Discovery Familia tackles Childhood Obesity.

Diabetes continues to be a prevalent negative force within the Latino community, with Type 2 Diabetes ranking as the fourth leading cause of death among Hispanic women. This has led Discovery Familia to take action, and during the month of November, the channel will join in the fight against diabetes with different initiatives created to bring attention to the disease and its risk factors, such as obesity. Among these initiatives is the original production, “Crecer en forma con Jeannette Torres,” premiering Saturday, November 24th at 10 PM E/P during Discovery Familia’s “Sabados Medicos” programming block.

“Crecer en forma con Jeannette Torres” features Discovery Familia’s brand ambassador and early childhood expert, Jeannette Torres. The documentary tells the story of 14-year-old Milagro, who suffers from obesity and is pre-diabetic. Jeannette joins forces with a team of experts comprised of nutritionists, personal trainers and a pediatrician to help Milagro overcome her battle with obesity and to educate her and her family on how to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Milagro’s dream is to celebrate her fifteenth birthday in a dress purchased from a regular department store instead of a big and tall shop. To achieve this goal, Torres and her team design a rigorous exercise routine and diet plan for the girl and her family and help them implement dramatic changes in their daily habits.
“Milagro’s case is representative of the large majority of Hispanic families,” commented Torres. “We are working moms, and because we don’t have a lot time we often turn to fast food. In this documentary we try to show that, as parents and as a community, we have to work hard to make a positive change in our children’s health and lifestyle. The support of the entire family is fundamental.”

All month, as part of its ongoing commitment to provide useful information and programs that reflect the needs, interests and concerns of Hispanic moms, Discovery Familia will air public service announcements to educate viewers about the symptoms of diabetes, risk factors for developing the disease, and the best ways to prevent and control it. In addition to these spots, the channel has created a microsite with helpful resources and diabetes-related content on its webpage, www.discoveryfamilia.com.

“Crecer en forma con Jeannette Torres” premieres during Discovery Familia’s Saturday medical segment, which airs every Saturday at 9 PM E/P and features health-related programs and series such as “Enfrentando mis traumas,” “No sabia que estaba embarazada” and “Dame un remedio.”