Our nation is facing high rates of Latino childhood obesity, unsustainable dependence on carbon-based energy, and high unemployment. Beyond the known health and environmental benefits of sidewalks and bike lanes, what are the employment impacts of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure? A 2011 study compares 58 projects from transportation and public works departments from 11 cities and found that bike projects create 46% more jobs than road projects without bike or pedestrian components. Projects included, road construction and rehabilitation, building new multi-use trails, and widening roads to include bikes lanes and sidewalks. According to this study by the Political Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, the “road-only” projects ...
This is part of our Sugary Drinks & Latino Kids: A Research Review »
Sugary drink consumption is responsive to changes in pricing
One recent systematic review concluded that a 10 percent increase in soft drink prices would lead to a 7.9 percent reduction in soft drink consumption.85 A second systematic review of studies published from January 2007 through March 2012 concluded that a 10 percent price increase for SSBs only would lead to an even larger—12.1 percent—reduction in SSB consumption, as some consumers would switch to diet, water and other lower-calorie options. Price increases on more narrowly defined categories of SSBs (e.g., regular carbonated soda) would lead to larger reductions in consumption in these categories.86 A recent randomized controlled trial ...
This is part of our Sugary Drinks & Latino Kids: A Research Review »
More sugary drinks is linked to higher body weight
Those who consume a greater amount of SSBs tend to have higher body weight than those who drink less.5 A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 32 studies, including prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials, associated SSB intake with risk of weight gain in children and adults.22 Similarly, a meta-analysis of 88 studies found a clear association between soft drink consumption and weight.23 By contrast, a recent systematic review of papers focused on regular soda consumption among children and adolescents and published between 2004 and 2014 did not find an association between regular soda consumption and weight among all age ...
This is part of our Sugary Drinks & Latino Kids: A Research Review »
Sugary drink consumption among infants, toddlers
In the largest longitudinal study of infant feeding practices in the U.S., the Infant Feeding Practices Study II (IFPS II), prevalence of any SSB intake during infancy (between ages 1-12 months) was 25.9 percent in 2005-2007.5 Research from the 2008 Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS), a cross-sectional survey describing infant feeding practices, nutrient intake, and food consumption patterns of U.S. infants and young children, showed that: 0.6 percent of infants ages 4-5.9 months
5 percent of infants 6-8.9 months
and 10.7 percent of infants 9-11.9 months consumed SSBs at least once in a day.6 Prevalence of SSB consumption in a given day ...
This is part of our Sugary Drinks & Latino Kids: A Research Review »
Introduction
Americans obtain over 40 percent of their total sugar in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), including soda, sports and energy drinks, and fruit drinks that contain less than 100 percent juice. Young Americans—including young Latinos—drink far more of these beverages than they did a few decades ago.1 Further, as young Americans’ consumption of soda, fruit drinks, and other SSBs has increased, their consumption of white, unsweetened milk has decreased at the same time.2 Cross sectional studies have shown that children’s milk intakes are inversely associated with intakes of SSBs, including juice drinks and soda, as early as 2 years of age.3,4 This trend is particularly ...
Childhood obesity is one of the leading health concerns plaguing the Latino community. New research shows from several federal agencies show that obesity among toddlers from low-income families is declining. New research from several federal agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reports. However, despite the decline, the prevalence of obesity for low-income toddlers is 14.5%. This number far exceeds the national average. “Continued initiatives to work with parents and other stakeholders to promote healthy pregnancies, breastfeeding, quality nutrition, and physical activity for young children in multiple settings are needed to ensure healthy child development,” according to the authors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department ...
Thirty-four of 56 WIC State Agencies reported modest decreases in obesity among young children from 2010 to 2014; however, Hispanic children still had higher rates of obesity than their peers, according to the study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, The CDC worked in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to monitor obesity among toddlers aged 2-4 from low-income families using data from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) Participants and Characteristics. These decreases in obesity rates are likely due to obesity prevention efforts at the community, state, and national levels, such as the USDA redesign of WIC food packages to meet the special nutritional needs of low-income ...
Fútbol (soccer) is played by 250 million people in more than 200 countries. The sport has many benefits, including its simplicity for beginners and complex strategies for veteran players, aerobic physical activity that lowers body fat and builds endurance from shifts in walking, running and sprinting, and social and leadership skill development. BUT…many U.S. Latinos and others miss out on fútbol because soccer fields tend to be limited to middle-class suburban neighborhoods and pay-to-play soccer clubs, experts say. Here’s some ways to bring soccer closer to home:
Building Soccer Fields for All
Soccer enthusiasts Shawn Levy and Ricki Ruiz, dismayed by the lack of safe, affordable physical activity opportunities in their part of Oregon, led innovative campaigns to help ...
Bad news: Latino kids don't get enough physical activity. Good news: You can speak up now for active kids! Public comments are being sought for the second edition of the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which sets vital activity recommendations for youth and adults. Add your public comment now! Not sure what to say? Use our sample comment:
Salud America! led a research review (http://www.communitycommons.org/groups/salud-america/big-bets/sa-active-spaces/) that found Latino children in underserved communities often have limited opportunities for physical activity. To be able to stay their healthiest, Latino children and their families need safe places to walk, roll, bike, swim, and play. Safe routes and shared or open use agreements are evidence-based ...
