Eduardo Torres

Obesity Rising in Hispanic Children

Childhood obesity in Hispanic children is rising rapidly. According to the Center of
Disease Control (CDC) Hispanic children are one of the highest ethnicities of obesity or over
weight. 38.2% percent of children that are Hispanic ages 2-19 are obese or over weight.
According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC) approximately two out of five children are
obese or over weight. Intermountain Health Care (IHC) had done a study in 2008. Children that
are Hispanic starting preschool have a higher rate of being obese or over weight compared to
African Americans and Caucasians. Another interesting face I learned from the Center of
Disease Control (CDC) is that 13.5% of Hispanic infants younger than 12 months are obese.
Intermountain Health Care (IHC) noticed that kids that were obese or over weight had a big
trouble with depression and due to that kids that were in those ranges dont participate that
well in school.
Obesity can result in having risk to health problems. The number 1 concern that health
care physicians have is that children that are obese or over weight could have a risk of being
type 2 diabetic. Usually children could be in stage 1 of diabetes, but health care providers say
that Hispanic families have a big risk of being diabetic. If a child is obese or over weight and has
diabetes running in their family. That child could go into type 2 diabetes inside of type 1. If a
child has diabetes another big concern is that the child has a big chance of having kidney
infection and possibly even kidney failure. Children and adolescents diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
are generally between 10 and 19 years old. Other health risks a child could run if they are obese
or over weight are sleep apnea, asthma, depression, high cholesterol, strokes, high blood
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pressure, and arthrosclerosis. There are many more diseases a child can have than the ones
that were specified according to Intermountain Health Care (IHC).
There are many ways in which kids have obesity. According to Intermountain Health
Care (IHC) one of the biggest reasons of why children could be obese or over weight is that
Hispanic communities often lack access of affording healthy food. Children and Teenagers that
are Hispanic are less involved in outside of school physical activates. Another interesting fact
Intermountain Health Care (IHC) has discovered it that the Hispanic youth spends on average of
5 hours and 21 minutes a day watching television or using an electronic device, compared with
the Caucasians youth that spends 3 hours and 36 minutes a day. Hispanic families often lack on
knowing food serving that should be given. Another interesting fact a doctor that I interviewed
his name is Byran Swapp he told me that before going into residency he researched about
obesity in children and that mothers that are obese or overweight could be giving that risk
factor to their children.
We know that the Hispanic youth is rapidly increasing in becoming obese or over weight
what is a way we can change this? My program would help the Hispanic community to
understand what is going on in our communities and why we need to change our lifestyle. We
would be making an open house to the Hispanic community so they can understand why this is
so important. My program will be called NEW there are three easy step to this program they
are Nutrition, Exercise and Weight Management.
The first step in NEW starts with the N which stands for Nutrition. In Neutrino we will
discuss in the open house about portion sizes that need to be given to children. All of the
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portions sizes will be based on the My Plate (chooseMyPlate.gov). An example of what we
would explain would be to have a 10 inch plate and to divide have that plate into just fruit and
vegetables, the other half of the portion will be divided in a other half again. Once that is
divided of that plate will have grains which can be a piece of toast or rice and the other of
the plate will be protein which can be beans or meat. Last but not lease would be a 6oz drink of
milk or water with the meal as well. By showing and speaking to the parents why its so
important to have the right food sizes it will also motivated families to make this change at their
homes. One way people can save money is by growing their own fruits, and vegetables at their
own homes. The program will also let them know about food banks they can go to for more
assistance and recreational centers they can take their children to if they want to go and play
any physical sports.
The second step of the NEW program is the E which represents Exercise. By exercising
60 minutes a day it can improve your blood pressure by 5-10 points. Telling parents that their
children needs to exercise at least 60 minutes a day it will also motivate that parents to do
exercise for at least 60 minutes a day. Exercising for at least 60 minutes a day doesnt mean
that the child has to go to a gym and work out. They can go outside for walks, ride a bike, and
go to the park, dance, and play sports. According to the Center of Diseases Control (CDC)
children who exercise on a daily basis have a better academic behavior. It also reduces the risk
of developing obesity and chronic diseases.
The third step of the NEW program is the W which represents weight management.
Before starting this program you have to check your weight on a body mass index scale (BMI).
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You can also go with her or her primary care physician and get weighted in their office. The
body mass index scale (BMI) is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight. By
recording the weight before you start it will let you know how much progress has been made.
The purpose for the weight management is for the child to have a normal weight. This will
reduce the risk factors of diseases and obtaining a good nutrition. Setting a rewards system for
the children will motivate them to lose the weight that is needed. An example of a rewards
system would be for every pound they lose they will get a reward it can be using an electronic
device for 15 minutes or receiving a new small toy. Do not give him/ her sugary treat or drinks
as a reward. By setting up a rewards system this will help and motivate the children to lose the
weight that is needed.
The resistance for this new program would be people not wanting a change in their
eating habits. People not having the time to come in and hear about the program. Another
thing would be opposing to all the new changes this would bring to their childrens lives.
The cost for the program called NEW would be $2500 per every open house. The
breakdown of the cost would be $1000 for the hotel facility event. $500 would be spent on
1,000 flyers that would explain the location, date and time of the event. It will also give an
explanation of what is going to be held in the facility. $500 would go to 1,000 pamphlets that
would explain statistics of obesity and over weight as well as diseases risk factors, and what are
some things that cause children to be obese or overweight. It will also discuss about the
program thats called NEW. $200 will go towards healthy refreshments. $300 will go to 1,000
informational paper that will include websites to were to go to for more information and food
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banks they can go to if they need a helping hand. In order to obtain this amount of money we
would need to do fundraisers and ask the communities for a donation. We would also get
sponsors that would support this program examples would be Intermountain Health Care (IHC),
Rancho Markets, Catholic parishes, and market stores that would like to help out with this
project.
I had interviewed a couple of people that have actually have been working in the health
care field for many years. My first interview was Jennifer Goodman she is a Registered Nurse
(RN) and has a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN). She was also a diabetes educator for the
Hispanic population in Ogden, Utah for 2 years. She currently works at the Sandy Instacare in
Sandy, Utah. While I was interviewing her she told me that the hardest they about helping out
the Hispanic community was that they didnt want to commit to the new changes. I also asked
her if she was willing to come and talk to the people at my open house and she would be
delighted to come and talk to parents and children about why its important for a new change
in order for them to live a healthy life style.
The second person I had interviewed was Dr Sharon Ernest she is a Certified Dietitian
(CP) and she also works a specialist as a pediatric nutritionist. She has been working up at
Primary Childrens for about 15 years and is also the head coordinator in pediatric nutrition in
Primarys. She had told me something very important if the parents of the family dont show
the example of the new change the children or childrens wont want to commit to do the
change. She agreed with my program called NEW and was willing to come to an event and talk
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and help the Hispanic community of why children really need to be healthy and to maintain a
good weight.
The third person I had interviewed was Bryan Swapp he is a Doctor of Medicine (MD)
and currently works with Intermountain Health Care (IHC) in the Instacare and Kidscare for the
last 8 years at the Sandy Instacare and SouthRidge Instacare in Riverton, Utah. While I was
interviewing Dr. Swapp he told me that the Hispanic population is 3
rd
population that has the
most obese or overweight children here in the United Stated. According to a study he found
was that of the mother was obese or overweight the child that she has could also be obese or
over weight. He also said that from 2000-2006 he noticed that kids have been being more
obese and that they also are having more health issues.
The fourth person I interviewed was Dr Christopher Poynor he is a Doctor of Medicine
(MD) he worked in Kentucky as a pediatric primary care doctor for about 15 years and is
currently working now at the Southridge Instacare/ Kidscare in Riverton, Utah for about 6
months. While interviewing Mr. Poynor he told me that a lot of the Hispanic communities lack
on affording healthy food thats why a lot of Hispanic patients have Medicare for their children.
One thing he recommended was to inform to the community about food banks and
recreational centers that kids can go to and play. He also said that kids need more exercise
thats why he recommended the recreational centers.


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References
Intermountain Health Care ( IHC)
http://intermountainhealthcare.org
My Plate
http://chooseMyPlate.gov
Center of Disease Control
http://cdc.gov