This February, American Heart Month, Discovery Familia joins this important cause by launching the "Escucha tu Corazon" (Listen To Your Heart) initiative to raise awareness and educate Hispanic women about heart disease, including their risk factors. The national initiative includes special on air programming, Public Service Announcements (PSAs), a microsite specifically created to provide information on the subject, and a special collaboration with the The Heart Truth®, a national campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
As part of the collaboration with The Heart Truth® campaign, Discovery Familia created PSAs that will feature Jeannette Torres-Alvarez, the official ambassador for Discovery Familia. The PSAs include information on risk factors such as being overweight and diabetes, and ways to prevent heart disease. They will be broadcast during the network's nighttime programming, beginning February 6.
"Heart disease is the primary cause of death among Latinas in the United States. Any one of us could have a predisposition to heart disease. That is why we need to become informed, get our medical check-ups, be willing to change our lifestyles and always listen to our hearts," stated Jeannette Torres-Alvarez, Discovery Familia's ambassador.
As the network's ambassador and representing Hispanic women, Jeannette has also been invited to participate in the The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2012 Fashion Show scheduled for February 8 at 7 PM ET in New York City. This annual event during New York Fashion Week brings together more than 20 celebrities walking the runway in fashions created by some of America's top designers. The main aim is to raise awareness of the #1 killer of women and prompt women to take action to lower their risk for heart disease. The event can be watched live on the Discovery Familia website, www.discoveryfamilia.com.
Following through on its promise to provide Hispanic women in the United States with information and shows expressly created to address her needs, Discovery Familia will also broadcast special programming during its "Sabados medicos" (Medical Saturdays) at 10 PM E/P every Saturday during the month of February. Some of the medical specials to be featured include: Cardiovascular Disease programs, (2/11); the documentary The First Heart Transplant, (2/18) hosted by renowned surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, which describes the first heart transplant done in 1967; and new episodes of the series, Surgery Saved My Life, (2/25).
The network has also created a microsite at www.discoveryfamilia.com, which will provide women with helpful tools and specific information on cardiovascular disease, prevention tips, facts, videos, as well as a direct link to The Heart Truth® campaign at www.hearttruth.gov.
About Discovery Familia
Part of Discovery Communications, Discovery Familia is the only Spanish language network completely dedicated to the Hispanic mom and what's important to her: her kids, her home and her well-being. With insightful programming targeted to children aged 2-6, the network's daily Discovery Kids block provides a safe, entertaining and curriculum-based co-viewing experience that helps preschoolers get ready for the real world. Each night, Discovery Familia is programmed for mom, spanning relevant topics from cooking and home improvement, to parenting and relationships, to beauty and health. With trusted content, entertaining programs and unmatched quality, Discovery Familia is a place that Hispanic moms and their children can call "home".
About The Heart Truth®
The Heart Truth® is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease and is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Through the campaign, the NHLBI leads the nation in a landmark heart health awareness movement that is being embraced by millions who share the common goal of better heart health for all women. The centerpiece of The Heart Truth® is the Red Dress, which was introduced as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in 2002 by the NHLBI. The Red Dress® reminds women of the need to protect their heart health, and inspires them to take action. ® The Heart Truth, its logo, and The Red Dress are registered trademarks of HHS.
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How do I begin?
• To begin an exercise program, it is a good idea to do an activity that you enjoy, such as dancing, gardening, or taking a walk.
• Schedule exercise into your life. Start slowly 3 to 5 minutes a day.
• Decide that you will do as much exercise as you can. Your goal is to gradually make exercise a part of your life. A positive attitude helps in the early stages. Remember that progress is gradual and takes time.
• Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
• Find an exercise buddy. Exercising with someone else can make it more fun and motivating.
• Being fit does not have to be expensive, you can buy an exercise video, instead of paying gym membership fees.
What can I do once I start exercising?
• Build your program over time. Start at a low level and work your way up.
• Eventually you want to engage in moderate intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes, 5 or more days of the week.
• Choose a physical fitness program that is well rounded and strengthens your heart, lungs , and muscles and increases flexibility.
How do I design a program that works for me?
In designing an exercise program, there are three things to consider:
• Frequency: The number of times per week the exercise is performed.
• Intensity: How hard you work.
• Duration: The amount of time you spend exercising.
The following are examples of some exercises that can help you plan a good fitness program:
• Low Intensity: walking, yoga, pilates, and water-aerobics
• Moderate Intensity: jogging, dancing, hiking, swimming laps, weight training and bicycling
• High Intensity: running, sprint swimming, aerobic dancing, tennis, climbing stairs, and jumping rope
How can you increase your physical activity on a daily basis?
• Stretch before you get out of bed to give yourself more energy when you wake up.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Walk during your break or lunch hour.
• Walk or bike instead of driving whenever you can.
• Dance to music.
• Walk in place when watching television.
National Alliance for Hispanic Health www.hispanichealth.org
Few things make me feel as clueless as a bill from my doctor's office.
I don't recognize the abbreviations or understand the jargon. I can't tell when I'm being charged too much. And there's no screen on the wall, at least not at my doctor's office, tallying the cost of each extra test I agree to or question I ask.
But, even if you have health insurance as I do, medical bills can spiral quickly, eating up savings or in extreme cases leading to bankruptcy. Here are ways to protect yourself throughout the process.
_ CHOOSING DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS: Even people who studiously comparison-shop for their digital camera or winter coat don't always realize they should do the same for medical services. Prices can vary significantly.
"You can get an MRI on one side of the street that will cost you $2,000, and the exact same MRI on the other side of the street will cost $4,000," says Dr. Neel Shah, executive director of Costs of Care, a nonprofit that aims to help patients deflate their medical bills.
He isn't speaking metaphorically. Dr. Jeffrey Rice, CEO of the Healthcare Blue Book, estimates that there's an average difference of 300 percent to 600 percent between the lowest price and the highest price for any single medical procedure in any U.S. city.
If you're thinking you needn't comparison shop because you have insurance, think again. Many insurance plans will still hold you responsible for a portion of the bill in addition to the deductible. And don't assume that choosing a doctor who's in your insurance company's network will solve the problem: Their prices can vary too.
"The biggest problem we see is patients don't ask about costs before they get their care," Rice said. "It's like going to buy a car and deciding afterward that the price was too high."
You need to call each doctor's office or hospital you might visit to learn what they charge. The Healthcare Blue Book website, which is free to consumers, can help you figure out what prices might be reasonable. It collects information about the fees doctors accept from insurance companies.
If you're uninsured, ask about a "self-pay" discount. Doctors often charge less to patients who have to pay out of pocket, but they generally don't advertise this.
_ AT YOUR VISIT: Tell your doctor you need to watch what you spend. She might not know the exact cost of each procedure or whether your insurance covers it, but she'll know the relative value of each test she orders. Maybe she can hold off on a few for a couple of months, until she's certain you need them. Or, if you need surgery, maybe your doctor can do it at an outpatient facility instead of a hospital.
It's also important to make sure you've followed your insurance company's paperwork procedures, no matter how ridiculous you think they are. For example, if your doctor sends you to a specialist, ask your insurance company whether you'll need pre-authorization for the visit. The pre-authorization is just another layer of paperwork – maybe your doctor's office has to fill out an extra form or make an extra phone call – but you want to be sure it gets done.
"There are times when a test is ordered and performed and no one really realized it (needed pre-authorization), and the patient gets stuck with a bill for a test that would have been covered," said Dr. Stephen Meyers, a physician in Oak Ridge, N.C., who runs SmartMedSavings.com.
Or say you have two health insurance plans – a primary and a secondary – and you need a procedure that your primary plan won't cover but your secondary will. It's likely that you'll still need to file a valid claim with the primary insurer, just to get it denied, to guarantee that the secondary insurer will pay up.
_ THE BILL: In most cases, you won't see any tally of prices until your insurance company sends you a document listing what the doctor or hospital charged, how much the insurance company paid and what's left for you to cover.
It's a good idea to ask for a line-item bill from your doctor's office or the hospital so you know exactly what you're being charged for. Check for glaring errors: Are the medicines listed on the bill the ones you actually received? Is there lab work listed on a day when you didn't have blood drawn? It's easy for a billing office to accidentally key in "11" instead of "1" and charge you for 10 extra pills or to transpose a few digits in a code and charge you for an injection when you really just got counseling.
"You don't want to assume that everything somebody is charging you for is correct," said Louis Saccoccio, CEO of the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association.
_THE APPEAL: If you believe you've been charged for something your insurance company should cover, contact the company first. If it still denies your claim, you have the right – under the new health care reform laws – to ask for an independent organization to review your claim. If your health insurer tries to deny you this external review, contact your state insurance commissioner's office.
Other state agencies also can help you. Check the "Consumer Assistance Program Locator" on the nonprofit Families USA's home page or HealthCare.gov, a website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Some for-profit companies also will scour your medical bills for errors and try to get the charges lowered. But these companies will keep a portion of any savings they recover for you, sometimes as much as 35 percent.
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20. Skinny Habit #1: Eat an early dinner:
Experts have gone back and forth on whether eating late leads to weight gain, but a recent study published in the journal Obesity found a solid link. Northwestern University researchers looked at the eating and sleeping patterns of 52 adults and found that those who regularly ate after 8 p.m. ingested the most calories and carried the most body fat. An easy-to-follow rule of thumb: Stop eating three hours before you hit the sack. Then, while you sleep, your body is better primed to burn fat instead of creating more.
19. Skinny Habit #2: Weigh yourself daily:
Stepping on the scale can be disheartening, particularly after an indulgent weekend (“I gained five pounds since Friday?!”). But it's best to face your fears, because as it turns out, weighing yourself regularly can actually help you stay slim. Scientists at the University of Minnesota discovered that people who got on the scale every day lost twice as much weight as those who weighed themselves less often. The assumption: Monitoring your weight keeps your mind on your health and prevents weight denial.
18. Skinny Habit #3: Eat a boring diet:
Researchers at the University of Buffalo discovered that people who ate macaroni and cheese every day took in significantly fewer calories than those who ate the cheese-covered noodles only once a week. The reason: The novelty of new foods drives us to consume more, so by removing the novelty, we feel fuller, faster. I’m not suggesting you choose one meal and eat it every day for the rest of your life, but the more routines you establish, the more your belly will shrink. Start with lunch. If you find yourself scratching your head every day when the clock strikes noon, you’ll end up eating impulsively and taking in more calories. Instead, pick something healthy, like a soup-and-salad combo, and eat it every day. Or grab a book like Cook This, Not That! Easy 350-Calorie Meals and commit to making more dinners at home.
17. Skinny Habit #4: Reward yourself:
Once you’ve established a healthy routine, you need to establish a reward system. Think of those pioneers who traveled the Oregon Trail. It’s a trip known best for being rife with danger, but it was also rife with sluggish tedium. Early American settlers wouldn’t have completed the journey without the proverbial promise of milk and honey at the end, and neither will you stay the course of a repetitive diet without something more closely resembling literal milk and honey. A great way to stick to a low-calorie diet without breaking down into rebellious binge-mode is to reward yourself with a small dessert every day. Pick a food you love, and at the end of every day, reward yourself with a portion of about 200 calories. But remember—you only get the reward if you deserve it.
16. Skinny Habit #5: Read diet and exercise tips:
One Canadian study found that being exposed to nutrition and exercise advice led people to make smarter diet and lifestyle choices. To ensure you stay focused on maintaining a healthy weight, subscribe to a health-related magazine or frequent a nutrition-focused blog. Another simple way to eat great and still lose a ton of weight: Follow me right here on Twitter for the diet and fitness secrets I come across every day overseeing Men’s Health, Women's Health and Prevention magazines.
15. Skinny Habit #6: Eat breakfast:
A study from the American Journal of Epidemiology found that people who skipped breakfast were 4.5 times more likely to be obese. They don’t call it the most important meal of the day for nothin’—eating a nutritious morning meal jumpstarts your metabolism and prevents you from overindulging throughout the day. For optimal weight-loss results, choose a breakfast dish with a healthy balance of protein and fiber, like eggs with fruit and whole-wheat toast.
14. Skinny Habit #7: Take snack breaks:
Snacking sometimes gets a bad rap, but planning nutritious snacks throughout your day can actually keep you skinny. A recent study released by the Nutrition Journal found that consuming low-sugar, high-protein snacks promotes weight loss. The reason: Healthy snacking keeps your blood-sugar from spiking, preventing hunger pangs, cravings, and body fat storage. An ideal snack choice? Nuts. The balance of protein, fiber, and healthy fats is sure to keep you satisfied between meals.
13. Skinny Habit #8: Drink water:
Almost 60 percent of your body is water, which makes it vital to every important metabolic process. In one study of 173 overweight women, those who added 1 liter of daily water to their diets lost five extra pounds over the course of a year, and if you time it right, the effects can be even greater. When researchers from Virginia Tech had subjects drink two glasses of water before each meal, they found that those subjects lost 30 percent more body fat over 12 weeks. That said, making beverage blunders is one of the easiest ways to gain belly fat—as the average American drinks 450 sugar-loaded calories a day. Replace half of what you drink with water and you'll save 23 pounds per year! Start by avoiding everything on this list of The 20 Worst Drinks in America.
12. Skinny Habit #9: Order a la carte:
A study from the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing found that diners consume more calories when they order combo meals because they end up with more food than they want or need. Our stay-skinny advice: Resist the temptation of the almighty “value” meal and order a la carte items, like a modestly sized burger and a non-fried side dish. You'll save both calories and cash.
11. Skinny Habit #10: Choose whole grains:
Choosing nutrient-rich whole grains over processed, white flour-based products can play a major role in keeping you lean. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers discovered that obese participants who added whole grains to their diets lost more belly fat than those who did not. One of the key weight-loss benefits of whole grains: Their healthy dose of fiber helps slow digestion, keeping you fuller longer. But don’t be fooled by “made with whole grain” labels. True whole grain products will list whole grains first on their ingredients list (think "whole wheat" flour instead of "enriched" or "bleached" flour).
10. Skinny Habit #11: Eat spicy food:
A 1999 study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that eating spicy foods may promote weight loss. Research participants who ate a spicy appetizer before a meal ate significantly less than those who consumed a non-spicy app. The explanation: A chemical compound called capsaicin, found in chili peppers, acts as an appetite suppressant. Capsaicin has also been shown to boost metabolism and fight inflammation. The take away: Routinely adding spicy ingredients like cayenne or red pepper to your meals is an easy, flavorful way to stay slim.
9. Skinny Habit #12: Sleep for 6 to 8 hours each night :
Getting a good night’s sleep has been linked to a host of major health benefits, not the least of which is maintaining healthy body weight. In a study from Harvard University, participants who slept for fewer than six hours or more than eight hours each night gained significantly more weight than those who slept for six to eight hours. Lack of sleep has been shown to increase appetite, lower willpower, and bolster cravings for high-calorie foods. That might be why you find it so hard to resist those doughnuts in the break room.
8. Skinny Habit #13: Manage stress:
A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that dealing with work-, finance-, or relationship-related stress can lead to weight gain. When you stress, your body releases cortisol, a hormone that promotes abdominal fat storage. If you find yourself overwhelmed in your work or personal life, try incorporating stress-reducing activities into your day. Join a yoga class or go for a jog, and when you start to feel stress coming on, pause and take deep breaths.
7. Skinny Habit #14: Take the stairs:
Most of us are aware that formal exercise is a key component in maintaining a healthy weight, but simple choices like taking the stairs can be just as important if you want to stay trim. One Mayo Clinic study found that participants who unconsciously moved more throughout the day were able to maintain their weight much easier than those who were more sedentary—even though both groups exercised the same amount. Make the most of daily motion by also walking to lunch, parking at the back of the lot, or skipping email in favor of short walks to deliver messages to coworkers. (As a bonus, you’ll make your face more recognizable around the office.)
6. Skinny Habit #15: Chew thoroughly:
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that chewing more and eating slowly caused participants to ingest fewer calories. According to the study’s researchers, the increase in chewing simultaneously lowered levels of appetite-stimulating hormones and increased levels of appetite-suppressing hormones. One way to make sure you chew your food thoroughly: Stop to eat. Eating on the go—in your car, for example—can lead you to quickly inhale a ton of calories before your body has time to let you know it’s full.
5. Skinny Habit #16: Walk after meals:
Taking a walk after dinner can help you lose weight, and not just because walking burns calories. According to one Mayo Clinic study, light, post-meal exercise—like walking—can lower your blood sugar and prevent your body from storing fat. Don’t have time for a walk, you say? Not a problem. As long as you keep moving after you eat, you will reap similar benefits. Even doing the dishes or completing other household tasks can help.
4. Skinny Habit #17: Keep healthy food on hand:
A great way to ensure you make nutritious food choices: Surround yourself with healthy options. Don’t use convenience as an excuse for a shameful diet. Keep fresh fruit on your kitchen counter, store healthy snacks like nuts (or anything from this must-have list of the 50 Best Snack Foods in America) in your desk at work, keep pre-washed, pre-cut vegetables in your fridge—whatever you have to do to make the healthiest choice the easiest choice, do it! You won't feel deprived or hungry as the pounds are dropping away.)
3. Skinny Habit #18: Learn to take a joke:
A 2006 study in the International Journal of Obesity found that laughing for 15 minutes each day can help you burn 10 to 40 calories, depending on your body size and the intensity of your laughter. This adds up to about one to four pounds of fat lost per year. That may not sound like much, but there's also been plenty of research linking happy people to all-around healthier lifestyles, and you, my friend, have an excuse to make the The Colbert Report part of your daily diet routine.
2. Skinny Habit #19: Eat protein:
A study in Nutrition Metabolism found that dieting participants who increased their protein intake to 30 percent of their overall diet ate roughly 450 fewer calories throughout the day and lost about 11 pounds over the course of 12 weeks. Eating protein increases lean muscle mass, which keeps your metabolism running on high—even when you’re resting. Protein also keeps you full, making you less likely to overeat. For maximum health and weight-loss benefits, aim to include protein in all of your meals and snacks. The best options? Lean protein sources like fish, eggs, lean meats, low-fat dairy products, and legumes.
1. Skinny Habit #20: Avoid dinner distractions:
With laptops, smartphones, and iPods aplenty, we've become accustomed to round-the-clock entertainment. But your mealtime may be one time of day we should fight our addiction to amusement. Researchers at the University of Birmingham found that diners who were distracted at mealtime consumed significantly more unhealthy snack foods later on than those who paid close attention to what they ate. One possible explanation: When you don’t pay attention to the meal you’re eating, your brain doesn’t fully register the experience. That leaves you less satisfied and more vulnerable to overeating.
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There is one thing that we, as Americans, have in common: irrespective of race, gender or political affiliation, we all gain weight during the holidays.
Ever since mid-November my pants have started becoming a little too snug. The Sunday suits shrank and I could barely lace up the Stacy Adams so I went to the "Plan B" loafers. But that is not the point. There is no denying it, I got fatter during the holidays.
I have never had a weight problem, always thin, usually anxious, inattentive to the luxury of food, and just was not the "big boned" body type. (That being said, some obese people say they are "big boned" so this begs the question: biologically, why do you need such big bones back there?)
But I have grown this little pot belly thing, almost like a lard-filled-skin-covered fanny pack, just above the waistline. It's almost like smuggling a pack of marshmallows under my biker t-shirt. What I have, according to I-don't-know-what-you-call-them pork-zoologists, is considered 'vanity pounds.' VP is not only a useless political appendage. It is extra and unwanted weight that somehow detracts from ones visceral or atheistic cuteness. Given my apparent pot panza, I have three options with which to alleviate it:
1. Watch what I eat. During post tamale, chocolate candy and home-made cookie season, this is not going to happen.
2. Work out by doing brisk five mile walks in the cold - which makes me even hungrier when I come back.
3. Forget about it hoping it will go away sometime in February - or perhaps worrying fat away during a career crisis, my rote tradition.
Some Latinos believe that being overweight is a sign of good health. These people are called "gorditos." Research shows that men suffer from this the most. During middle age often times you can't see below your bony knees - this is why our shoes seldom match our outfit.
Different people handle the battle of the bulge differently. My wife's gay friends used to stroll into her shop and announce, quite sincerely, to other males stylists, "Girl, they are having a sale at Pretty and Plump and the cashiers on commission were asking for you by name, honey."
Women deal with weight gain differently than men. Before they eat something delightfully high in calories, women say things like, "I really shouldn't!" then hate themselves when they get home. Guys like me, on the other hand, could care less and buy bigger clothes.
In all fairness there are men who work out, watch their diets and keep a very trim six pack waistline. These men are called "single." Married men who pick up a single man's body image and workout regime are often hoping to become "single."
I have only two responses when asked by someone if I think he/she is gaining weight. If a woman asks, the answer is always, "No," no matter what. If asked by a man, I am forced to call him a dork. Unless he is gay and then I say, "Yes." Then they accuse me of being a breeder.
My brother-in-law's revelation about his change in girth came as quite a surprise to him. It seems he was at a fancy resort hotel and had just jumped out of the shower in one of those huge marble glass and mirrored bathroom spas. As he was drying himself, he caught a glimpse of a huge white buffalo-like posterior and it scared him big time. He rolled up a towel and was ready to attack the beast with it - a time tested high school prank whip-snap technique. He stalked the bathroom like a crazed Indiana Jones - only to discover that the beast was a true reflection of his ample seating capacity.
Smile and turn red if this has ever happened to you.
My belt seems to be a chronological and linear yardstick - sometimes back two or three notches, sometimes one notch from the end. There seems to be a direct correlation between my emotional well being and belly weight. One holiday season I loaned my belt to one of my sons and lost my identity. I started all over with a new larger belt and felt good about myself again.
Looking back on my rail-thin, big-haired days, I realized that the reason I never put on extra weight was because I was a type A personality: an ambitious and anxious worrier who would burn off more calories than I took in, fretting about things that would never happen, and obsessing about "making it." Stay lean and mean if you want to get the green.
In middle age I have discovered that making it isn't anything, and not making it isn't anything. It's all about having a good ride along the way.
"There is not one blade of grass; there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice." -John Calvin
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A child sits in front of a television screen, watching a show or playing video games. During this inactivity, the child munches on nutrient poor food and snacks on high fructose soda. While this Latino child is considered chubby, he’s not thought of as fat or at a high risk for high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes. But, he is.
In a new book, “At Risk: Latino Children’s Health,” Dr. Rafael Perez-Escamilla and Hugo Melgar-Quinonez have collected finely researched essays on the causes and the possible preventative cures for childhood malnutrition.
Perez-Escamilla writes in his introduction that “At Risk: Latino Children’s Health examines key maternal, child and youth issues that affect the wellbeing of our very diverse Latino Communities….Our intention in this book is not only to discuss the existence of major challenge and problems but also to…provide examples and suggestions with each chapter as to which policies and programmatic approaches may be relevant for improving the health and wellness of Latino children.”
“At Risk: Latino Children’s Health” therefore identifies the problem of health difficulties and proposes solutions to the localized problem. Working as policy study, published by Arte Publico Press this year, the first chapter on environment says that a child’s location, more than genetics, plays a great role in obesity and health.
As with any visit to the doctor, health and wellbeing boils down to diet and exercise. Children, the multi-layered study found, that Latino children need quality food, a safe environment, good schooling, less TV and more physical activity. Sometimes parents who went without as child will encourage their own children to have as much as possible or have what the parents never had, which may be well intentioned, the study found, but can be detrimental to a child’s well being.
The study also found that proper pre-natal care was a contributing factor to a child’s health. And television contributes to a sedentary lifestyle connected to decreased physical activity, and consuming “high calorie, nutrient-poor foods such as high-fat and high- sugar snack foods, fast foods, soda…”
While there are many levels and causes for Latino children’s health problems, the study found that there are also multi-pronged approaches to healthy living and multiple solutions to creating an environment of wellness.
“…improving and maintaining the health of Latino children requires a multi-level culturally appropriate comprehensive approach that takes into account the socio-economic context of the communities where children from this ethnic group live and grow.”
Health awareness and the work of health educators come into play especially in poorer Latino communities with little access to health care. Not only does this dense policy analysis locate the problems that contribute to a Latino’s poor health but show ways of ameliorating the problems suggested. This is a fact heavy book that is not easily accessible to the general public. However, in a comprehensive and erudite way “At Risk” takes on the daunting task of realizing the problems and tackling solutions.
With the rise in health issues, especially stemming from obesity, “At Risk” makes a point of diagramming and outlining the causes, effects and solutions to a growing and costly national health crisis. This study tries to push back the tide with a sense that knowing and understanding is better than the alternative. And when the lights have been turned on then only can individuals, families and communities can create a plan to improve the lives and health of all Latino children.
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