The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has set aside a budget of around $400,000 with the objective of promoting exercise and fitness among Latino men. The amount was used in sending text messages to the target individuals.

Free Beacon wrote that the University of California, San Diego is currently handling the study and will try to use the inexpensive approach of using cell phones to contact Mexican-Americans.

A grant for the project stated that Mexican-American men report high rates of sedentariness and associated health conditions. The planned study aims to promote physical activity among these individuals through the development of interactive and specific text messages that will boost a print-based exercise intervention for Mexican-American men.

“The proposed high-reach, low-cost strategy for increasing physical activity has great potential for adoption on a larger scale and thereby positively impacting public health and eliminating health disparities,” the grant stated.

Although Latino men may only have limited access to public health actions that promote exercise, there is a huge need for studies in the field. Effective interventions that enhance methods, technology and concepts available for Mexican-American men are needed to cater to the developing health issues. The print campaigns will hopefully encourage Latino men to engage in physical activity to stay in good shape and protect their health.

Based on the preliminary study, only 40 percent of the volunteers satisfactorily met the guidelines of exercising 150 minutes every week while 30 percent did not engage in physical activity at all after reading the materials.

The participants suggested that the researchers employ text messages to intervene further. There will be focus groups in the proposed study that will identify cultural themes to add to the text messages. Sixty Mexican-Americans will be included in the study in the next six months, and the results will be compared with the output of those who did not receive text messages during the program.

Examiner stated that taxpayers will be paying for the health program. At present, the project costs $406,875 even though it has not yet passed the preliminary trial stages. Many believe that the cost of the initiative appears to be unrealistic.

Although the NIH claims that the program will be low-cost, it might balloon to millions when done on a larger scale and for a long period of time. Some state that it is unnecessary for the government to remind people to stay fit and exercise regularly.