HispanicBusiness

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the health crisis facing California Latinos, the California Latino 5 a Day Campaign and the League of California Cities-Latino Caucus today convened the Latino Health Summit -- "Taking Steps Toward Healthier Latino Communities." Policymakers, health educators, city planners, community members and advocates met to identify steps and present solutions that can be implemented to improve access to fruits and vegetables and daily physical activity among low-income Latinos. The Summit, which is sponsored in part by Kaiser Permanente and The California Endowment, aims to promote policies, environments and social norms that enable and empower low-income Latinos, especially Latina mothers, to improve their nutrition and physical activity practices

Among California Latinos, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer, account for 56 percent of all deaths.(1) In addition, 40 percent of California Latino adults are overweight and 29 percent are obese.(2) Research shows that eating fruits and vegetables and engaging in physical activity every day can help reduce the risk of serious health problems, and chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obesity, and certain types of cancer. However, fresh fruits and vegetables can be more expensive and harder to find in rural communities and in the inner cities making it difficult for California's low-income Latino communities to access healthy foods.

"This statewide, collaborative effort is aimed to influence systematic and permanent change throughout low-income Latino communities," said Mark Martin, Manager, California Latino 5 a Day Campaign. "California Latino 5 a Day is committed to reducing barriers to healthy eating and physical activity for a healthier California."

During the one-day Latino Health Summit, participants discussed the health status of California's Latino community. Findings from various statewide "walkability" assessments were presented to Summit participants to help shape the statewide message regarding healthy eating and physical activity opportunities in Latino communities. The "walkability" assessments, implemented in Central Valley, Central Coast, Desert Sierra, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego-Imperial, served as community evaluations that identified roadblocks to safe physical activity opportunities and effective routes to nutritious foods. Among the common barriers observed were: traffic signals did not allow enough time to cross; no marked cross walks; no stop signs or traffic lights at intersections; narrow, broken or missing sidewalks; insufficient or no street lighting; scary or loose dogs; and litter, trash and graffiti.

The Summit consisted of panel presentations and "best-practices" for implementation in other low-income Latino neighborhoods throughout the State. Summit participants overwhelmingly agreed that now is the time for California to take action against this alarming health epidemic. In doing so, they identified measures to increase accessibility to healthy foods and physical activity.

"California's Latino community faces this health crisis in part due to limited access to fruits and vegetables and neighborhoods that do not support safe physical activity. Both are essential to good health," said Dr. Eloisa Gonzalez, spokesperson for the Latino 5 a Day Campaign and health summit speaker. "Today's summit was a critical next step in providing the resources needed to change the environment in low-income communities across the state so California Latinos can live a healthier lifestyle."

The California Latino 5 a Day Campaign, which is part of the California Nutrition Network for Healthy, Active Families, is a public health initiative led by the California Department of Health Services. Its purpose is to empower Latino adults and their families to consume fruits and vegetables and engage in at physical activity every day. The Campaign also works with communities throughout California to create environments where these behaviors are socially supported and easy to do. The 5 a Day and physical activity objectives are designed to reduce the risks of chronic diseases, especially cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. For more information, please visit http://www.ca5aday.com/.

(1) Ten Leading Causes of Death-Hispanic -- California, 2002. State of California, Department of Health Services, Death Records, May 2004. (2) California 2003 data -- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion.Latino Coalition for a Healthy California

Web site: http://www.ca5aday.com/