The Evolution of Over Consumption

According to letsmove.gov, lifestyle changes over the last 30 years have contributed greatly to the spread of obesity. Thirty years ago, children were more active, from walking to and from school, to riding bicycles in the neighborhood, and parents prepared meals with reasonable proportion sizes, instead of super-sized fast food. Snacking was also rare, perhaps just one per day whereas today, children may have three snacks at 200 calories each.

For Latino children, the causes are similar but with some unique circumstances. The basic Latino nutrition pyramid, that incorporates native fruits and vegetables, is a healthy model, but proportion sizes and preparation have added calories. Latino families are also dealing with issues like the cost of healthcare, the lack of access to good food, and even personal safety, which exacerbates the problem.

“Many Latinos live in neighborhoods where the nearest place to buy food is the corner grocery store that may not stock a good variety of fruits and vegetables,” adds Ramirez. “They may also live in neighborhoods where it’s safer for children to stay inside or may not have access to city parks and playgrounds.”

Clinical studies and data concerning Latino health are also limited. Latinos were generally grouped in with African Americans as “minorities” or only one group, the largest, Mexican Americans, was studied.

For this reason, Salud America!, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children, was formed in 2007. With a five-year, $5.2 million grant, the network seeks to bring Latino researchers and advocates together to compile and disseminate studies related to Latino children as well as fund certain research projects. Headquartered and directed by the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, it’s led by Ramirez.

Call to Action

American weight gain has taken 30 years to reach a critical level. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began to sound the alarm in 2006 when it reported that a third of Americans were overweight or obese. The launch of Let’s Move! by the First Lady also magnified the prevalence of obesity among the nation’s children.

Latinos, from chefs to healthcare providers, have also heard the call to action to reduce our rate of obesity.

In 2002, Kraft Foods approached the National Latino Children’s Institute (NLCI) to put together a program for Latino children that encouraged health and nutrition. The organization set about doing its due diligence to see what the Latino community needed by conducting surveys and reaching out to their community-based affiliates. The end result produced an eight-week, curriculum-based program, Salsa, Sabor y Salud, which engages families to encourage a healthier, active lifestyle.

“What we found from our surveys was that Latino parents did not want to be lectured or made to feel bad about their culture or their food,” explains Josie Garza, director of the NLCI. “Words like diet and exercise were discouraging as well, so we don’t use them, instead we discuss nutrition and movement.”

The program also recognized the living situations of many Latinos who may be limited financially—the surveys also revealed that good health and exercise were seen as expensive commodities for Latino families—or do not have access to exercise facilities. It focused on foods and activities that families could do at home, with four simple steps:

• Eat from all food groups every day
• Serve smaller portions
• Be active everyday
• Take small steps for success

“In certain communities, families are simply afraid to let their children out of the house, not just to play, but to walk to school,” adds Garza. “But as a family, they could go for a walk after dinner or to a nearby park or put some music on and dance.”

The program has reached more than 32,000 Latinos and according to a 2005 study by the University of Illinois, has had a positive impact. Kraft has invested more than $6 million in the program to date.

Launched in 2003, Salsa, Sabor y Salud courses were administered in five cities, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, San Antonio, New York and New Jersey. Last year, Kraft and the NLCI discussed broadening the program’s reach, which resulted in the addition of a third partner, the YMCA of the USA.

“The YMCA has always focused on youth sports but we’re beginning to look at programs that address chronic diseases,” shares Bert Ruiz, project manager of the Activate America program within the YMCA. YMCAs in 10 markets in seven states began to implement Salsa, Sabor y Salud this year. Free and completely bilingual, the program has received a warm response.

“It’s not that Latino families don’t want to be healthy, they just don’t have access to the information that can help them,” adds Ruiz. “Simple information like how to prepare food more nutritiously, e.g. replacing lard with canola or a vegetable oil, can have a tremendous impact on your health. What we’re doing is providing the information that they need to make better choices.”

The goal of the program is to reach 130 communities by 2012. While the course is free, membership to a YMCA tends to be priced competitively with gyms and fitness centers. Garza says feedback from the first round of participants will be critical to the continued success of the program.

The epidemic may be real, but for Latino families, spending quality time together, at the dinner table and outside, can be a productive first step in the fight against childhood obesity.