Latino children suffer from obesity at a much higher rate than non-Hispanic children. Forty percent of Latino kids ages 2-19 are overweight of obese, compared to 28.5% of non-Latino white youths. A recent report by Salud!America found that one of the factors to these rates being so high among Latino youth is the lack of public parks.
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According to a national survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, fewer Latino (70%) than white (82.5%) respondents described their neighborhoods as having safe places for children to play. A study conducted in Southern California found that children of racial/ethnic minorities living in poverty have less access to parks and physical activity sites than children living in more advantaged neighborhoods.
Addressing these disparities by providing sufficient access to parks and recreation facilities may help Latino children become more physically active, maintain a healthy weight, and have better overall health through childhood and into adulthood. Low-income neighborhoods generally have few parks and recreation sites, so school facilities are left responsible for providing safe areas for children to play outside of regular school hours.
According to the CDC, poverty is a better predictor of childhood obesity than race. In a statistical model, based on information from more than 110,000 Massachusetts students, they found that when a child’s family income dropped, the rates of childhood obesity went up. Fewer parks, recreational programs and full service grocery stores among the poor may lead them to eating more fast food and get little to no exercise. Researchers from the study found that there is a 70% chance that an overweight teen would remain obese as an adult, increasing their risk for heart disease and diabetes.
This is why it’s so important for parents to take steps toward keeping their children healthy. A healthy lifestyle begins at home and diet is just as important as exercise. If children see their parents eating fruits and vegetables, then they will follow in their footsteps. The same goes for exercising. The next time you go for a walk or a jog, invite your children. Make it a habit to be an active family and limit the hours your children are hooked on technology.
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