For Immediate Release:
January 2002
Contact:
Alvaro Puig
301-565-0770
For the first time, older Hispanics will have access to culturally appropriate, science-based information to help them start and stick with a safe, effective exercise program to improve their health and well-being.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is launching a nationwide education campaign to motivate older Hispanics to keep fit. At the heart of the campaign is the free, 107-page guide, Exercise and Your Health: A Personal Guide to Health and Fitness . A companion fotonovela shows how to encourage family and friends to start their own exercise program.
“This new Spanish-language version of our award-winning exercise guide is part of an ongoing effort to reach out to older Hispanics with the message that exercise is important for people of all ages” says Richard J. Hodes, M.D., director of the NIA.
The NIA published the guide in Spanish as part of its ongoing mandate to make health information available to minority elders. In 2000, there were 1.9 million Hispanic adults age 65 and older in the U.S., a number that is expected to increase rapidly, according to the Census Bureau.
“As many as 40 percent of elderly Hispanics either do not speak English or do not speak it well, according to 1990 Census reports. There is a significant part of the community that we can reach only by taking into account their language preferences and cultural sensitivities,” says David Espino, M.D., professor of family medicine and geriatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and a member of the National Advisory Council on Aging.*
The how-to guide demonstrates simple, easy-to-learn exercises based on NIA-supported research. The exercise program emphasizes:
Endurance exercises , which increase stamina and help delay or prevent diabetes, colon cancer, heart disease, and stroke;
Flexibility exercises , which help prevent and aid recovery from injuries;
Strength exercises , which increase metabolism helping to control weight, regulate blood sugar, and prevent osteoporosis; and
Balance exercises , which help prevent falls—a major cause of broken hips and other injuries that lead to disability and loss of independence. Extensive testing was done at Hispanic senior centers to make sure that the guide is appropriate for the Hispanic market. The Spanish-language adaptation features a culturally sensitive translation, as well as illustrations and photographs more relevant to older Hispanics. The accompanying fotonovela— It's Never Too Late to Start —uses the story of Lucy, a 57-year-old Latina who is trying to convince her friends to join her exercise group, to convey the message that exercise is an easy, enjoyable way to improve health. According to Dr. Espino, “research shows that exercise strengthens muscles, improves heart health, and helps you manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure, major health problems in the Hispanic community. It's also fun.”
For single, free copies of the guide and accompanying fotonovela, call the NIA Infor-mation Center weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. toll free at 1-800-222-2225 or TTY 1-800-222-4225. An information specialist is available to respond to queries in Spanish. The guide also is available by writing to the NIA Information Center, PO Box 8057, Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057.
The NIA, part of the National Institutes of Health at the Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead Federal agency supporting and conducting biomedical, social, and behavioral research and training related to aging and the diseases and special needs of older people.
*To arrange a media interview in Spanish or English with Dr. Espino, contact Alvaro Puig at 301-565-0770.
