No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Background: Childhood obesity is epidemic, and Hispanic children bear a particularly high health burden because of it. Evidence suggests that obesity prevention is a better option than intervention. Because schools have decreased the amount of time spent in physical education classes, leisure time has become the time to engage in physical activity, which may prevent obesity. Social ecology theory posits that a person’s interaction with the environment has a strong influence on health promoting behavior. Further, this theory suggests that cultural values also play a role. The extant literature points to the sedentary nature of Hispanic children. However, it does not provide a description of the activities that children engage in during their leisure time, or how they are influenced by their family, culture, and community’s environment. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe and provide an understanding of how leisure time is viewed by Hispanic families, and how family and culture influences Hispanic children’s participation in leisure time activity. Two broad research questions were addressed: 1) How do Hispanic families describe leisure time activities? and 2) How do culture, family and the community environment influence a Hispanic child’s participation in leisure time activities? Methods: This ethnographic study incorporated photographs taken by English-speaking Hispanic mothers of children between 6 and 10 years old (n=10) as they engaged in leisure activities for one week. The participants engaged in photo-elicited interviews, describing the children’s activities and performed initial data analysis by sorting the photos in the categories of activities. Findings: Girls were more sedentary, engaging in intellectually stimulating and creative play activities inside, with family members or alone. Boys were more active, engaging in unstructured play activities outside with family members or friends. The children engaged in these activities to promote their health, prepare for their adult lives, and for fun. Cultural tensions experienced by the children’s parents had a profound influence on their leisure time choices and decisions. Activities were used to prepare the children for a better life, and to teach them to balance work and fun. Ultimately, the participants wanted their children to live a balanced life; one that is happy, healthy, and successful. Relevance: The children engaged in purposefully planned leisure activities aimed to ensure their health, happiness, and success in the U.S. The participants acknowledged that to achieve a better life, the children must become expert multicultural navigators. While many of the activities were sedentary, they had important implications for the children’s future. Health care providers must consider how patients view leisure time, and enlist their ideas in order to make children’s activities more physically active.

Obesity, elevated blood pressure and dyslipidemia are highly prevalent in Hispanic children. Compared to their non-Hispanic White peers, Hispanic children experience higher prevalence of obesity and hypertension. The Hispanic population in Tennessee has been growing, with about a tenth of newborn babies being Hispanic. This study aimed to: 1. Examine the influence of sociodemographic factors on Hispanic children’s cardiometabolic risk; 2. Assess the relationship between food group intake and cardiometabolic risk in Hispanic children; and 3. Evaluate the efficacy of non-traditional biomarkers for detecting cardiometabolic risk in Hispanic children. Data for the study came from a larger cross-sectional pilot study of metabolic syndrome in Hispanic children attending a community health center in Johnson City, TN. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses were used. The prevalence of overweight and elevated blood pressure were 40.7% and 31.0% respectively. Children of obese mothers were more likely than children of mothers with normal body mass index to engage in less than three days of at least 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity (PA) per week (OR: 6.47: 95% CI: 1.61-26.0). Children whose mothers did not engage in moderate PA were more likely to have elevated blood pressure (OR: 2.50, 95%CI: 1.02-4.53); and to engage in less than three days of at least 60 minutes of vigorous PA per week (OR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.18-7.24), than children whose mothers engaged in moderate PA. Children generally exceeded fruit and legume intake recommendations, but did not meet vegetable, wholegrain, dairy and fiber recommendations. Higher legume (OR: 0.052, 95% CI: 0.04-0.64), dairy (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.37-0.99) and fiber intake (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.81-0.96) were protective against elevated blood pressure, but only fruit intake was protective against overweight (OR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.87-0.99). Leptin, C-peptide and TNF-α showed significant positive correlations with cardiometabolic risk factors. The optimal cut-offs for detecting three or more cardiometabolic risk factors were: leptin, 5.95 ng/ml, C-peptide, 0.73 ng/; and TNF-alpha, 4.28 pg/ml. Helping mothers to achieve and maintain a healthy BMI and promoting children’s consumption of more vegetables, fruits, dairy and fiber could help reduce cardiometabolic risk in Hispanic children.

East Tennessee has one of the most rapidly growing Hispanic population in the country. Further, it has been previously reported that this population is at an increased risk for developing metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is characterized by central obesity, abnormal blood lipids, hypertension, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance. Our collaborators at the Johnson City Community Health Center (JCCHC) observed these indicators of MetS even in young children, between the ages of two and ten. The principle objective of this research project was to examine the prevalence of risk factors for MetS and establish an expanded metabolic profile of young Hispanic children. These factors have not been previously examined in this population. Our working hypothesis is that even at a young age markers of MetS, specifically dysregulated hormone levels, are present in this pediatric population. Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, a total of 118 Hispanic children between 2-10 years of age (Mean 6.4 ± 2.7, 45% male) age adjusted anthropometric measurements and blood samples were obtained. Blood samples were analyzed for glucose, and lipids (triglycerides, LDL (low density lipoprotein) and HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol) and C-reactive protein through ETSU clinical labs. Insulin, adiponectin, leptin, ghrelin, CRP, IL-6, and TNF-a levels were measured using commercially available assays (Bio-Rad® Multiplex Immunoassay System). Results: There was a significant positive correlation with leptin and adiponectin levels and BMI. Further, children with 2 or more risk factors for metabolic syndrome (as determined by age- and sex-specific: waist circumference, blood pressure, HDL, and triglyceride measures) had significantly elevated leptin levels. The proportional relationship between these metabolic hormone levels and the central obesity indicator confirms that metabolic abnormalities are present in the pediatric Hispanic population at a young age in Northeast Tennessee. The predisposition for this demographic developing metabolic syndrome is evident with indicators being present so early in life. With Tennessee being ranked third in the nation for Hispanic population growth rate, these findings indicate a need for early age intervention protocols for Hispanic children in order to reduce their risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease yet it has been little studied in Hispanic children of rural areas. This pilot study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MetS and its components (high waist circumference (WC), elevated blood pressure (BP), high triglycerides (TRI), low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and hyperglycemia) in a sample of Hispanic children aged 2 to 10 years from northeast Tennessee (TN). Between June and October 2015, 46 Hispanic children were recruited during their well-child visit at a community health center in Johnson City, TN. Anthropometric data, blood pressure readings, and a blood sample were collected. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the prevalence of MetS and its components. Chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test was used to test differences of proportions. Results showed that 41.3% of Hispanic children (mean age:6.8 years; SD:2.5) were overweight or obese (Body Mass index (BMI) for age and sex ≥85th percentile), 15.2% had a high WC (≥90th percentile for age and sex), 30.4% had elevated BP (systolic or diastolic BP for age, sex and height ≥90th percentile), 13.0% had low HDL (≤5th percentile for age and sex), and 45.6% had high TRI (≥95th percentile for age and sex). Overall, 17 (37%) children were negative for every component of MetS, 17 (37%) were positive for one component, 6 (13%) for two components, 5 (11%) for three components, and 1 (2%) for four components. The prevalence of MetS (≥3 components) was 13%. While the prevalence of MetS did not vary by sex, it tended to be higher (33.3%) in children aged 4 or younger than in 5 to 10 (12.1%) year olds (P=0.05). The prevalence of having 2 or more positivities for MetS was significantly higher among overweight/obese children than in children with lean weight (47.4% vs. 11.1%, P=0.03). Findings provide evidence that Hispanic children are at high risk for MetS. Prevention efforts should begin early and target children with elevated BMI.

Background. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is currently based on synthesizing measurements on five different biochemical and anthropometric scales. The logistics involved makes it less than an ideal screening test of cardiometabolic risk. Adipocytokines, c-peptide and ghrelin have emerged as important non-traditional biomarkers for understanding cardio-metabolic risk, and offer potential as tests of cardiometabolic risk. However, optimal sensitivity and specificity cut-offs of non-traditional biomarkers for detecting cardiometabolic risk are scarce, especially in pre-adolescent ethnic minorities. Objective. To assess the efficacy of 7 non-traditional biomarkers for detecting 3 or more cardiometabolic risk factors in pre-adolescent Hispanic children. Methods. The study population consisted of a healthy control group of 23 children and an at-risk group of 15 children aged 2-10 years with 3 or more cardiometabolic risk factors (blood pressure>=90th percentile; waist circumference >=90th percentile; triglycerides>=95th percentile; and HDL<5th >percentile) who were recruited as part of a larger pilot study of metabolic syndrome in Hispanic children receiving well-child care at a community health center in Johnson City, TN, from June 2015 to September 2016. T-test, Mann-Whitney U and Chi-squared tests were used to assess differences in characteristics of the two groups. Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between biomarkers and cardiometabolic risk factors. ROC analysis and the Youden’s J statistic=maximum (sensitivity +(specificity-1)) were used to determine biomarker cut-off for optimal sensitivity and specificity. Data analysis was performed using SAS 9.4. Results. The mean age of the sample was 6.48 years (SD=2.74). About half of the sample were girls (50.5%). The at-risk group had significantly higher systolic blood pressure, triglyceride levels, waist circumference, leptin and C-peptide levels, but significantly lower HDL-C levels than participants in the control group. Leptin [r (38) = 0.3, p

This collection of stories is based on the author’s experiences as a middle school teacher at an alternative campus in south Texas, in a district whose population was largely comprised of Mexican-American and low-income families. The Eagle School is based on a program that existed in the 1990s to address the special needs of “bubble” students, children who were failing in elementary school because of factors such as poverty, neglect, and violence at home. Students were selected for the program based on recommendations from their counselors, with the hope that the small campus of twelve teachers would provide its 150 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders with a safe haven, allowing them to focusing on their studies. The ultimate goals of the program were to prevent students from dropping out of school and to engage them in interdisciplinary projects that would advance them academically, preparing them to return to their appropriate grade levels in high school. Ms. Russel, a character based on the author, recounts stories of her efforts to help students at the Eagle School, as well as stories of her own friendships, aspirations, and disappointments off campus. Each story represents a distinct moment during the six years that she teaches at the Eagle School, and each focuses on a specific student or group of students whose conflicts complicate her own.

This report observes food commercials within children programming on English and Spanish television networks (cable channels and broadcast channels). With advertisements greatly influencing food consumption, this repost was based on the assumption that Spanish advertisements tailored to Hispanics differed from English advertisements in frequency and content. If so, could this be a contributing factor as to why Hispanic children tend to be more overweight compared to their general market? Through observation, analysis and reviewing past studies, this report established that there is a difference of frequency and content within food commercials aired on the two television categories. However, the difference was unexpected. In reality, Spanish channels air more PSAs and fewer food commercials compared to English networks. Besides the different frequency of food advertisements on these channels, the intended audiences also differed within Spanish and English television. / text