This monthly digest is written primarily for the staff of UC Cooperative Extension. It is produced by the staff of ANR's News and Information Outreach in Spanish (NOS) based on news reported by mainstream news media and reputable research institutions. Inclusion in the digest does not imply endorsement, nor does SBMS assume responsibility for the veracity of the information. We invite our readers to refer to the source to read more of each particular brief; we'll try to always include a link.

A recent study by the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that Hispanics are less healthy than the overall general population.  According to the study, Hispanics have experienced more age adjusted years of potential life lost before the age of 75 due to stroke, liver disease, diabetes, HIV and stomach cancer. The journal found one likely contributor to this trend is the combination of a diet of starchy and fried foods with a lack of physical activity. In support of this study, a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reveals some important points regarding Hispanics and cancer and diabetes. For example, Hispanic adults have higher incidence and mortality rates for stomach and liver cancer and Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely than non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes.  Also important, the survey points out, is the fact that Hispanics still lag significantly behind other ethnic groups in health insurance coverage.

Source: Synovate’s On Diversity, Spring 2007 Issue, Volume XIX, Number 7