Excessive Amounts of Television Ads and Obesity: Precursors for Diabetes among Hispanic Children?

This week I am delving back into the topic of diabetes, which seems at the forefront of health issues for many people around the country, not just Hispanics. Diabetes is a very serious disease that affects people of all ethnicities. The reasons it has become so prevalent among Hispanics and Latinos are three-fold; genetic, socioeconomic and cultural. Anyone with a family history of diabetes is at a higher risk of developing the disease in their lifetime. Although genes can serve as warning signs, they do not set the future in stone. There are many factors that can influence the development of the illness. Diseases such as diabetes can be caused by both genetic and environmental factors. The fact that many Hispanics and Latinos come from low income families affects the amount of resources available to them not only in terms of their healthcare but also in terms of education and nutrition. It seems that these days, more and more organizations are trying to spread the word to minorities about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Not only are groups providing more information, many try to provide free services to underserved communities. For example, Community Health Involvement Project (CHIP), which is a student run organization at the University of Southern California that I am a member of, sets up weekly health sites in locations around the Los Angeles area to provide blood pressure and blood glucose screenings. For those who present risk factors for serious diseases, such as high blood pressure or high blood sugar, a list of local free clinics is made available. These resources are offered to members of the surrounding neighborhoods in hopes of identifying and controlling prevalent but preventable diseases such as diabetes. The culturally influenced lifestyle Hispanics/Latinos adopt has become a major issue that affects the incidence of diabetes. It is difficult for Hispanics to implement the information they are provided if they refuse to change their diets and other unhealthy habits. For many Latinos/Hispanics food is a staple in their culture. In this blog I will discuss current research that may shed a new light on the cultural aspects surrounding diabetes among Hispanics, especially Hispanic children.

An article presented February 19, 2008 on Reuters.com discussed the findings of a study that suggests that the numerous amounts of fast food ads on Spanish-language television have an impact on obesity among Hispanic children. The study conducted by Johns Hopkins Children's Center reviewed 60 hours of television aired between 3-9pm on Univision and Telemundo (whose logo can be seen in the graphic above). Researchers found that the channels aired an average of three food commercials per hour, one-third of them targeted to a child audience. Nearly half of all the food commercials were promoting fast food. Researchers acknowledge that their study does not claim that television is the sole cause of obesity among Hispanics. However, they do believe that it is an important topic to address in every household. This study highlights the everyday implications that culture may have on Spanish speaking communities. Unfortunately, researchers did not compare their data to what is being aired on English-language television. Also, it would be interesting to see how many of those commercials are of American based companies such as McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Domino's Pizza. The important thing is that families become aware of the messages that are being brought into the home through television, which is an important aspect of many American children's lives.

Many people may ask, "What is so important about studying everyday influences on obesity?" A recent article presented on HealthDay.com discusses a study that has linked obesity to early risk factors for diabetes among Hispanic children. The study conducted by the Joslin Diabetes Center recruited 38 Hispanic children between the ages of 10-18. What researchers found was that the children with higher body fat percentages showed early signs of insulin resistance, as well as inflammation of the blood vessels. In this study researchers were concerned with the development of type II diabetes in participants. Normally, the pancreas produces sufficient amounts of insulin which serve to control the transport of glucose from the blood to the cells of the body. In type I diabetes patients, the body's own immune system destroys the cells that would normally produce insulin. Alternatively, people with type II diabetes either do not secrete enough insulin or the body does not efficiently use the insulin that is being secreted. The latter is defined as insulin resistance. When the body does not recognize insulin, the glucose is not transported to the cells in the body to provide energy but instead remains in the blood stream. This accounts for diabetics' high levels of glucose in the blood. Through research, it has been suggested that being over-weight or obese can have a severe impact on insulin responsiveness in the body. Also, losing weight and maintaining an active lifestyle can improve the body's ability to recognize and use insulin efficiently. Additionally, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are associated with obesity, are linked to diabetes as well.

The take away message in all of this research is that everyone, not just Hispanics/Latinos, need to take control of their health and their family's health. It is important to learn and teach families how to adopt a healthy lifestyle at an early age. It is time to stop acting irresponsibly and believing that children can and should eat whatever they want. The fact is that if children are educated about eating healthy at a younger age, it will become easier for them to successfully implement these lessons throughout their lives. It is important for every family to be aware of the risk factors and causes of diabetes, but especially those ethnic groups that are at a higher risk of developing the disease (e.g. African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Japanese Americans). Websites such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, offer families wonderful resources that may help in their battle against unhealthy lifestyle choices.