Programs Seek To Promote Weight-Loss Among Hispanics, Encourage Minority College Students To Attend Dental School, Addr. American Indian Health Disp.

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Dentistry;  Medical Students / Training;  Public Health
Article Date: 28 Jul 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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The following summarizes articles related to efforts that seek to address racial and ethnic health disparities.

• Integris Health: Nearly 350 Hispanic community members in Oklahoma City, Okla., recently completed a 12-week program sponsored by Integris that sought to promote weight loss and healthy lifestyles among the group, the Oklahoman reports. The first Hispanic Weight Loss Challenge -- called "Gane ... Perdiendo," or "Win ... Losing," --included weekend salsa dance lessons, healthy snack choices and free massages. One hundred participants recently gathered at a local church to celebrate the completion of the program. Of those, 88 weighed in at the event and had lost a total of 573 pounds (Jackson, Oklahoman, 7/20).
  
  
• Louisiana State School of Dentistry: The New Orleans Times-Picayune on Thursday featured LSU's Summer Multicultural Enrichment Program, which seeks to encourage minority students to enroll in dental school. The six-week, 174-hour program this year is exposing 15 college students to some of the skills usually taught during the first year of dental school, including basic science and clinical courses, hands-on opportunities and rotations. Students come from the University of New Orleans, LSU-Baton Rouge, the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Xavier University of Louisiana, Dillard University and Southern University (Evans, New Orleans Times-Picayune, 7/24).
  
  
• Sanford Health: Sanford health officials on Monday met with Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) to discuss their commitment to addressing American Indian health disparities in the region, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports. According to the Argus Leader, Sanford will use part of a $400 million donation by benefactor T. Denny Sanford to expand tribal health research efforts at its Center for Health Disparities at the University of South Dakota. The center works with 27 different tribes in the Midwest and the West. The center is undertaking such efforts as basic research into diabetes, infant mortality and fetal alcohol syndrome (Myers, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 7/22).
  

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