1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910964111103321

Titolo

At risk : Latino children's health / / edited by Rafael Perez-Escamilla, Hugo Melgar-Quinonez

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Houston, TX, : Arte Publico Press, c2011

ISBN

9781611924367

1611924367

9781611924534

1611924537

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (304 p.)

Altri autori (Persone)

Perez-EscamillaRafael

Melgar-QuinonezHugo

Disciplina

362.198/920089968

Soggetti

Children - Health and hygiene - United States

Hispanic Americans - Social conditions

Hispanic Americans - Economic conditions

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references.

Nota di contenuto

""Cover page ""; ""Copyright ""; ""Contents ""; ""Introduction ""; ""TEXT ""

Sommario/riassunto

According to the United Nations, the United States spends more per capita on health care than any other nation in the world, yet ranks 42nd in life expectancy. Obesity-and its impact on chronic conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and even asthma-contributes to this unfortunate situation. Experts agree that if the current obesity trends are not overturned, today's children will be the first to have a life expectancy shorter than their parents.   In their introduction, editors Rafael Pérez-Escamilla and Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez note that the future of the country's well-being is closely tied to that of its Latino children. Several social, economic and environmental factors influence children's health and well-being. Overall, Latinos in the U.S. confront higher levels of poverty and have lower levels of education and English-language proficiency. Because of financial instability, they have less access to healthy foods and health care services. In 2009, almost 35% of Latino children lived in households that experienced food insecurity, and obesity and diabetes are rampant in the community.   Written by the



country's leading experts in Latino children's health, the ten articles included in this landmark volume examine the key issues that affect the well-being of the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. Important topics influencing Latino children's health that are covered include an evaluation of environmental issues such as unsafe housing, lack of access to healthy foods and safe playgrounds in low-income neighborhoods; the causes and adverse effects of obesity and ways to prevent this condition through school nutrition programs; an economic analysis of treating and preventing type 2 diabetes; and substance abuse in Latino youth. In each chapter, the major challenges and problems are outlined, and policy and programmatic changes are suggested.