Shown at the Salud America! Scientific Summit are (left to right) Kip Gallion, M.A., deputy director of both the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) and Salud America!; Laura Leviton, Ph.D., special adviser for evaluation at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation(RWJF); Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., 17TH U.S. Surgeon General; Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H., director of both the IHPR Salud America!; Dr. James S. Marks, M.D., M.P.H., senior vice president of the RWJF.
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Dr. Richard H. Carmona,17th Surgeon General of the United States, called for greater research and policy action to prevent obesity among Latino children in a keynote address at the inaugural scientific summit of Salud America!, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children, based at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio.

The summit, held Sept. 9-11 in San Antonio, united 200 researchers and community leaders from across the U.S. to address this critical health issue.

Prevention costs less than treatment
Dr. Carmona, who is of Puerto Rican descent, said three-fourths of every health-care dollar is spent on preventable chronic diseases, so he urged more investment in culturally sensitive and health-literate public health campaigns to prevent obesity.

“With the research like that at The University of Texas [Health Science Center San Antonio], Dr. [Amelie] Ramirez’ leadership, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s leadership and support producing evidence-based practices that are culturally and linguistically appropriate, we can make a difference and decrease health disparities, increase health and wellness, decrease the cost of care, and improve the quality and quantity of life,” Dr. Carmona said.

“And, in doing so, [we can] significantly contribute to our nation’s evolution from a sick care system to an equitable health care system.”

Panelists, politicians, athletes and celebrities drawn to conference
The Salud America! Scientific Summit featured many panels with top researchers, policymakers and others with expertise in policy, the built environment (manmade surroundings, such as parks and streets, that provide the setting for human activity) and nutrition.

Other special guests were Texas Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., Former San Antonio Spur Sean Elliott and Elliott’s wife, Claudia Zapata, a San Antonio Express-News health columnist.

Champion cyclist Lance Armstrong delivered a personal video greeting.

“As a parent myself and somebody who deals with the challenges of parenthood and raising what is now four kids, and trying to create great habits, encourage exercise, encourage healthy lifestyles — we know what this means,” Armstrong said. “We know that it prevents issues like cancer, issues like heart disease and most importantly, it promotes a healthy lifestyle and a high quality of life.”

Study shows Latino youth more prone to obesity
Latino youth suffer disproportionately from obesity and are at a greater risk of related health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. A national study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that 38 percent of Mexican-American children and adolescents are overweight or obese, compared with 31.9 percent of all children.

Collaboration for the future
The summit went a long way toward increasing awareness of the challenge of childhood obesity among Latinos, said Amelie Ramirez, Dr.P.H., director of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the Health Science Center.

“The summit enhanced knowledge of the work being done to reduce the epidemic and created opportunities for collaboration,” she said. “I think we inspired and motivated people to push improvements in policy, the built environment and beyond.”

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation support
In 2007, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) established Salud America! to remedy the lack of research on effective interventions focusing on Latinos.

The program aims to increase the number of Latino researchers seeking policy and environmental solutions to obesity among Latino children and to connect those researchers to policymakers and community leaders engaged on the issue.

Nationwide network
Since its inception, Salud America! has recruited more than 1,450 academics, researchers, community leaders and policymakers to its network.

Pilot grants awarded in July
In July 2009, the RWJF, through Salud America!, funded 20 pilot grants for research on reducing and preventing obesity among Latino youths. These pilot investigators participated in a poster session and made individual presentations at the summit.

Several top RWJF officials also participated, including Drs. James S. Marks, senior vice president; Laura Leviton, special advisor for evaluation; and John Govea, senior program officer.

Summit report to be available soon
Attendance at the event was by invitation only. View a full event description and agenda.

A full summit report will be posted on the Salud America!Web site soon.