Latino Outreach Committee
The health of Latinx in the U.S. has deteriorated even as their economic status has improved. Latinx communities have watched as second and third generations move away from their traditional diets' reliance on beans, grains and vegetables and begin to eat more American foods that are high in salt, sugar and fat. This transition to westernized diets has led to a host of health problems, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
Today, two out of every three Latinx in the U.S. is overweight or obese, higher rates than any other U.S. group. Type 2 diabetes rates among Latinx Americans have more than doubled since 1988 with 13 percent of the Latinx population now affected by diabetes.
The Moore Institute is working to connect research, policy and advocacy to promote better health for Latinx in Oregon and beyond by leveraging existing assets within the Latinx community.
Community resources
Education resources
- My Pregnancy Plate is a graphic guide on optimal nutrition during pregnancy.
- Abuela Mama y Yo is a food equity and nutrition program developed by Familias en Acción
Partnership focus
Familias en Acción
The Moore Institute has worked closely with Familias en Acción for many years, leading to the creation of their Abuela Mama y Yo (AMY) program. This program incorporates the science of developmental origins of health and disease in a culturally-specific manner to address food equity and nutrition. It is designed to provide education about nutrition, and build advocacy skills around the link between food justice, social determinants of health and equity for families.
The AMY curriculum is being used as part of the Moore Institute's Nutrition Oregon Campaign.