Eliminating Early Childhood Hispanic Obesity through Feeding
Rising childhood obesity rates—which have tripled in just one generation—threaten the health and well-being of all children, but Hispanics are especially hard hit.
Hispanics are the largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States—by 2025, it’s estimated that one in three children will be of Hispanic ethnicity. As a group, Hispanic infants are more likely than their non-Hispanic peers to have high weight for length, which puts them at higher risk for becoming overweight or obese in childhood and remaining that way.
This has impacts well into adulthood. Obesity is a major obstacle to sustainable socioeconomic development and poverty reduction. It is associated with diabetes and overall poorer health, which can interfere with social development and learning. In short, the health of a baby or toddler helps determine whether he or she will grow into a healthy young adult, one who is ready for college, work and life.
The bad news is that more than one-third of Hispanic children between the ages of 2 and 5 years are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It’s so prevalent, that researches have given it a name: early childhood Hispanic obesity, or ECHO.
The good news: we can reverse this trend and silence ECHO. Research has shown that infant feeding and nutrition are a primary prevention strategy, from the prenatal period through the first two years of life.
To make it happen, we as a nation need better policies, better services and better awareness. That means families, communities, employers and leaders all have a role to play. Governments must lead, and be the catalyst, for this solution to narrow gaps in health disparities.
The Latino Health Initiative created this brief to generate a national call to action and to spark a movement for a targeted, cost effective and comprehensive approach to encouraging appropriate infant feeding and nutrition.
Facts At a Glance
The full brief has lots of great infographics, charts and information. Here are just two:
Guest
This is so great! Thank you for doing this important work for our babies, mothers, and communities.
February 28 at 03:44pm
Amita Graham
This is great. It is important to target the health and nutrition in the early years to address the growing obesity rate. How is your program supporting breastfeeding as a way to improve nutrition in the early years?
October 13 at 12:31pm
