Obesity Hispanics and African American

Obesity: Hispanics and African American

Name

Institutional Affiliation

Letter of Transmittal

September 20, 2014

Dear Killeen High School Superintendent and High School Principal

Here is enclosed formal report about the analysis of the problem of Obesity increase among Hispanic and African Americans. This report mainly evaluates, describes as well as examines the problem of Obesity increase among African Americans and Hispanics.

The various causes of the problem of Obesity among Hispanics and African Americans such as poor high school lunch program as well as lack of regular physical exercises will be discussed in this report. The report provides various possible solution and recommendations about the control and prevention of Obesity. This includes avoidance of heavy smoking, keeping healthy eating habits as well as involving in active physical exercise.

Thank you for the opportunity to prepare this formal report and will be happy to be involved in future research needs

Sincerely

Contents

TOC o “1-3” h z u Informative Abstract PAGEREF _Toc399005770 h 2Introduction PAGEREF _Toc399005771 h 2Obesity among Hispanics and African Americans PAGEREF _Toc399005772 h 3Recommendations and Possible Solutions PAGEREF _Toc399005773 h 5Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc399005774 h 6References PAGEREF _Toc399005775 h 6

Informative AbstractAccording to various research findings African Americans as well as Hispanics are more affected by Obesity than the whites in various states in United States. A number of research studies further indicate that around fifty percent of African Americans are obese while only thirty percent of Hispanic children are mostly obese. There are various factors that usually lead to increase of obesity among African Americans including poor living conditions as well as poverty and low socio economic status. In most cases living in poor households and lack of physical activities such as sports is the main cause of Obesity among Hispanic and African Americans in various learning institutions in the United States. It is usually very clear that boys are more likely to be obese than girls. Proper interventions and practices should be developed in order to reduce and control the problem of obesity among Hispanic and African Americans.

Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to develop a formal report about the problem of increase as well as rise of Obesity cases among Hispanic and African American individuals especially in high schools and other learning institutions. The paper will also cover a number of research findings and provide possible solutions towards the mitigation, prevention as well as control of Obesity among Hispanic and African Americans Youths in Schools. The target audience in this paper is Killeen High School Superintendent and High School Principal

IntroductionObesity is one of the major problems affecting most of the African Americans and Hispanic population (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). The problem of obesity mostly results into overweight conditions and this impact the economic development of the nation. In order to reduce obesity among Hispanic and African Americans population including youths and children in schools, it is important for schools to create recreational grounds for physical activities as well as provide effective eating programs (Casazza, Dulin-Keita, Gower, & Fernandez, 2009). The poor in the society should be given proper health care systems and healthy living conditions in order to reduce and control obesity (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013).School based strategies and procedures should be developed in order to control the problem of obesity among blacks and Hispanics in the United States. Physical education and healthy eating systems are one of the major strategies of controlling obesity among the Hispanic and African Americans globally (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013).

Obesity among Hispanics and African AmericansThe problem of obesity is about fifty percent higher among African Americans when compared to white Americans risks of Obesity prevalence (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). Among Hispanics the problem of Obesity is about thirty percent and this calls for further research towards the control of obesity among school going children and students. The problem of Obesity is mostly higher among women than men especially among the African Americans and Hispanics population (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). In order to reduce and prevent the problem of Obesity among the youths in various learning institutions it is important that institutions develop proper and effective eating policies as well as promotion of regular physical activities. This can be achieved through development and formulation of proper environmental policies that will promote control and prevention of Obesity among Hispanics and African Americans. Obesity usually results into overweight and other respiratory related problems leading to difficulty in learning (Sivalingam, Ashraf, Vallurupalli, Friderici, Cook, & Rothberg, 2011). Therefore, Hispanics and African Americans should be encouraged to involve in sports and other physical activities (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). The Killeen High School lunch program should also be developed effectively in order to promote healthy eating systems. The socioeconomic standards of African Americans and Hispanics should be improved by the federal government in order to reduce the problem of Obesity among them. It is also important that both Hispanics and African Americans adopt healthy living standards including eating healthy foodstuff as well as living in safe environments. Racial problems that are based against African Americans should be discouraged in order to cater for effective health systems for Hispanics and black Americans (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013).

Research also indicates that most African American and Hispanics usually suffer from Obesity related disorders such as diabetes, high blood pressure as well as other renal problems (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). This is because these disorders are influence by the obesity risks and problems among Hispanics and Black Americans. African Americans also face the problem of lack of access to fresh foodstuff especially in various lower income families in rural and urban areas (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013).

Obesity mostly results due to too much intake of calories and lack of physical activities by the Hispanics and African Americans (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). Therefore, learning institutions such as Killeen high School should developed effective lunch program that promotes healthy and fresh foodstuff in order to reduce, prevent and control the problem of obesity among Hispanics and African Americans (George, Duran, & Norris, 2014). Most of the Hispanic and African Americans children are usually coming from low income and poor families and should be involved in various sports and physical activities in order to reduce the problem of increase of Obesity among them (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013).

Educative and awareness campaigns based on healthy living standards should be promoted among schools in order to allow the students to adopt healthy living standards as well as healthy eating habits (Salsberry, & Reagan, 2009). Obesity usually tends to increase with age of individuals and these Obesity campaigns should be launched in various communities and learning institutions in order to cater for various adult population in the community. In most cases overweight children in schools are usually Hispanics and African Americans who come from poor backgrounds (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). The photographs below clearly indicate examples of African American obese women in the United States

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Adopted from www.shutterstock.com

Research also indicates that the effect of the social media among the youths also promotes the rise of Obesity among children in schools and this should be reduced (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). For example, students and children who mostly watch television programs and movies are more likely to be obese than those who do not involved in such practices (Suarez-Balcazar, Friesema, &Lukyanova, 2013). Obese children also rarely involved in physical activities and sport activities leading to much weight gain. Learning institutions should provide lunch programs that cater for healthy eating foods and systems to cater for African American and Hispanic students who usually come from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Children checkup policies and strategies should be developed in various schools in order to control and prevent obesity at early stages (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). School based health practices should be formulated in order to cover a number of Obesity challenges in schools.

A number of research studies indicate that children who are obese are more likely to be obese even during their adulthood periods (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). This should be considered as this will results into more adulthood obesity leading to problems such as diabetes II and high blood pressure complications. Schools should be aware that obesity results into respiratory problems among students, reduces children growth rate and promotes other health related disorders such as poor metabolic rate (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). It is also clear that obese children are more likely to be lonely, sad, and anxious as well as being very nervous leading to psychosocial isolation among them. Research also indicate that obese students are more likely to involves in bad behaviors and habits such as tobacco smoking as well as excessive alcohol consumption (Suarez-Balcazar, Friesema, &Lukyanova, 2013). In most cases African Americans girls usually suffer the problem of obesity than Hispanics girls while Hispanic boys usually suffer the problem of obesity than African Americans boys. In order to effectively reduce and control the problem of Obesity among African Americans and Hispanic children it is important to include appropriate nutrition practices in schools as well as physical activities in schools (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013).

Obesity is usually acquired through genetic procedures and those whose parents suffer from obesity problems should be encouraged to adopt healthy living standards and involve in regular physical activities (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). This is because metabolic factors, genetic factors as well as socioeconomic status are some of the major factors that promote the increase of Obesity among Hispanics and African Americans in United States.

One of the major health problems affecting most African Americans and Hispanics globally is the problem of increase of obesity. According various reports and studies, those who suffer from Obesity are more likely to suffer from other overweight related health problems such as poor blood circulation systems and respiratory problems (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). Obesity also promotes the chances of patient’s risks to various diseases such as high blood pressure and faster weight gain challenges (Differences in Prevalence of Obesity among Black, White, and Hispanic Adults in United States, 2009).

There are various causes of Obesity among African Americans and Hispanics including poor eating habits, lack of regular physical exercise as well as too much smoking and alcohol intake. In that sense, some of the major prevention measures of Obesity include healthy eating habits, avoiding heavy smoking as well as the practice of regular physical exercise (Acheampong, & Haldeman, 2013). It is also clear from several studies that those who suffer from the problem of Obesity usually face problems such as heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure as well as other breathing difficulties.

Recommendations and Possible SolutionsThe problem of obesity mostly results into other risk disorders such as Asthma, overweight and diabetes. Research indicates that African American and Hispanics mostly suffer from obesity and other chronic diseases. Therefore, proper obesity control and prevention procedures should be developed in order to reduce this problem of obesity among Hispanics and African Americans. One of the major causes of obesity among Hispanics and African Americans include poor living conditions, low economic status as well as lack of recreational facilities to involve in physical exercise in their living environments. Some of the major possible solutions of preventing obesity include eating healthy foodstuff in both schools and in the society. Schools should also develop effective lunch programs that will reduce unhealthy foods in the eating programs. Proper and regular physical exercise is also one of the major strategies that can be used in order to control and prevent obesity among Hispanic and African American populations both in schools and in the society. Avoidance of heavy cigarette smoking as well as avoidance of alcohol drinking can also be used in order to prevent and control obesity among Hispanics and black American in schools and in communities. Schools should provide educative programs that will reduce African Americans from watching and spending too much time in social media platforms such as television. This is because watching of television results into increase of calorie intake, overweight as well as other obesity related problems. Schools should also provide opportunities and grounds for physical activities to their students.

ConclusionIn conclusion, from this report analysis and evaluation it is clear that the major causes of increase Obesity among Hispanics and African Americans are mainly poor eating habits, poor living standards as well as lack of physical activities among school going children. A number of research studies indicate that African Americans populations especially the girls usually suffer from obesity than the whites and Hispanic girls. However, most of the Hispanic boys mostly suffer from Obesity than any other racial groups. Hispanic and African American youths usually suffer from obesity related complications such as diabetes and high blood pressure due to lack of physical exercise and poor eating habits. It is also clear that most Hispanics and black Americans are more influenced by social media such as television and movies than their white counter parts leading ton high obesity levels among them. This includes advertisement procedures as well as other television programs that influence their behaviors.

The major cause of obesity among African Americans and Hispanics is lack of access to fresh foodstuff and low availability of recreational facilities in their homes and learning institutions. This is because most of the African Americans communities and Hispanics usually lack supermarkets around their living environments. Therefore, in order to reduce and control obesity among school going children and youths learning institutions should developed effecting eating programs and also involve their students in various physical activities. These schools should adopt eating of fresh fruits as well as vegetables and also create grounds for more sports and physical activities.

ReferencesGeorge, S., Duran, N., & Norris, K. (2014). A Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators to Minority Research Participation among African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders. American Journal of Public Health, 104(2), e16-e31.

Salsberry, P. J., & Reagan, P. B. (2009). Comparing the Influence of Childhood and Adult Economic Status on Midlife Obesity in Mexican American, White, and African American Women. Public Health Nursing, 26(1), 14-22.

Casazza, K. K., Dulin-Keita, A. A., Gower, B. A., & Fernandez, J. R. (2009). Intrabdominal fat is related to metabolic risk factors in Hispanic Americans, African Americans and in girls. ActaPaediatrica, 98(12), 1965-1971.

Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Friesema, J., &Lukyanova, V. (2013). Culturally Competent Interventions to Address Obesity among African American and Latino Children and Youth. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 27(2), 113-128.

Acheampong, I., & Haldeman, L. (2013). Are Nutrition Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Associated with Obesity among Low-Income Hispanic and African American Women Caretakers? Journal of Obesity, 20131-8.

Sivalingam, S. K., Ashraf, J., Vallurupalli, N., Friderici, J., Cook, J., & Rothberg, M. (2011). Ethnic Differences in the Self-Recognition of Obesity and Obesity-Related Comorbidities: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. JGIM: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 26(6), 616-620.

Differences in Prevalence of Obesity among Black, White, and Hispanic Adults — United States, 2006-2008. (2009). MMWR: Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report, 58(27), 740-744.