The events are being launched from mid-October through November at Ralphs and Food 4 Less supermarkets throughout the country with aims to help shoppers get nutritional advice about what to eat, how to read ...
Open Enrollment for the Health Care Marketplace began on November 1. To date, more than 20 million Americans have obtained health care coverage since the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Latinos and other racial and ethnic minorities have achieved some of the largest gains during this time. New citizens, those from other countries who have obtained citizenship in the U.S., have also “gained the security provided by having high quality health insurance,” the Administration for Children & Families (ACF) announced. 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. According to the ACF, healthy refugees and immigrants are more likely to ...
The average cost for tuition, fees, and room and board for public colleges rose 10% and 12% at private institutions over the past five years, the College Board said in their annual report. Over that same time period, the median family income rose just 7%. The one positive takeaway is that the cost is no longer “skyrocketing” the way it did during the recession of the late 2000s, CNN Money reports. For the current school year, the average price rose slightly less than the year before. It went up by 2.4% for in-state students at public colleges, and 3.6% at private schools. Latinos have shown added interest in educational matters, especially as their population has grown in the U.S. According to Pew Research, 89% of Latino young adults believe a college education is important for ...
Disparities in muscle and joint (musculoskeletal) pain threaten the health of the nation. Our musculoskeletal system is composed of joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, tendons, and structures that support limbs, neck and back. Latinos have more severe musculoskeletal and functional limitations than Whites, thus are more likely to be inactive, obese, diabetic, and have higher incidence of heart disease. Movement is Life is a multi-disciplinary coalition seeking to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in muscle and joint health by promoting physical mobility to improve quality of life. According to the Movement is Life: A Catalyst for Change Proceedings Report from a 2010 summit, “a physically inactive, obese, and immobile body can head down a path toward chronic disease and ...
Across the country, dual language schools and academies are becoming a popular choice or both students and their parents. This is especially true for the growing English-learning population. By putting a high value on bilingualism at schools, the ultimate goal is for the bilingual communities in which they reside to put a high value on them, the Syracuse Post-Standard reports. In New York (18.17% Latino population), the New York State Education Department requires districts to offer bilingual programs if they have 20 or more students in any grade who share a language other than English. At Delaware Primary School in Syracuse, New York (8.04% Latino population), two “50/50” classes of bilingual programming are offered at each level. The approach gives classes made up of half ...
