SALT LAKE CITY, Ut. — The Regence Foundation announced a $65,200 grant today to Alliance Community Services for educational seminars to encourage healthy lifestyles and promote the recognition of obesity as a major public health concern in the Utah Latino community.

According to the Utah Department of Health, about 66 percent of Latino adults in Utah are overweight, and nationally Latinos have a 21 percent higher obesity rate than whites. Obesity is also a risk factor for developing heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

“Obesity is a growing epidemic and critical public health issue for our state,” said Scott Ideson, president of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah. “It’s important that we acknowledge the seriousness of this issue and support nonprofits working to build healthier communities – especially among underserved populations.”

The seminars, which will be conducted in Spanish, aim to promote healthy lifestyle habits in a way that incorporates many of the Latino community’s traditions and values. The programs also recognize the importance of family gatherings in the Latino culture, a tradition which will be used as the foundation to explore the lifestyle choices that families make. Since Latino families frequently function as a unit, the program includes activities for the entire family.

“We’re working to address the cultural and linguistic barriers that prevent Latinos from getting the health information they need about obesity and chronic diseases,” said Rita Ballesteros, dietitian at Alliance Community Services. “We also recognize that in the Latino community, addressing obesity means more than just teaching about fat, calories and exercise, but also taking into account the culture of the community when you’re teaching.”

The Regence Foundation grant will also help Alliance Community Services hire a program director and health educators.