By Luz Garcia–

Georgia Hernandez, 20, a student says she has an image in her head of what she should look like and when she sees herself in the mirror she feels she is overweight.

“Sometimes I don’t feel attractive after I eat,” she said. “I don’t feel guilty about eating either. It’s when I’m trying on clothes… that’s when I’m like ‘oh my god.’”

Weight has always been an important issue that everyone at some point has dealt with. Statistics show that Latinas among all women of different ethnic groups are number one in being overweight, and they are second, after African Americans, in being obese. There are many reasons that can explain why weight is such a prominent issue that directly affects Latinas.

It’s easy to blame the media and fashion industry for the negative body-image issues Latinas have since both have taken it upon themselves to set the standards of beauty in America.

Another student Brenda Rodriguez, 21, also feels the pressure. “When I turn on the TV all I see are skinny girls…oh, and commercials advertising all these weight-loss supplements,” she said. “It makes me feel insecure.”

Interestingly, those who immigrate after the age of 17 are less likely to want to be thin. It is the Latinas who are born in the U.S or those who immigrate and go through the process of acculturation at a young age who likely to prefer a smaller body size.

What does that say about our cultural practices and America as a whole?

Today, many media outlets are trying to address the situation and educate young girls on what a healthy weight is and are also trying to provide positive role models.

For example, on the October issue of Latina Magazine, curvy actress America Ferrera, who played a confident overweight girl in the 2002 film “Real Women Have Curves,” appears on the cover. Just think, not many other magazines choose curvy celebrities to grace their covers. By doing that Latina Magazine is defying society’s obsession with body image and while giving a voice to bigger girls also showing that girls are beautiful in all shapes and sizes.

Although the media is huge factor it is not the only culprit. Actually, the Latino culture itself is just as considerable.

“I think that the Latino women cook a lot more than any other ethnicity and when you cook a lot you tend to eat a lot, but just the food overall, like we eat a lot of tortillas and a lot of rice. And also in our culture we are taught to be proud of our curves,” Hernandez said.

Culture plays a big role. In some traditional Latino lifestyles, being overweight or obese is not necessarily seen as a bad thing.

In many traditions being heavier set is seen as a sign of affluence and success. Latinos like to eat, and because of the cuisine that composes the Latino diet, they tend to eat more fried foods and less fruit. Consumer statistics from the Latino Nutrition Coalition show that Latinos make twice as many grocery-shopping trips per month among any other ethnic group.

Lack of exercise adds on to the problem. The U.S. Department of Education shows that nationally only about 36 percent of Hispanic girls in high school played sports compared with 52 percent of non-Hispanics. According to The Government Source for Women’s Health, more than half of Mexican-American women do not report being involved in any type of physical activities nor hobbies.

“I don’t really have the time to exercise, I mean, I know I should but I have to go to school and I also work so I just feel tired all the time,” says Alejandra Gonzalez, 20.

Perhaps the main issue that can connect the factors previously stated, are the financial resources from which many Latinos are deprived and therefore, the lack of access to healthcare.

“They don’t have the money to spend on higher quality foods with lower carbs or calories. A lot of Latinos save their money and send it back home so they don’t have the money to buy and eat healthier foods,” said Mary Russell a dietitian at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

The Pew Hispanic Center reports that Latinos are the ethnic group with the least medical insurance coverage and that simple fact increases the risk of having this chronic disease present. Perhaps because of the lack of healthcare many may not be able to visit the doctor and might skip regular checkups and so they cannot prevent the problem.

Not only is this issue affecting adult Latinas but also children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, weight is now the most chronic problem in children and a shocking statistic shows that Latina girls are the second most overweight group of children in the U.S which can potentially increase future health risks.

Russell say that there has been a lot of pressure towards companies like Kellogg’s cereal and Coca-Cola for them to reduce their calories or change nutrition contents because many of their marketing is targeted to the younger audience.

“Kids think a certain cereal is cool or soda is cool and they consume it. Children need to learn in school healthy eating habits, but it has to go both ways, they can’t come home and mom or grandma has different food. It’s a big problem and that’s where community outreach should step in and educate parents too,” adds Russell.

Various social, cultural, and genetic circumstances affect the Latin community and favor it being overweight which can lead to other health problems like Type II diabetes, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, hypertension and arthritis. What can we do to not fall victims of obesity or eventually of one of these diseases?

Julia Valerio, a dietitian who works at a weight loss management clinic in Chicago, shares his advice.

“Do more physical activities, watch less TV, go outside and walk,” said Valerio.  “Particularly with children, it all starts really early and if they are overweight growing up it will be difficult to maintain the weight off as they get older. It is important for you to want to be healthy.”

Luz Garcia is a journalism student at Columbia College Chicago.