Latino Health

In the last week, we’ve seen multiple studies regarding Latino health, including one report from the Tomás Rivera Policy Center on the Latino Health Paradox, another called “Physical Activity Patterns Among Latinos in the United States: Putting the Pieces Together,” and a third called “Energy Balance Feasibility Study for Latinas in Texas: A Qualitative Assessment.”

Why are these important? Because in our field, if we are working with health, wellness or food-focused clients, as examples, it is important to understand the challenges and barriers related to the health of Latinos in the U.S. Most importantly, the statistics are of great concern. As an example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one in every two Latino babies born in the United States will develop diabetes later in life; Hispanic Americans are 1.5 times more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites of a similar age and Mexican-Americans more specifically are more than twice as likely to have diabetes.
Investing in this type of research to have a better understanding of cultural, behavioral, environmental and genetic factors will allow private and public entities to develop effective behavior change programs for Latinos in the U.S. 

And speaking of health, congratulations to Elmer Huerta, MD, MPH, who was named last week as the new president of the American Cancer Society, making him the first Latino to lead this organization in its 94-year history. ¡Felicidades!