Presidential advisory commission recommends national programs to address health disparities among Asian-Americans

Heart disease is a leading cause of death among AA and NHPIs, and a major risk factor for heart disease is obesity.

The President's Advisory Commission on Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders has approved a recommendation to establish national programs to raise awareness about and address health disparities among these communities living in the US, a media release said Sunday.

In the recommendations presented during the March 14th full commission meeting, Commissioner Ajay Bhutoria highlighted key issues related to the treatment patterns and outcomes in AA sub-groups, such as South Asians, and the lack of national education campaigns targeted at AA and NHPI communities.

Accepting the proposals, the Commission recommended the establishment of national programs by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Education (ED) to raise awareness, evaluate, and address health disparities, such as heart disease and obesity, in AA and NHPI sub-groups living in the United States, specifically with a focus on children and youth.

The proposed programs include the development of obesity surveillance and intervention programs by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that focuses on AA and NHPI children and youth. The programs aim to dispel misconceptions and educate AA and NHPI communities on how to stay healthy and reduce the impact of chronic diseases using culturally relevant materials, resources, and languages.

Bhutoria also recommends the creation of a centralized database containing research and data related to AA and NHPI communities that are affected by heart disease and obesity, such as South Asians. Heart disease is a leading cause of death among AA and NHPIs, and a major risk factor for heart disease is obesity. Cultural misconceptions and limited access for certain AA and NHPI populations, such as those who are Limited-English Proficient (LEP), to preventive care and treatment for obesity exacerbate the problem among these populations.

He said that the establishment of national programs to address health disparities in AA and NHPI sub-groups is essential to improving the health outcomes of these communities.

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