Here you will find interesting notes about Hispanics/Latinos in the USA and relevant nutrition information in the media
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HALF OF AMERICANS FACING DIABETES BY 2020
(Reuters) – More than half of Americans will have diabetes or be prediabetic by 2020 at a cost to the U.S. health care system of $3.35 trillion if current trends go on unabated, according to analysis of a new report released on Tuesday by health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc.
Diabetes and prediabetes will account for an estimated 10 percent of total health care spending by the end of the decade at an annual cost of almost $500 billion — up from an estimated $194 billion this year, according to the report titled “The United States of Diabetes: Challenges and Opportunities in the Decade Ahead.”
The average annual health care costs in 2009 for a person with known diabetes were about $11,700 compared with about $4,400 for the non-diabetic public, according to new data in the report drawn from 10 million UnitedHealthcare members.
The average annual cost nearly doubles to $20,700 for a person with complications related to diabetes, the report said. Complications related to diabetes can include heart and kidney disease, nerve damage, blindness and circulatory problems that can lead to wounds that will not heal and limb amputations.
Diabetes, which is reaching epidemic proportions and is one of the fastest-growing diseases in the United States, currently affects about 26 million Americans.
Another 67 million Americans are estimated to have prediabetes, which may not have any obvious symptoms. More than 60 million Americans are unaware that they have the condition, according to UnitedHealth.
People with prediabetes have higher than normal blood sugar levels, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetics often have other risk factors, such as overweight, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
The 52-page UnitedHealth report also focuses on the growing obesity epidemic as that condition is a leading cause of diabetes.
The authors of the report contend the skyrocketing cost forecasts are not inevitable, however, if the crisis is tackled aggressively, including early intervention to prevent prediabetes from becoming diabetes.
“Because diabetes follows a progressive course, often starting with obesity and then moving to prediabetes, there are multiple opportunities to intervene early on and prevent this devastating disease before it’s too late,” Deneen Vojta, senior vice president of the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization, said in a statement.
“What is now needed is concerted, national, multi-stakeholder action,” Simon Stevens, chairman of the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization, said in a statement.
“Making a major impact on the prediabetes and diabetes epidemic will require health plans to engage consumers in new ways, while working to scale nationally some of the most promising preventive care models.” Stevens added.
If solutions for tackling the epidemic offered in the report were adopted broadly and scaled nationally it could lead to cost savings of up to $250 billion over the next 10 years, according to the UnitedHealth analysis.
(Reporting by Bill Berkrot; editing by Andre Grenon)
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HISPANIC PURCHASING POWER IN U.S. IS $1 TRILLION STRONG AND GROWING
Hispanic purchasing power in the U.S. is growing faster than the purchasing power of any other group. Research and analysis shows that Hispanic families overspend on groceries compared to non-Hispanic. Moreover, Hispanics also spend more on telephony than any other group in the US. Purchasing power among the diverse Hispanic population is currently valued at approximately $1 trillion.
The economic profile of a Hispanic consumer is dynamic. What’s more is that Hispanic household spending deeply influences sectors such as apparel, footwear, telecommunications, and food and beverage. These industries have created entire initiatives and business models around products tailoring to the Hispanic household.
Mintel’s report explains that central differences in spending patterns between Hispanics and non=Hispanics. This report also examines the key characteristics about the product categories Hispanic households currently spend more on in comparison to non-Hispanic families. Moreover, there is a discussion on the ways in which consumer behaviors of Hispanic households have evolved in light of the current economic situation.
For more details on this information:
http://www.the-infoshop.com/report/mt114718-us-hispanics.html
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THE POWER OF THE LATINO VOTE IN AMERICA
Published by: Politics 2010
October 24, 2010
Latino Voter Trends in Recent Election Cycles
Over the past decade, Latino voters have increased their political power and made a decisive impact in races at all levels, including the presidential election. In 2010, Latino voters are poised to play a crucial role in key House, Senate, and gubernatorial races across the country.
As the Latino electorate grows in size and importance, candidates from all political parties must take them into account in order to remain viable in an increasing number of races. While the Latino electorate is trending Democratic generally, at least one segment—foreign-born, naturalized U.S. citizens of Latino descent, who represent 40% of the Latino voter population—has proven to be a true swing constituency. As demographic trends make clear, if the Republican Party wants to remain a national party for the long-term, it must be able to compete with Democrats for Latino voters.
Candidates for political office would be wise to not just look at how Latino voters are likely to vote in 2010 and beyond, but why. In particular, the immigration debate has played a crucial role in shaping voters’ view toward the two political parties, and has proven to be a galvanizing force that politicians in both parties need to understand.
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