NHMA Teams With HHS to Trim Obesity in Hispanics

Galveston, TX — Obesity is emptying Texans’ pocketbooks and could cost the state its future — especially among young Hispanics, said the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), which is launching a national campaign in Galveston to reduce obesity among Hispanics.

By 2040, Texas will have 14 million obese adults, up from 4 million today, twice as many overweight residents and nearly 3.5 million people with diabetes, up from 1 million. The cost of treating obesity will quadruple — from $10.5 billion today to 40 billion by 2040. In addition, the state’s share of Medicaid will nearly triple, to $12.3 billion.

“The fatter the population gets the bigger the problems will become and the more it will cost to solve them,” said Dr. Elena Rios, president of NHMA, a nonprofit organization representing licensed Hispanic physicians in the U.S.

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In Texas, one in four Hispanic children is obese, vs. one in 10 non-Hispanic white children. Two in three adult Texans are overweight or obese — contributing to the state being one of the fattest in the nation. Houston, San Antonio, El Paso and Fort Worth are among the top 15 fattest cities in the country.

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“Racial minorities, especially Hispanics, are disproportionately poor and undereducated and therefore suffer more health problems and die younger than other Americans,” Rios said. “A prevalence of cheap fast-food, a lack of safe areas to exercise in their neighborhoods and fatty diets contribute to Hispanics’ increasing waistlines.” Cultural trends — video games, TV and junk food among them — also contribute to the problem.

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