Katy Torres

04-24-2017

Eng-1010

Childhood obesity in Hispanic

Franki DiMaria wrote battling childhood obesity in Hispanic. Frank wrote this
article to show Hispanic outlook had reported on the health of children living in Rio
Grande City border town in Starr County in Texas. One on the poorest counties in the US
most of the children living there were Mexican American and showed the highest rates of
obesity in 2005 eleven years later nothing has changed.

He states according to the US Department of health and Human services office of

minority health from 2009-2010 Mexican Americans children were 1.6 times more likely
to be overweight than non-Hispanics. In 2013 CDC looked at children and adolescents
age 6-11 years old and found that overweight among Mexican Americans girls were 22.4
more than non Hispanics and 24.3 Mexican American boys than non-Hispanic boys.

He also stated Michelle Obama indicates childhood obesity in Hispanic

population is growing faster than all other populations. Two in five Hispanic childrens
ages 2-19 are overweight or obese and the national council of La Raza says that
Hispanics children are more likely to experience obesity than other children. They also
stated obese children are more likely to struggle with weight gain throughout adulthood.

Frank stated Butte and researches from San Diego State University has spent
significant portion of career trying to prevent childhood obesity although she hasnt seen
the results she would like she has noticed obesity has plateaued in the last decade.
 Butte and her fellow researchers have done some actionable interventions. They
used both primary and secondary prevention. Primary prevention researches intervened in
schools, clinics, pre-schools and head start program. With secondary prevention they
dealt with children who were already obese and offered them more intense program.
They also noticed many low-income parents cant afford to offer nutritious meals. Some
low-income students are forced to eat two meals in their cafeteria. Some schools have
removed vending machines. The cafeteria tires to provide healthy meals. Butte believes
not just diet is enough physical activity education is key component.

Butte is a researcher who intents on gathering data. Butte subject had a long
family history of obesity and the families are very motivated to find a better lifestyle for
themselves.

https://www.hispanicoutlook.com/frank-dimaria/2016/8/22/battling-childhood-obesity-in-
hispanics-still?rq=obesity