Muevete (Move) USA trains Hispanic nurses and students to target obesity

Expanding networks to shrink waistlines

Childhood obesity infographicSalud America! has received a one-year, $1.3 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop new, culturally tailored educational content to promote and support the health of Latino children.

Salud America!, which was established in 2007 with funding from the foundation, is a project of the Health Science Center’s Institute for Health Promotion Research. It has recruited a national online network of 50,000 parents, school personnel, health professionals and community leaders who support its mission to reduce obesity among Latino children.

The new funding will allow Salud America! to expand its network and engage members with enhanced educational content including multimedia role model stories, social media events, online resources, digital action campaigns and marketing.

“We are excited by RWJF’s support, which will help us continue to push the boundaries of communication to empower Latinos to develop healthy changes in their schools and communities,” said Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H., director of Salud America!.

More than 38 percent of Latino children ages 2 to 19 are overweight or obese, compared to 28.5 percent of white youth and 35.2 percent of black youth. Latino children also face barriers in access to healthy foods and drinks and physical activity, especially among those ages 0 to 5.

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