A new study from Michigan State University found a link between the identification of fast-food logos and higher weights in children. Children who could better identify the logos and images of fast-food, soda, and unhealthy snack brands were more likely to be overweight. They classified the status of weight for the children, ages 3-5, by their Body Mass Indexes (BMIs). The kids were shown images that included McDonald's golden arches, the Trix rabbit, and the Burger King crown, as well as being asked to match food items and cartoons to brand names. Anna McAlister, an assistant professor and study researcher at MSU, said that the results show how it is not just a sedentary lifestyle that is causing obesity in America. "Of course we want kids to be active, but the ...
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 ...
In a collaborative effort First 5 Contra Costa and Healthy and Active Before 5 created an ad campaign that depicts soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages with sharp, scary teeth. Sugar Bites is a social marketing campaign that aims to encourage parents to provide their children with healthier beverages. The ads are featured in both English and Spanish, in order to reach as many people as possible in the 24.8% Hispanic area. Advertisements like these can help educate people and use the same tactics large corporations use to advertise unhealthy drinks and snacks. “In 2010, one in three low-income kids in Contra Costa County ages 2-5 were overweight or obese,” said Tracy Irwin, public affairs manager at First 5. “Childhood obesity is a public health crisis. It not ...
Hispanics live longer than other population groups, even though they face higher rates of blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, according to the largest-ever study of Latino health. The federal study, called the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), is a multi-city epidemiological study collected information on the health issues, risk factors, and lifestyle habits that impact this population. The study has followed more than 16,000 Hispanic adults from Chicago, San Diego, Miami and the Bronx since 2008. Some of its initial national results include: 80% of Hispanic men and 71% of women had at least one adverse risk factor for heart disease (i.e., high cholesterol/blood pressure, obesity, diabetes or smoking).
The percentage with obesity was high among ...
The National Football League teamed up with the American Heart Association to create a mobile app that encourages fitness and physical activity, Prevent Obesity reports. The NFL Play 60 app is a game that requires players to run in place and jump through a course of parks, city, and street views. Because players run in place and jump in place, they can use this app to be active indoors and outdoors, or anytime they want to get a few minutes of physical activity! Like many other popular games available to young people, the player collects coins and has different achievements while playing, like "Run 1000 yards!" Unlike other mobile app games, in the NFL Play 60 game if you don't run in place or jump, your character doesn't either! Youth can choose their avatar, and ...
It is hardest for minorities, like Latinos, in urban areas of the United States to purchase healthy foods close to home, according to a new study, Saludify reports. The team for the study, led by Dr. Carolyn Cannuscio of the University of Pennsylvania and published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, interviewed nearly 500 people about their food shopping habits in West and Southwest Philadelphia. They also accessed the quality and variety of food offerings at more than 370 stores—about 80% corner stores—in the area. Most of the corner stores scored very low on the healthy food assessment. Despite the fact that 90% of the residents in the area said the corner stores were the closest to their residence to shop, only one-third of those residents said they ...
A recent study from scholars at the Center for Healthy Policy at the University of New Mexico on Hispanic children in the Rio Grande Valley found that obesity is not the only health issue affecting youth. Although obesity has been the main issue with the diet and health of Hispanic youth, malnutrition due to a limited diet is becoming an major concern. The study found that in the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic children ages 2-19 tend to be more malnourished and overweight or obese than non-Hispanic children, but the healthy-weight Hispanic youth have higher rates of being malnourished than their obese counterparts. Malnutrition in young children can stunt growth and cause irreversible issues. Although researchers are emphasizing a diet that is full of low-fat or low-calorie options, ...
A report and infographic from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) shows the mental, physical, and academic benefits of students receiving 60 minutes of physical activity per day. The IOM report says that even with busy schedules, youth can get 60 minutes of physical activity per day through taking advantage of active transportation to and from school, classroom activity time and brain breaks, recess with free play and engaging equipment, physical education class, after-school programs, and intra and extramural sports. Physical Education classes are a big contribution to the amount of active play students have in their school day, but have been pushed aside due to financial and academic pressures in recent years. IOM suggest that PE classes need to be a priority and should include a ...
A new article and infographic from The Washington Post shows all the ways that sitting is negatively affecting the health of the average U.S. adult. Whether it be working at a desk or sitting in front of the television, sitting contributes to many health issues that already plague Latinos such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Sitting causes the muscles to burn less fat and causes blood to flow at a slower pace, which allows more fatty acids to easily clog the heart. Long-term effects of prolonged sitting also include high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. People with a sedentary lifestyle, that includes sitting a majority of their day, are more than twice as likely to have heart diseases and related issues than those who sit less frequently. Latinos are already at huge ...
