Joint U.S.-Mexico Workshop on Preventing Obesity in Children and Youth of Mexican Origin Summary (2007) / Chapter Skim
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3 Opportunities
3 Opportunities
Pages 33-62
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From page 33... ...
Based on the risk factors already mentioned, a range of interventions in schools, media outlets, community venues, and healthcare facilities could be implemented, some of them jointly, to counterattack the obesity epidemic in Mexico and the United States. A comparison between Mexican Americans and Mexicans highlights many commonalities; however, as pointed out by Jaime Sepúlveda, obvious differences in culture and social and political systems require careful analysis before recommendations for the United States are applied to Mexico.
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From page 34... ...
Barriers and Challenges to Implementing Interventions Most obesity prevention interventions present opportunities as well as challenges. The barriers that challenge our ability to combat the obesity epidemic can be divided into two categories: those related to specific interventions and those related to the social and political environment within which each population resides.
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From page 35... ...
government agenda; this lack of leadership and inclusion of Mexican Americans on the agenda impedes progress in the obesity battle. Workshop participants generally agreed that a commitment to leadership needs to be made.
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From page 36... ...
Martorell added that such a strategy could draw on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report Preventing Childhood Obesity (IOM, 2005)
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The school system in Mexico provides an extraordinary opportunity to implement changes that will affect a large part of the population (e.g., school foods or physical activity interventions)
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From page 38... ...
Providing recommendations to decision makers based on scientificallybased research. It was the opinion of a number of participants that a study like the 2005 IOM report Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance for the population of Mexican origin could be led by an authoritative Mexican institution that could make recommendations on nutrition and public health based on scientific evidence as well as highlight specific areas that warrant further research.
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From page 39... ...
is a four-year $26 million initiative of the California Endowment, the state's largest health philanthropy. HEAC's goal is to reduce disparities in diabetes and obesity by using community models and statewide policy advocacy to improve nutrition and physical activity environments in schools, neighborhoods, marketing and media, and by healthcare providers.
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From page 40... ...
their energy, ideas, and participation-they are invaluable resources to influence decision making and changes in the community. As mentioned previously, many regulations, health policies, and initiatives on preventing obesity and other health problems originate from social, nongovernmental, or consumer organizations that are supported by the community.
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From page 41... ...
developed a physical activity program in Mexico City schools that stimulates daily physical education before classes start and evaluates its efficiency. Unfortunately, as acknowledged by other participants, some past policies on physical education have led to a situation where some Mexican states provide insufficient levels of physical education.
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From page 42... ...
Role of Industry What actions can industry, restaurants, caterers, media, and advertising and marketing agencies take to continue to reverse and prevent the obesity epidemic in youth and children? Should the food industry produce healthier food or try to modify behavior in children and youth; should the industry take an active role in encouraging parents and community members to be role models?
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From page 43... ...
, presented his views on the food industry's role in obesity prevention. Alianza por una Vida Saludable is composed of associations linked to consumer and food products, health, restaurant, retail, and media associations.
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From page 44... ...
According to de la Madrid, the food industry supports efforts to improve the quantity and quality of physical activity, and also supports the idea of regulations and restrictions in advertisement; however, in his view industry experts must participate in the making of such regulations as part of developing an effective, multidisciplinary effort in modifying the national policy. De la Madrid also insisted that solutions be based on scientific data rather than on opinions or social pressures.
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From page 45... ...
, labeling proposals made to the public health authority and industry efforts to broaden the range of products. Pate indicated that the role of the food industry can also be extrapolated to the electronic entertainment industry as they contribute to the physical activity levels of children.
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, and three music labels and owns and operates stations across the United States, including Puerto Rico. Univision decided to engage in a healthy lifestyle-oriented health promotion and disease prevention campaign called "Salud es Vida: ¡Enterate!
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In Valdez's opinion, by influencing the production of entertainment programming that supports healthy lifestyle and anti-violence messages the public health community can expand the reach of health promotion and disease prevention messages. Otherwise, viewers are apt to encounter unhealthful portrayals in entertainment programs.
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achieving and maintaining healthy weight loss and weight maintenance. Recognizing that the interventions for achieving energy balance are not yet fully based on scientific evidence, the CDC is focusing on various areas of both basic and translational research.
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One option being considered at the CDC is a strategy located at work sites. This could be a golden opportunity to educate and involve employers in the family responsibility for promoting children's good health, including the benefits of physical activity as well as healthy eating choices for the family.
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· Collaborative interventions with the food industry. · Research support.
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For example, it is not cost-effective for poor farmers to market cereals because of their high productivity and resulting low market prices. Martorell noted that agricultural research programs should ensure the participation and needs of poor producers.
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risk factors associated with childhood obesity, particularly those related to behavioral patterns, along with strategies for interventions and implementations, and (2) design and implementation of studies to evaluate the efficacy of interventions and programs to prevent childhood obesity.
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From page 53... ...
Understanding these behavioral factors is key to develop interventions that will result in long-term diet and physical activity attitude changes. This research should be conducted with subgroups of Mexicans and Mexican Americans, differing by location (urban versus rural)
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From page 54... ...
For example, Khan noted that the company MPD (which also started the Nielsen TV Index) has data sets not only of food patterns in restaurants or at home but also from personal history surveys with information on physical activity.
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From page 55... ...
For example, research on the effects of dietary content, eating patterns, physical activity and inactivity levels, and patterns leading to obesity prevention and weight control in already obese children should continue to be investigated so that a clearer picture of the factors and relationships among them emerges. What is the amount of physical activity that is really needed for weight control or prevention?
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From page 56... ...
For example, a program for physical activity and nutrition in Chile has consistent goals in terms of obesity prevalence for the years 2010, 2015, and 2020. This is not contemplated in the Mexican programs.
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BOX 3-1 U.S.Mexico Joint Obesity Prevention Task Force: Responsibilities According to Working Group III, the responsibilities of an obesity preven tion task force would include · Develop a strategy to prevent obesity. · Promote an obesity agenda, including a specific timeline and responsibilities.
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with a common goal of a healthier environment and examined three different levels that have experienced collaborative success -- community, national, and international. Community Level The development of collaborative strategies at the community level are based on three assumptions: the prevention of overweight and obesity is complex, small but sustainable changes occur over time, and healthy diet and physical activity are necessary components of obesity prevention.
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· Extend the system to other countries in North and Central America. What is the best parameter to use that indicates childhood obesity?
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· Identify obesity prevention goals at short-, middle-, and long-term. For example, physical activity programs have been implemented in Mexico but only if they have goals can they be evaluated.
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From page 61... ...
The initiative included activities such as assessing breakfast foods; incorporating walk-to-school programs that were overseen by adults in the community; engaging parents; and making other changes in physical activity, food services, and curriculum in the classroom or after school. As a result, there were major modifications in school food service (e.g., additions of a la carte items and more fresh foods)
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From page 62... ...
2004. Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity, and Health.
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