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Home > Weight Loss News > NHMA Teams With HHS to Trim Obesity in Hispanics; NHMA’s National Focus Begins in Texas
NHMA Teams With HHS to Trim Obesity in Hispanics; NHMA’s National Focus Begins in Texas
Galveston, TX (PRWEB) September 15, 2005 -– Obesity is emptying Texans’ pocketbooks and could cost the state its future – especially among young Hispanics, said the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), which is launching a national campaign in Galveston to reduce obesity among Hispanics.
By 2040, Texas will have 14 million obese adults, up from 4 million today, twice as many overweight residents and nearly 3.5 million people with diabetes, up from 1 million. The cost of treating obesity will quadruple – from $10.5 billion today to 40 billion by 2040. In addition, the state's share of Medicaid will nearly triple, to $12.3 billion.
“The fatter the population gets the bigger the problems will become and the more it will cost to solve them,” said Dr. Elena Rios, president of NHMA, a nonprofit organization representing licensed Hispanic physicians in the U.S.
Rios will be the keynote speaker at the ninth annual Hector P. Garcia. M.D. Award Ceremony from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Levin Hall Dining Room at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She will talk about the importance of Hispanic leadership in health care. In addition, Rios will discuss how NHMA members are being encouraged to volunteer their time to work with HHS and the American Red Cross in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
After the luncheon, NHMA will announce its obesity awareness campaign in the Levin Hall auditorium. NHMA will discuss how the organization, its physician-members and the HHS Office of Minority Health are working to improve efforts to reduce obesity among Hispanics. A representative of UTMB also is invited to speak.
Starting with the Galveston launch, NHMA and OMH will promote the campaign in four other places: El Paso, Miami, N.Y. and California. NHMA, collaborating with its Council of Medical Societies, will build networks, share information, educate people through their doctors and work with the media and the government as partners for health.
“Texas and the nation cannot afford to ignore the obesity crisis and its consequences, especially among Hispanics, a fast-growing population that has a prevalence of being obese, which can lead to illness and disease,” Rios said.
“Obesity is a risk factor for many diseases that disproportionately impact minority populations, including heart disease, some cancers, diabetes, and stroke,” said Dr. Garth Graham, HHS deputy assistant secretary for minority health. “To address this epidemic, we need national awareness and participation.”
In Texas, one in four Hispanic children is obese, vs. one in 10 non-Hispanic white children. Two in three adult Texans are overweight or obese – contributing to the state being one of the fattest in the nation. Houston, San Antonio, El Paso and Fort Worth are among the top 15 fattest cities in the country.
Nationally, an estimated 129.6 million Americans, or 64 percent, are overweight or obese. Americans born today have a 1 in 3 chance of developing obesity-related diabetes. Among Hispanics, the risk increases to 1 in 2. The economic impact of diabetes alone in the U.S. is about $132 billion annually.
Rios said her focus includes developing a network of physicians and medical students that will work with NHMA and HHS to implement best practices and strategies to decrease the rate of obesity in Hispanic communities, starting with Galveston. NHMA is partnering with HHS to educate patients on diet, nutrition and exercise. Initiatives include prevention, education, public awareness and outreach to bring about a greater understanding of the impact of obesity on other conditions.
“We will begin working with our professional Hispanic health providers to become advocacy in calling attention to elected officials to improve government and school programs so we can curb dangerous obesity rates,” Rios said.
NHMA is also looking for assistance from Hispanic students at the UT Medical Branch at Galveston School of Medicine, where they graduated more Hispanic physicians than any other medical school in the U.S.
Obesity remains a growing problem. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, 400,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2000 were attributable to obesity and lack of exercise.
“Racial minorities, especially Hispanics, are disproportionately poor and undereducated and therefore suffer more health problems and die younger than other Americans,” Rios said. “A prevalence of cheap fast-food, a lack of safe areas to exercise in their neighborhoods and fatty diets contribute to Hispanics’ increasing waistlines.” Cultural trends – video games, TV and junk food among them – also contribute to the problem.
“Doctors can be staunch advocates for better nutrition and physical activity. They can help identify at-risk and overweight children, educate families about the health consequences of being overweight and help them develop the tools they need for a healthier, longer life,” said Rios. “This is a problem that should include the community and the whole family.”
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