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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Latino children comprise the largest minority group of children in the U.S., and are among the most overweight and most at risk for developing obesity-related health conditions, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol. To combat this trend, both parents and pediatricians must work together.
“It’s important for pediatricians to offer clear, honest advice to parents of overweight children, especially those in high-risk groups,” said Dr. Christy Turer, a pediatrician at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “Primary care visits can be a great opportunity to do this, especially if parents are educated on what questions to ask.”
Based on Dr. Turer’s recent study findings that1 in 5 parents of overweight Latino children are not directly told their child is overweight, she encourages parents to do the following to help their child lose excess weight:
· If you are more comfortable communicating in Spanish, ask for a trained medical interpreter, even if you speak some English – medicine has its own language and it is critical that you receive high-quality medical-based Spanish interpretation. If someone is not available, ask if an interpreter can be called to speak with you by phone.
· Ask your pediatrician whether your child’s body mass index (BMI) is in the healthy range – while many children may appear healthy, the ratio of the child’s weight to his or her height is what indicates the increased risk for problems.
· If your child’s BMI is above the healthy range, ask your pediatrician about specific things that you can do to help your child lose weight, including plans for diet, activity, and follow up with the pediatrician.
· Share what culturally-specific foods your family enjoys and ask for ways to improve their healthfulness. For instance, try substituting low-carbohydrate, high-fiber tortillas for flour tortillas, water with lemon for sugary beverages, grilled fish for chorizo, and grilled bell peppers in place of potatoes.
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