According to a Cancer Journal for Clinicians report cited by City of Hope in 2012, the leading cause of death in the U.S. Hispanic community is cancer – even though heart disease has held that distinction among all Americans since 1921. Earlier that same year, the American Diabetes Association revealed that young Latinos have the highest growth rate of diabetes of any group in the country.

“The first wealth is health” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hispanic attitudes towards health and wellness impact a range of categories, from fast food to pharmaceutical, and understanding the Hispanic point-of-view is becoming increasingly critical to the success of American business. This article will highlight some of the factors that have historically influenced Hispanics and provide key takeaways for marketers interested in reaching out to the U.S. Hispanic market. 

By DANNY HAKIM

Maria Watts remembers digging as a child through her family fridge for tamales before school each day. The traditional Mexican fare, left over from one of her family’s nightly sit-down dinners, made for an excellent breakfast hand-prepared by her immigrant mother.

Hispanics are almost twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to be diagnosed with diabetes, a life-long, chronic disease characterized by abnormally high levels of blood sugar. Though the disease is always a concern among the Hispanic population, diabetes perceptions vary significantly, according to a recent survey.