The Importance of Yearly Check-Ups for

Underrepresented Groups

Reducing obesity in children by encouraging regular checkups for Hispanic/Latino and uninsured families.

Target AudienceHispanic/Latino parents of young children

New parents

Urban/low income families

Uninsured Families

Numbers here show that uninsured, Hispanic / Latino children are much more likely to go a full year without seeing a physician or clinic

We want to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity by getting children in to see their primary care provider. This is an important task due to the plentiful life-threatening conditions that come along with obesity. Primary care providers can provide the patients and their parents with knowledge of their conditions (where they are on the obesity scale), and how to combat their ailment (proper nutrition and exercise) while also helping to detect other health conditions.

What Should We DO? What Are Our Goal?

1.For parents to bring their children to the doctora. The more children seen by a physician- the better chance we have at curbing the

obesity race

2.For parents to encourage healthy eating habits and physical activity

3.For parents to provide healthy food options

4.For parents to reduce sedentary time by encouraging and providing exercise

Long Term Goals

Improving access to resources within the medical community (bilingual physicians, locations of clinics in targeted communities).

Encouraging state tax breaks or funding to schools who hire physicians and nutritionists to visit schools and meet with each student throughout designated weeks in the school year (one at the start and end of school year)

Improve training of school nurses to keep better records of student complaints and engage in more dialogues with parents about their children’s health and with children about healthy habits.

Advocate for free and accessible after school sports programs in low SES areas to promote physical activity.

APA-format list of resources

MassHealth. (2004, May 04). Children's Medical Security Plan. Retrieved February 21, 2017, from http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/consumer/insurance/more-programs/childrens-medical-security-plan.html

Health, United States, 2015 - Child and Adolescent Health. (2016, April 27). Retrieved February 21, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/child.htm#healthstatus