En Español : Latino childhood obesity materials

Childhood obesity word cloud concept

Four new Spanish-language research briefs, animated videos, and a set of infographics explore the causes of and solutions to Latino childhood obesity, as researched by Salud America!, a national prevention network at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The materials, released in English earlier in 2016, address critical reasons why Latino children are more obese or overweight than their peers.

The materials also feature evidence-based tactics working to reverse the epidemic.

View and download materials.

Healthy weight

One of four U.S. kids is already overweight or obese by age 2-5, with a higher rate among Latino kids (30 percent) than white kids (21 percent). How can Latino kids achieve a healthy weight by kindergarten?

Active spaces

Latino kids in underserved communities have limited options for physical activity, which is part of the reason they are more likely to be overweight or obese than their peers.

Better food in the neighborhoods

In many Latino neighborhoods, fast food and corner stores often outnumber and are used more than supermarkets and farmers’ markets, resulting in inadequate consumption of healthy foods and overconsumption of unhealthy foods.

Healthier schools

Healthy school environments are paramount for the proper development of Latino children, given the rising percentage of Latino students enrolled in public schools and the higher rates of obesity among Latino children than other racial/ethnic groups.

“We want people to share these materials with friends, family, and decision-makers to increase awareness of these key Latino health issues and drive healthy changes in their schools and communities,” said Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH, director of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.



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