Contact: Rosanne Fohn, (210) 567-3079

HEAL Initiative stakeholders include (left to right) Jaime Arispe, Julie Lara, Roger Perales, M.P.H., RS, Gloria Jackson, Carmen Roman-Shriver, Ph.D., Margaret Lopez, Sister Mary Luisa Vera, R.S.M., Julie Tijerina, Steven Lopez, M.P.P., M.P.H., and Brent Shriver, Ph.D.
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After several months of planning and communication by a group of communitywide stakeholders, a new Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Initiative was officially launched June 21 at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio’s Regional Campus in Laredo.

Community support
Community stakeholders explained why the HEAL initiative was created, what its goals are and how it will be implemented to address the chronic health issues in Laredo.

“What began as an assessment of the feasibility of developing a community initiative focused on nutrition, physical activity, obesity and diabetes prevention is now a citywide effort to promote an environment that supports healthy eating and active living,” said Steven Lopez, M.P.P., M.P.H., a fellow who has been working to spark the initiative through the UT Health Science Center and a large group of dedicated community stakeholders. Lopez’s fellowship is supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools.

Related links: HEAL Initiative stakeholders South Texas Health Status Review

Study reveals health issues on the border
The HEAL Initiative was modeled after successful programs in Brownsville and other cities and is backed by statistics from the South Texas Health Status Review, a study conducted by the UT Health Science Center’s Institute for Health Promotion Research that found a higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes in South Texas than in the rest of Texas or the nation.

Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services also indicated that more Laredoans have been diagnosed as diabetic or obese, and more report poor dietary intake and a lack of physical activity, compared to the state population.

Carmen Roman-Shriver was interviewed by several media representatives covering the event including KLDO, KGNS and the Laredo Morning Times.

National health epidemic
“In the last three decades, obesity and being overweight have become the fastest-growing epidemics in the United States,” said Carmen Roman-Shriver, Ph.D., RD, LD, director of the dietetics and nutrition program at the UT Health Science Center. “The economic burden of obesity and diabetes is overwhelming,” she said, with statewide projections estimating that $12.7 billion is expected to be spent in 2010, $15.2 billion in 2020 and $39 billion in 2040. “This is for health care, illness treatment and loss of productivity. Laredo has higher rates of obesity and diabetes than the state, which in turn has higher rates than the nation,” she said.

Sixteen percent of Laredoans have diabetes versus 10 percent of Texans, and 35 percent are obese, compared to 29 percent of Texans, Dr. Roman-Shriver explained. “As a community, we cannot sit and wait for the trend to reverse. Our stakeholders believe that it is time to launch a coordinated effort to help people living in our border region to become healthier.”

Promoting Healthy Living and Active Living
HEAL Initiative stakeholders plan to execute their mission and vision through the promotion of healthy eating and active living, as well as environmental and policy change. Major objectives of the HEAL initiative are to increase awareness of programs, events and facilities that already exist in the Laredo community and to promote any new events and programs that fit the mission of the initiative.

Gardening seminar
For example, one of the stakeholders, Laredo Main Street, will hold a seminar series on gardening so that Laredoans can begin growing fresh produce at their homes. The free seminar series will be held 7-8:30 p.m. on July 8 and 12 at El Pasillo de San Augustine. Another series is planned in August. Contact Sandra Rocha-Taylor at Laredo.mainstreet@att.net or (956) 523-8817 for more information. Laredo Main Street is also planning a farmers’ market in Laredo for the fall.

Success in the colonias
Stakeholder Jaime Arispe from the Office of Border Affairs discussed the El Cenizo Family Garden. “We’ve made headway in the colonias with community family gardens,” he said. Vegetables grown include tomatoes, cilantro, chilies and bell peppers. The church now has a children’s after-school café program and an elderly lunch program.

Longer-term efforts of the HEAL initiative may include enhancing joint-use facility policies, promoting a healthy restaurant campaign, and implementing and enhancing wellness programs.

Improving health one neighborhood at a time
Sister Maria Luisa Vera, R.S.M., chief executive officer for Mercy Ministries of Laredo, added that at the primary care clinic in Laredo, patients diagnosed with diabetes are encouraged to go to classes to prove they have the disease under control. “The classes show them what lies ahead,” she said, if they do not control their diabetes.

“The HEAL Initiative is committed to empowering our community to improve its health, one neighborhood at a time, by creating an environment where healthy eating and active living are supported and promoted,” Sister Maria Luisa said.