Since Latinos are disproportionately affected by obesity and diabetes, there is a need for community programs to focus their efforts on creating dietary, physical, and social environments that promote healthy behaviors among children and their families. Developed by City of Hope and held twice a year for parents and once a year for children in the Duarte Unified School District, the goal of the Eat, Move, Live Program is to address obesity, cancer, and chronic disease prevention by helping families implement lifestyle, nutrition, and physical activity changes.

Based on an approach which is solution-focused, the program is centers on culturally and socioecologically informed education as well as community participatory intervention. Comprised of a series of workshops promoting health, nutrition, and physical activity, the program is held in both English and Spanish. Outcomes are designed to enhance knowledge and attitudes about nutrition, physical activity and chronic diseases. Each session consists of a discussion, food demonstration, and physical activity.

Eat, Move, Live is successful in increasing knowledge and practice of health behaviors. The program has resulted in children who demonstrate an increased knowledge of food groups and health behaviors after completing the workshops. Likewise, parents have demonstrated an increased in knowledge regarding daily servings of fruits and vegetables and daily physical activity recommendations. Given the obesity and physical activity link to chronic disease risk, culturally-competent community-based interventions to increase healthy behaviors are necessary to reduce risk among underserved communities.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at Info@HispanicHeathlyLiving.com.