A handful of lawmakers have proposed banning the purchase of sugary drinks with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Although these attempts have yet to be successful, advocates say a ban like this would reduce chronic disease cause by obesity and excess sugar consumption. A study published in the June 2014 volume of Health Affairs tested this hypothesis. Researchers examined the impact of two proposed policies: a ban on using SNAP dollars to buy sugar-sweetened beverages; and a subsidy in which for every SNAP dollar spent on fruit and vegetables, thirty cents is credited back to participants’ SNAP benefit cards. Using nationally representative data and models describing obesity, type 2 diabetes, and determinants of food consumption among a sample of ...
NPR's online blog The Salt discusses the highlights of a new study published online in June in the journal Nutrition about the nutritionally difference of fruit juice versus soda. Eliza Barclay writes for The Salt and wrote the recent commentary on the study "Fruit Juice Vs. Soda? Both Beverages Pack In Sugar, Health Risks." When it comes to choosing between sodas and juices in the beverage aisle, the juice industry has long benefited from a health halo. We know that juice comes from fruit, while soda is artificial. In particular, the sugars in juice seem more "natural" than high fructose corn syrup — the main sweetener in so many sodas. After all, we've gotten rid of most of the soda we used to offer kids at school, but we still serve them lots of juice. But a published online ...
While obesity rates may be leveling off for some, rates among Latino youth remain significantly high, according to a new fact sheet. The fact sheet, from Leadership for Healthy Communities, indicates that Latino children and adolescents are more likely to be overweight and obese than their White peers, due to limited availability of healthy foods and safe recreational facilities that contribute to unhealthy environments for Latino families. Factors such as acculturation and unhealthy food and beverage marketing play a role in higher rates of overweight and obesity among Latino youths. “Comprehensive solutions, which include increasing access to affordable healthy foods in communities and schools, limiting the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages, addressing neighborhood ...
The Center for Science in the Public Interest has created a comprehensive list of healthy school party ideas. Classroom parties can often involve candy, cake, snacks, and sweets; which are high in fat and sugar. These foods in excess lead to issues like obesity and obesity related diseases in children. But teachers and students can celebrate birthdays, accomplishments, and holidays in healthy ways! Non-food ideas involve having dance parties, extra recess, reading time, creative crafts, and party games. You can find the guide here and learn how to provide healthy celebrations for all ...
A study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked at 12 school sites in 7 Los Angeles County school district facilities between 2010 and 2012 and found that shared use agreements increased moderate to vigorous levels of physical activity among adults and children. The study, which examined 1,669 participants, at sites with a mostly Latino population, found that physical activity was 16 times higher in communities that offered physical activity programing at shared use sites. Ten out of the twelve schools observed during the study had some form of organized programming and researchers found that shared use of facilities was higher when programming was made available to communities. Programming offered at sites included swimming, aerobic dancing, ...
The Shared Use Toolkit for Washington State provides 10 steps for establishing and implementing a shared use agreement in the state of Washington. It also features case studies, sample shared use agreements, sample letters to school principals in support shared use, charts to evaluate shared use costs and effectiveness and more! See the Shared Use for Washington State here. ...
Recently, the Obesity Action Coalition, released a toolkit to help individuals start the conversation about the impact of weight on their health with their healthcare providers. Access the toolkit in English or in Spanish here. Visit the coalition's homepage ...
If you're working to create health related policies in your community. Conducting a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) may help to further your efforts. Learn more about HIAs from the Human Impact Partners (HIP). Some of useful resources from HIP include: Fact Sheets about HIA in English and Spanish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tools and Resources
HIA Articles and Books Visit the HIP homepage ...
Public involvement in planning is one great way to bring healthy changes to Latino neighborhoods. From involving youth in planning, to hosting charettes (design sessions), and conducting health impact assessments (HIA), one can find all sorts of examples of how to work with local communities to get healthy changes. For great ideas on how to get started with organizing a community planning session, download the Local Government Commission's (LGC), Participation Tools for Better Community Planning Guide ...
