Posts tagged Latinos

Report: Latinos among the Most Obese, Sedentary in U.S.

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6 months ago
by admin in , ,

About 31% of U.S. Latinos are obese and 30.6% have a sedentary lifestyle, higher rates than the overall population (27.8% and 26.2%, respectively), according to a new snapshot of the nation’s health.

Latinos’ obesity and diabetes rates continue to be alarming, experts say.

But the news isn’t all bad: Latinos’ rates of premature death, death due to cancers, cardiovascular deaths and infant mortality all improved, according to an NBC Latino report on the new America’s Health Rankings.

The rankings, which comes from the United Health Foundation and the American Public Health Association and the Partnership for Prevention, looks at 24 measures of health, including tobacco and alcohol abuse, exercise, infectious diseases, crime rates, premature birth rates and cancer and heart disease rates. The report ranks the states based on those indicators.

Vermont tops the list of healthiest states for the fourth-straight year. Vermont’s strengths include its number one position for all health determinants combined, which includes ranking in the top 10 states for a high rate of high school graduation, a low violent crime rate, a low incidence of infectious disease, etc.

Hawaii is ranked as second-healthiest, followed by New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Minnesota.

Texas ranks 40th.

Mississippi and Louisiana tie for 49th as the least healthy states. Mississippi ranks in the bottom 5 states on 12 of the 24 measures including a high prevalence of obesity, a high prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle, a low high school graduation rate, limited availability of primary care physicians, a high prevalence of low birthweight infants, and a high prevalence of diabetes.

On a positive note, New Jersey (18% Latino) and Colorado (21% Latino) were two of the states that saw great improvement in health ranking measures, with New Jersey improving on nine different measures and Colorado improving across five different categories, according to the NBC Latino report.

See how your state ranks here.

Is Obesity Triggering Arthritis, or Vice-Verse, among Latinos?

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9 months ago
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Latinos, African Americans and women are disproportionately affected by both obesity and osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, which is characterized by the breakdown of cartilage that acts as a cushion at the ends of bones.

On Sept. 18-19, 2012, Movement is Life will convene for its third annual National Caucus on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health Disparities.

At this year’s meeting, the cause and effect relationship between osteoarthritis and obesity will be at the forefront of discussions.

“For patients with osteoarthritis, the friction produced when bones grind against one another causes chronic pain and stiffness. As a result, many limit their physical activity, which often leads to weight gain,” said Dr. Mary O’Connor of the Mayo Clinic Florida and the co-chair of Movement is Life, which aims to decrease disparities in musculoskeletal care delivery by raising awareness of ways to proactively manage chronic diseases. “Chronic pain, inactivity and weight gain can escalate into obesity, which in turn worsens the burden of osteoarthritis. However, obesity can also initiate the cycle. Being overweight increases the risk and progression of osteoarthritis because the extra load directly impacts weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips.”

Facts about arthritis

  • An estimated 3.1 million Hispanics are living with arthritis, and 39.1 percent of Hispanic adults are considered obese.
  • Of the nearly 27 million Americans who have osteoarthritis, nearly 16 million are women.
  • More than 60 percent of U.S. adult women are overweight.
  • An estimated 4.6 million African Americans are living with arthritis. Four out of five African American women are overweight or obese, which is the highest rate of any group in the U.S.

“OA and obesity act as catalysts for other chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease,” said Alberto Bolanos, MD and Co-Founder of the American Association of Latino Orthopaedic Surgeons. “The treatment of patients who suffer from multiple chronic conditions is challenging to our health care system. Osteoarthritis and obesity lead to worse health conditions, resulting in higher medical costs and, sadly, a poorer quality of life.”

The two-day 2012 National Caucus on Arthritis & Musculoskeletal Health Disparities will bring together a consortium of stakeholders representing primary care physicians, orthopaedic surgeons, health advocacy organizations, community organizations, academia, faith-based leaders, industry leaders and more.

Learn more at www.movementislifecaucus.com.

New Insight on How to Reduce Tobacco’s Impact Among Latinos, Others

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2 years ago
by admin in ,

The Tobacco Research Network on Disparities (TReND) has announced the release of the special journal issue, Cigarette Smoking Interventions Among Diverse Populations.

This issue, published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, includes 15 papers that provide insight into how to effectively reduce tobacco’s impact on populations who are disproportionately affected by tobacco use, including African Americans and Latinos.

In the issue, researchers examine the use and efficacy of evidence-based interventions among diverse populations.

Latinos, Asians to be Majority of Children Sooner

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2 years ago
by admin in
From the Washington Post

From the Washington Post

A majority of the nation’s children will be minorities before the decade is out, a new Census analysis shows, the Washington Post reports.

Census data had incidctaed that most children will be minorities by 2023, but demographer William H. Frey said that landmark will be reached years earlier, as unexpectedly rapid growth among Hispanics and Asians is creating a demographic age gap already is visible in classrooms and playgrounds.

More from the news report:

Latinos already are the largest minority among schoolchildren nationwide. One in five students overall is Latino; among kindergarteners, it’s one in four. They lag behind other children in achievement, with half never finishing high school.

More needs to be done at an earlier age to help them bridge the gap, said Thelma Melndez de Santa Ana, assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education at the Education Department.

“America’s future is tied to the success of Latino students,” she said.

Read more here.

Latinos Have New Bilingual Web Site about Diabetes

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2 years ago
by admin in ,
Joslin Diabetes Center doctors expect half of Latinos born in the U.S. will get the disease (photo via The Americano)

Joslin Diabetes Center doctors expect half of Latinos born in the U.S. will get the disease (photo via The Americano)

One of the world’s best-known centers of diabetes research and treatment has revamped its Web site as part of its efforts to stem a rising tide of the metabolic disorder among Latinos, The Americano reports.

According to the news report:

According to a story published online by Suncoast News, in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, The Joslin Diabetes Center, an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School, wants to reach the Latino population in the United States, who are twice as likely to develop diabetes as Caucasians.

The website, published in both English and Spanish, wants Latinos to know the risk of a disorder by providing them with information that combines clinical care, patient education, community outreach, research and healthcare team education.

Doctors from the Joslin Diabetes Center expect that half the Latinos born in the United States in this century will get the disease.

Dr. Enrique Caballero, founder and director of the Latino Diabetes Initiative, is a Joslin clinical investigator, staff endocrinologist and associate medical director of professional education.

“Our redesigned website allows us to share important information with many people about our work and the general challenges and opportunities with this group,” Caballero said.

View the bilingual, bicultural Web site at www.joslin.org/latino.

Spanish-Speakers Can Get Free Cancer Info at 1-800-4-CANCER

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2 years ago
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Spanish-speakers are encouraged to call the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service, 1-800-4-CANCER, to get free scientifically based information on cancer clinical trials, prevention, risk factors and more in their language.

In a new video, Aileen Ardizon, Director of Bilingual Services for the Cancer Information Service, explains how the number works and what type of servces are offered.

NCI cancer information is offered in English and Spanish online, too.

Foreign-Born Latinos Healthier, Live Longer Than U.S.-Born, New Jersey Study Says

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2 years ago
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Foreign-born Latinos in New Jersey are healthier, have fewer vices and live longer than Hispanics born in the U.S., mirroring a national trend, according to a new report, Fox News Latino reports.

According to the news report:

The report, released by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, found that foreign-born residents of New Jersey are primarily healthier than native-born residents, and also have healthier lifestyles.

About 20 percent of New Jersey residents are foreign immigrants, and, of those 20 percent, approximately 36 percent are Hispanic, the report says.

The large proportion of foreign-born Latino residents were found to have lower mortality rates than U.S.-born Hispanics for most leading causes of death including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic respiratory disease and pneumonia.

“This pattern reflects both selective in-migration, since the foreign-born who now live in the U.S. are thought to be healthier on average than those who do not move here, and also potentially selective out-migration, as the foreign-born who develop health problems may return to their country of origin for care and support,” the report stated.

The study also found that foreign-born Latinos had more favorable health behaviors than U.S.-born Hispanics, including lower prevalence of obesity, smoking, binge drinking, and drug use.

Research: Bad Relationship Between Pharmaceutical Co’s and Hispanics

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2 years ago
by admin in

U.S. Pharmaceutical companies are having communication problems when it comes to Hispanic/Latino audiences, according to a national survey of physicians, portada-online.com reports.

The new study revealed that poor communication with Hispanic patients is adversely affecting the quality of care to this country’s largest minority group. The Jeffrey Group and KCI Partners announced the results of this study measuring the knowledge and perceptions of minority patients relating to healthcare issues.

Read more about the situation here.

Hispanics/Latinos the Fastest-Growing U.S. Racial Minority

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2 years ago
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U.S. racial minorities accounted for roughly 85 percent of the nation’s population growth over the last decade — one of the largest shares ever — with Hispanics accounting for much of the gain in many of the states picking up new House seats, the Associated Press reports.

Preliminary census estimates, based on survey data, also suggest the number of multiracial Americans jumped roughly 20 percent since 2000, to over 5 million.

Broken down by voting age, minorities accounted for roughly 70 percent of U.S. growth in the 18-and-older population since 2000, and Hispanics made up about 40 percent.

Hispanics also represented more than half the growth share of the population in Texas and California.

“The growth of the Hispanic community is one of the stories that will be written from the 2010 census,” Census director Robert Groves said Wednesday, previewing major demographic trends, including the movement of many minorities from city to suburb, according to the Associated Press. “We should see a big difference from 2000 to 2010.”

In all, non-Hispanic whites make up roughly 65% of the U.S. population, down from 69% in 2000.

Hispanics had a 16% share, compared with 13% a decade ago. Blacks represent about 12% and Asians roughly 5%. Multiracial Americans and other groups made up the remaining 2%.

California Latinos Continue to Battle Whooping Cough Outbreak

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2 years ago
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California is coping with the worst whooping cough outbreak in 60 years, KGO-TV in San Francisco reports.

Public health figures show that 10 babies have died in California this year from whooping cough, also known as pertussis. No more than three die in a typical year.

Nine of the 10 babies were Latino, though officials don’t have answers for the disparity.

The state also has had the most cases of whooping cough since 1950, with 6,200 cases recorded since January. Health officials are focused on vaccination. Watch a video on the outbreak here or below:

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