A new healthy snack guide was introduced Thursday at a Southern California grocery store to help combat obesity rates that are growing at an alarming rate in the Latino community.
The Los Angeles County of Public Health partnered with AltaMed Services and Superior Grocers in Maywood to help educate members of the community on healthier food choices through new produce signs and easily identifiable shelf tags.
Nearly 30 percent of adults and 28 percent of children are impacted by obesity in Maywood, according to AltaMed Health Services.
The numbers of school-aged children affected by obesity have tripled in the last decade, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
"In order to decrease blood pressure, in order to help decrease the rates of diabetes and the rates of obesity, we need to support and encourage shoppers and educate them to make healthier choices," Vilma Andari said, co-founder of Nutra Health Food.
Nutritional labels and the new snack guide were important families who attended the unveiling of the snack guide Thursday. The grocery story and its partners said they are committed to providing to help fight obesity through the information and education.