New research suggested that more Latino kids will become obese by the time they reach 5 years old compared to white children. Some of the identified causative factors include maternal obesity, reduced exclusive breastfeeding and workplace and childcare issues that affect how children eat and engage in physical activity.

Salud America provided a number of research results that supported the findings. Salud America! is a national network geared towards preventing obesity among Latino children. It is based at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Eurekalert cited that the research package, called “Healthy Weight by Kindergarten for Latino Kids,” included a thorough review of new scientific findings and connections on the health of Latinos, ages 0 to 5 years old. The package also included policy recommendations based on the research, an animated video, infographics and an issue brief.

The study showed that half of Latinas are either overweight or obese when they get pregnant. Obese Latina mothers delivered babies that were 1.8 times more likely to become obese compared to their non-Hispanic peers.

Breastfeeding can actually reduce obesity by as much as 47 percent among Latino children, but Latina mothers are less likely to exclusive breastfeed their babies until they turn a year old compared to white moms. Some of the reasons include workplaces that do not welcome breastfeeding, lack of parental programs available and lack of paid maternity leave.

There have been several health guidelines and policies suggested to boost the health of both mother and child during and after pregnancy. Children are less likely to become overweight or obese if mothers engage in moderate exercise while pregnant, compared to staying sedentary throughout.

Introducing a healthy diet and physical activity to children at a young age can also encourage them to minimize fat intake, increase their intake of fruits and vegetables and engage in exercise.

Nurse-mother prenatal programs that encouraged women to breastfeed resulted to more babies being born at a healthy weight. In places like California, where a paid family leave program was established, mothers tend to breastfeed their babies twice as long, compared to those who were in locations that lack paid maternity leave.

Latina mothers were also 30 percent more likely to breastfeed babies for at least six months if they lived in places that had laws giving them break periods and enforcement provisions for pumping laws in the workplace.

States should be more vigilant in enforcing their laws on breastfeeding and provide more maternity benefits to keep Latino kids healthy.