One out of eight Latino adults in Los Angeles County has been diagnosed with diabetes, a rate more than two times higher than for white adults, according to a 2007 survey taken for the Department of Public Health. Spanish-speaking Latinos are particularly vulnerable because they are much less likely to have access to information about the disease, decent medical care and healthy foods.

More than one out of three Latino adolescents in California are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight according to the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.  If unchecked, the epidemic of overweight children will lead to higher rates of preventable illness like diabetes, higher medical costs, and lost productivity.  But the trend can be reversed.
 
Better Nutrition and More Exercise
NEW encourages families to get healthy and stay healthy by addressing two primary factors causing weight gain and chronic illness: unhealthy diets and low levels of physical activity. NEW offers the community NEW Health, (formerly known as Salsa, Sabor y Salud) a nutrition program designed to motivate families to take steps toward healthier living. The goal of this program is to encourage families that are eligible for the Food Stamp Program to make healthy food choices and choose physically active lifestyles.

Every member of the family is encouraged to  actively participate actively in sessions featuring healthy food demonstrations and taste testing, physical activities or access to health screenings. The program’s unique approach builds on family values, experiences, traditions, language and cultural strengths and recognizes that big changes begin with small steps.

Arroyo Vista Family Health Center at NEW
NEW rents space to the Arroyo Vista Family Health Center, allowing Arroyo Vista to provide convenient and accessible medical services from the ground floor of the New Prosperity Center. Each year, the Arroyo Vista Family Health Center provides comprehensive health care services for over 2,000 patients, children and adults.  The bilingual doctors, nurses and staff are dedicated to caring for their patients and service over 8,000 visits a year.
 Arroyo Vista has been serving health care needs in Los Angeles since 1981. In addition to its offices at the NEW Prosperity Center, Arroyo Vista operates Family Health Centers in Highland Park, Lincoln Heights and El Sereno.  Arroyo Vista is licensed by the State of California Department of Health Services.