Food Insecurity Linked to Rise of Fatty Liver Disease in Latino Children



Childhood cases of fatty liver disease have risen over the last decade, prompting researchers to search for answers in risk factors such as genes, birthweight, and malnutrition. While studies involving adults that have fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis and food insecurity have been conducted, few focused on children — until now. A recent study assessed the influence food insecurity – living without enough food for a healthy life for all family members – on the development of fatty liver disease in 4-year-old Latino children, and discovered that food-insecure Latino children experienced a higher risk for the disease. Results of the Fatty Liver Disease Study The study involved two groups of San Francisco Latino mothers and followed their child’s development from pregnancy ...

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Infographic: Shared Use Agreements & Latino Kids



Schools often have physical activity facilities, but many are not open to the public. Shared use agreements—contracts between a school and a city, county, or sports league that outlines rules for sharing existing facilities can help Latino neighborhoods have more access to active spaces and help Latino kids stay active and healthy, according to our new infographic on shared use agreements which is part of the new Salud America! Active Spaces and Latino Kids research package on the latest science and policy recommendations on the Latino physical activity environment. Share this infographic today! Salud America! is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded national Latino childhood obesity prevention network based at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, the team ...

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Infographic: Safe Streets & Latino Kids



The majority of Latino kids who live in inner city neighborhoods lack access to active spaces and safe streets where they can be physically active. Streets in Latino neighborhoods are often plagued with speeding cars and lack of sidewalks. Research shows that when communities adopt a “complete streets” policy and organize events such as “Open Street” more Latino kids and their families become physically active, according to our new infographic on safe streets which is part of the new Salud America! Active Spaces and Latino Kids research package on the latest science and policy recommendations on the Latino physical activity environment. Share this infographic today! Salud America! is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded national Latino childhood obesity ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 1p ET 12/8/15: “Envisioning A Healthier Food Environment for Latino Kids”



What will happen to the future environment? How are policymakers, restaurants, and communities impacting food in Latino neighborhoods? Who’s targeting Latino and other kids of color? Do they see more healthy or junk food ads? What steps can we take to see the food environment that promotes health? Use #SaludTues to tweet with us on Dec. 8, 2015, as we unveil the results of a new study that explores the ways we can envision a healthier food environment for Latino neighborhoods and communities. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Envisioning A Healthier Food Environment for Latino Kids TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m., ET, Dec. 8, 2015 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludToday CO-HOSTS: Food Corps (@FoodCorps); Voices for Healthy Kids (@Voices4HK) We’ll open the ...

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Coca-Cola’s Chief Scientist Resigns



Rhona S. Applebaum, Coke’s chief scientist is stepping down after revelations that the soft drink giant tried to play down the role of coke products in the spread of obesity, New York Times reports. Data from SaludAmerica shows more than 39 percent of Latino children between the ages 2-19 are overweight or obese in the United States. As part of Coke’s strategy to influence research on the effects of sugary drinks on obesity, Applebaum helped establish a nonprofit group known as the Global Energy Balance Network. “The group’s members were university scientists who encouraged the public to focus on exercise and worry less about how calories from food and beverages contribute to obesity.” According to Coca-Cola the company did offer financial support to the group ...

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Latino Kids Need Salud Heroes. Can You Step Up?



Latino kids need Salud Heroes to help fight childhood obesity. Can you step up? Visit our new website, Salud America! Growing Healthy Change, to read stories about real-life Salud Heroes who are making healthy community changes—from improved marketing to increased access to healthy food and physical activity, etc.—for Latino kids in your neighborhood and across the nation. You can also upload your own Salud Hero stories and photos. Watch a video about the site and Salud Heroes...and be a Salud Hero today! The Growing Healthy Change website was created by Salud America!, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation based at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, the team behind SaludToday. The ...

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Research: Latino Kids Have High Exposure to Unhealthy Snacks at School



Latino students are widely exposed to high-fat, high-sugar snacks and drinks sold in schools, but implementing stronger nutritional standards can yield healthier school snacks for this growing population at high risk of obesity, according to a new package of research materials released today by Salud America! The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children. The new Salud America! “Healthier School Snacks & Latino Kids” research materials, which can be found at www.salud-america.org, include: • A research review with the latest science; • An issue brief (lay summary of the review); • An infographic; and • An animated video This is the first of six new research material packages to be released over the summer by ...

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Innovation in Preventing Latino Cervical Cancer, Obesity & More



Find the latest in Latino health—from fighting Latina cervical cancer to innovative ways to tackle Latino childhood obesity—in the new E-newsletter from the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. The IHPR E-newsletter has these stories: Story and Video: Preventing Cervical Cancer in South Texas (Pg 1) Story: How an “Exercise Avoider” Became an “Exercise Promoter” (Pg 2) Story: The Importance of Latino Biospecimens (Pg 2) Story: 20 Studies Tackle Latino Childhood Obesity (Pg 3) Story: Who is Promotora of the Year? (Pg 4) Videos: “Feeding Minds” Series Addresses Hunger, Obesity in Texas (Pg 6) The E-newsletter is jam-packed with even more info on the latest local and national health ...

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Advances in Latino Cancer Screening, Liver Cancer, Obesity & More



Find the latest in Latino health—from helping underserved Latinos get cancer screening, to exploring reasons why liver cancer is on the rise among Latinos, to helping Latinos pursue doctoral degrees—in the new E-newsletter from the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. The IHPR E-newsletter has these stories: Story and Video: A New Way to Help Underserved Local Latinos Get Cancer Screens (Pg 1) Story: How Did an IHPR Employee Get a Coveted Internship Using His Christmas Present? (Pg 2) Story: New Research Briefs Examine Obesity in Latino Youths (Pg 3) Videos: New Training Videos on Patient Navigation (Pg 4) Story: Apply by 3/1/12 for Éxito to Get Help Pursuing a Doctoral Degree (Pg 5) Story: Latino Liver Cancer ...

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