"Hasta La Vista, Baby": California Public School Budget Cuts May Influence Children's Health

Many studies have been conducted exploring the benefits of exercise on health. It comes to no surprise that physical activity can prevent chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. If the advantages of exercise and a healthy diet are common knowledge, should not the government be more involved in promoting this type of lifestyle? For some children it is important to learn positive nutritional habits in school, especially when bad tendencies have been developed at home. Unfortunately, due to astronomical budget cuts for public education in California, a good number of young people’s health is suffering. In the long run, they grow up to be adults with fitness problems that teach their poor decisions to future generations. Although this is a topic that is of concern to all families with children in public schools, it can be especially important for minority families who may not be well educated about healthy alternatives.

Recently, Newsweek published a story titled “Six Worst Kid Health Habits.” In the article, Daniel Stone lists six unhealthy choices parents essentially allow their children to develop at home. The author makes reference to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), which is a self-proclaimed research-led think tank that reports at least 155 million school-age adolescents worldwide are overweight or obese. Among other regions, the IOTF draws attention to the dramatic increase in obesity among youth in England. Additionally, the article highlights the Medical College of Georgia (MCG), which conducted research in 2007 that linked exercise among kids with an increase in school performance. In a study titled “Exercise Improves Thinking, Reduces Diabetes Risk in Overweight Children,” Dr. Catherine Davis discusses the benefits she found when exposing 200 overweight, inactive adolescents to physical activity. Researchers state, "Aerobic exercise training showed dose-response benefits on executive function (decision-making) and possibly math achievement, in overweight children." Dr. Davis goes on to say that she hopes results like these convince policy makers to require rigorous activity to be a part of every student’s daily routine.

Not only did the MCG study acknowledge a link between exercise and improved thinking, they also found a decrease in insulin resistance, a precursor for diabetes, among subjects who were assigned to the 20 or 40 minute/day exercise condition. The take-away message from all of this is that physical education programs in schools need to be fast paced and consistent enough in order for students to achieve the multifaceted benefits of exercise within the school day. According to the aforementioned article in Newsweek, parents are not doing a good job of instilling healthy habits at home, which makes it important for children to exercise during school hours. A few of the six bad habits parents teach their sons and daughters include eating in front of the television, watching too much television and eating prepackaged foods. Because of this reality, school is considered to be a great place to address poor eating habits as well as insufficient amounts of physical activity and to teach nutritional alternatives. This can prove to be more helpful for Hispanic families who may lack the proper education to promote healthy lifestyles. What happens when education budget cuts remove programs dedicated to providing the physical activity so many students need?

Nationwide, most states are trying to make ends meet by making budget cuts wherever possible. In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (pictured to the left) has already implemented a $400 million reduction for public school and community college education throughout the state. Additionally, a $4.8 billion cut for K-12 education was proposed earlier this year to the shock of many Californians. With such a large decrease, it is foreseeable that almost every program will be affected, including nutrition and physical education. In late February, KQED public radio host Rachael Myrow spoke with Jill Wynns, member of the San Francisco board of education, about the local government’s work to preserve S.L.A.M. programs (Sports, Libraries, Arts and Music). Although some school districts may have established private funding streams in order to keep their sports and music programs alive, this is not the case for every school in California. School districts, preparing for 2008-2009’s budgets, have already been forced to consider staff cuts. The New York Times states that, "the Alameda school district in Northern California, trustees voted to reduce the $83.7 million budget by cutting $200,000 to the sports programs, eliminating music programs for all children below fourth grade and increasing class sizes in ninth grade to an average of 29 students, up from 20." When fears of a recession circulate, it is hard to believe that the remaining enrichment programs, such as sports and health education, will be effective when hundreds of teachers are being laid off.

Overall, it is the students that suffer the long lasting effects of these budget cuts, whether it is education or health-wise. While parents blame the school system for cutting sports programs and health education and the government blames parents for neglecting their children’s eating habits, youth continue to battle their weight and the dangerous effects of being unhealthy. Time and time again, the research supports the idea that exercise and a well balanced diet is crucial in avoiding many of the nation's most prevalent diseases. For some families, the budget deficit will encourage better decisions to be implemented at home, but for those who are unfamiliar with these choices, including many minorities, physical education cuts will prove to be detrimental to young people's current and future health.

Exploring Cyberspace Part Two: Ten More Linkroll Additions

This week I continue my cyberspace exploration in hopes of finding even more resources aimed toward health-care issues in the Latin American and Hispanic communities. Once again, this post will serve as an introduction of ten new features in my linkroll, which is located to the left of the screen. Presenting brief, yet critical evaluations of these websites based on criteria implemented by Webby Awards, I will use this post to demonstrate a sense of the multitude of helpful information available on the internet that spotlights minority health issues.

I have chosen to evaluate each recently added item as it appears in alphabetical order in my linkroll. The first link this week comes from the American Diabetes Association, which not only serves as a wonderful tool to find information on diabetes, but also includes a Latino component aimed specifically toward the Hispanic community. With segments such as “Recipe of the Day” and “For Your Family” (“Por Tu Familia”), the site is accommodatingly interactive. Next on the linkroll is the Arizona Department of Health Services Office of Boarder Health. Gathering information about immigration and healthcare, both of which are hot topics this election year, may demonstrate to be essential in understanding the Latin American culture. Although the home page is less than captivating, the large amount of detailed information, including numerous studies, appear to be quite beneficial. Another site with interesting and current data on Latinos comes from the Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research. Even though it could use an update in terms of its appeal, this should not deter visitors from browsing the valuable research and resources tabs. An additional linkroll item that supplies interesting studies is called Health Consequences of Mexican Migration to the United States. One minor drawback is that the data is not as current as would be expected. Another negative aspect is that many of the publications are not offered for download. Overall, MexMaH.com can be used as a stepping-stone to more helpful and current research sites. One of the better additions this week, from the National Center for Farmworker Health, Inc., was a lucky discovery. Not only is it surprisingly full of interesting background information about the organization, but it also includes useful segments like “Monthly Topics” that address issues such as asthma and tuberculosis. The subsequent item is not directly aimed at the Hispanic community but can be functional because it focuses on minority health. Even though it can be helpful, the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities’ lack of organization and appealing design hinders its overall effectiveness. The next adjunct is presented by the National Council of La Raza. This organization states that they are an advocacy and civil rights group, but the health section of their site is definitely worth visiting. Furthermore, because health is not their only concern, visitors may also be inclined to browse other sections, such as Immigration and Education, as well. Padres Contra el Cancer or Parents against Cancer (pictured above) offers one of the most attractive overall experiences. With support from Hispanic stars like Eva Longoria and Beto Cuevas it may appear as if the experience may lack substance. Fortunately, the array of resource links, including government links, proves to be helpful. Next comes an item from the Pew Hispanic Center. Priding itself on research concerning Latinos, the organization exhibits topics such as Politics and Education. The health element under the resources tab is also a practical component. The fact that the site is updated often makes this a great appendage to the linkroll. Lastly, the Office of Minority Health page, which is a constituent of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services site, provides visitors with numerous links to services and campaign/initiative information. Overall, the navigability is both user-friendly and useful. Hopefully my entire linkroll will be a positive asset for my readers as they continue to read my blog. I look forward to making use of these websites in future posts.

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.