From Your Health Journal…..”An interesting article by Kacy Capobres from FOX Latino who discussed childhood obesity in the Latino community. At roughly 43 percent, the number of Latinos ranging from 2-19 who are overweight is 5 percent higher than in the non-Latino community. This is a significant number, and now leaders will come together to discuss how to address this concern. I think this is a great story of adult leaders in a community caring about their youth, and trying to work out a plan to a happy and healthy future of good health. Obesity rates are growing steadily around the world, and change is needed. Education is the key, and sticking to a ‘health’ plan. So many Americans suffer from heart disease, cancer, weak joints, type 2 diabetes, and low self esteem – – all related to obesity. I look forward to more stories on FOX Latino about this. Hopefully we will read more about the improvements made to this community.

From the article…..

Childhood obesity has long been a problem in the Latino community. Now, government and health officials in New York are gathering for a first-of-its-kind summit to discuss ways to address the issue.

On Tuesday, the New York Senate Puerto Rican and Hispanic task force announced that they will be inviting 100 key leaders in the Latino community to tackle childhood obesity among Latinos.

“The summit is very timely because Hispanics have obesity at three times the rights of the average population,” Dr. Elena Rios, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association, told Fox News Latino.

Friday’s “Early Childhood Obesity Hispanic Leadership Summit” will try to come up with strategies that would keep the weight off Latino children.

The programs will focus on education programs in the nation’s schools and child care as well as the impact of the quality and quantity of healthcare in early childhood. The goal, organizers say, is to figure out how federal and state programs could help the community combat obesity.

Significant ethnic and economic disparities are contributing to the prevalence of obesity among U.S. children and adolescents.

At 43 percent, the number of Latinos ages 2-19 who are overweight is 5 percent higher than in the non-Latino community.

To read the full article…..Click here