7575: Let’s Move Toward Being Inclusive.

From USA TODAY…

Latino culture a key to childhood obesity

Commentary By Marisa Trevio

Michelle Obama’s launch last month of the Let’s Move campaign, aimed at slimming down the nation’s obese children, is admirable in its ambition.

How can it fail with the creation of the first-ever task force on childhood obesity? Or establishing partner initiatives to provide healthier options in school cafeterias? Or working to earmark federal money to build grocery stores in urban areas?

Yet, if this campaign doesn’t drill down to deal with the cultural nuances that still influence the lives of many Latino families (and from a quick review of the Let’s Move website, it doesn’t), then it’s going to be an uphill battle in a community that is among the nation’s most obese.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in 2008, low-income, preschool Hispanic children had the second highest obesity rates (18.5%) in the nation, after American Indian/Alaska Native preschoolers (21.2%). And the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, which cover 2003-06, found that for boys ages 12-19, the obesity rate was highest among adolescent Mexican-American boys (22.1%) vs. non-Hispanic white boys (17.3%) and black boys (18.5%).

The Latino community, in general, too often does not view obesity as a physical flaw but rather an endearing characteristic. For many, feeding is equated with love. So the first lady’s program needs to find ways to reach Hispanics and educate the community on the health risks that come with obesity.

For starters, Let’s Move needs to be available in Spanish as well. An analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Pew Hispanic Center found that 52% of Hispanic children are second generation, which is less likely than later generation Latinos to be fluent in English.

More challenging is how to deal with the cultural differences. Here, Salud America! deserves a role in any task force. Salud America! is a network of more than 1,500 researchers, community leaders and policymakers working to create obesity prevention programs for Latino children. It funds pilot projects such as studying the impact of community gardens in Latino neighborhoods and examining how Latinos view body image. Each project adds to a fuller understanding of how best to communicate with Latinos.

The key to success for Let’s Move is in combating obesity where it is most prevalent. To do that, the first lady’s program will need to reach and teach Hispanics how to show a different kind of love — smaller portions and good long-term health for their children.

Marisa Trevio, who lives in Dallas, writes a blog, Latina Lista