LIVING
WELL
He Did It. And You Can, Too‌ How Bishop Gregory Davis went from fat to fit
Challenging Condition Kidney transplant recipient Sheila Jackson helps others cope with kidney disease
Shame Them? Blame Them?
Teen pregnancy ads shame and insult teen girls
Slow Down on the Salt!
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2 LivingWELL • March 2013
This month, I’ve been introduced to two inspiring men whose approaches toward maintaining healthier lifestyles are as unique as their personalities. There’s something absolutely relatable about David Murray, the social media manager for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), who unapologetically posted a personal health pledge clad in a White Castle t-shirt on his company website. Worth following, Murray’s humorous look inside his efforts to maintain a healthier lifestyle can be found on BCBSM’s A Healthier Michigan site, as well as on Twitter and Facebook posts throughout the year. In addition to Murray’s lighter approach toward health and wellness, we are confident that readers will discover easy-to-implement tips and tools to support their own health improvement plans.
We hope that readers will find equal inspiration in Bishop Gregory Davis’ weight loss story featured in this month’s edition of LivingWELL, which chronicles the bishop’s journey away from harmful habits toward health. Written in his own words, Bishop Davis’ narrative provides a living example of the power that faith and determination can have in our lives. These two men’s vastly different approaches toward wellness are centered on a common goal — self responsibility. And that’s a good message for us all.
Jackie Berg, Publisher, LivingWELL Magazine Editor’s Note: Readers can join David Murray’s healthy journey at: www.ahealthiermichigan.org/healthymurr. Follow his progress on Twitter through the #HealthyMurr.
He Did It. And You Can Too…
How Bishop Gregory Davis went from fat to fit Bishop Gregory Davis is a living example of the power that faith and determination can have in our lives. This week, the 50-year old author, recording artist, producer and Impact Network host, who once topped the scale at 248 pounds, agreed to share his own personal weight loss journey with our readers in the hope that they too will be inspired to bring their bodies into the Divine Order of God. These are his words. This is his story. - Editor
The TradiTion It was a tradition . . . two fried, smothered pork chops, a double side of rice, candied yams, blackeyed peas, macaroni and cheese, with a side of barbecue sauce. I topped it off with a large sweet tea. I ate this every Wednesday before Bible Class. It is a wonder that I could get up, stand up in the pulpit, and teach with such power and anointing after physically being weighed down with all this food. But this was not just a “Wednesday Ritual.” No, I ate all sorts of fried foods and cake. I thought I was doing my body a favor by drinking Sprite because there was nothing wrong with clear sodas. So I thought! I did
10 LivingWELL • March 2013
LIVING
WELL
Continue the conversation at AHealthierMichigan.org
Jackie Berg Publisher 313.963.6694 Direct Line 313.962.4467 FAX jackie.berg@michronicle.com
Editor Andrew Losen Design Director Raymond Allen
Contributors Grace A. Derocha Bishop Gregory Davis Denene Milner Sterlilng Wise Clyde Warren Yancy, M.D. March 2013 • LivingWELL 3
Is Your Child At Risk For
Type 2 Diabetes?
By Grace A. Derocha Children today are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes more frequently than ever before. Michigan ranks 15th in the nation for prevalence of diabetes, and diagnoses have increased by 15 percent in the last five years. In fact, diabetes is now considered to be one of the most common chronic diseases in children and adolescents. Like many chronic diseases, some groups, including African Americans, have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Wondering how to determine whether your child could potentially be affected by this preventable disease? If your child is overweight or obese, his or her risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes increases dramatically.
What you need to know about type 2 diabetes The American Diabetes Association defines diabetes as a group of diseases characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from the body’s inability to produce enough insulin or use it effectively. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Type 2 diabetes, previously referred to as adult-onset diabetes, is the most common form. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Before 1990, type 2 diabetes was rarely seen in children. Since then, the number of diagnoses in children each year has increased at a rapid rate – a trend doctors believe to be the result of the high prevalence of obesity in youth. As more children become obese, the number of children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes increases at a similar rate. Untreated diabetes can be extremely dangerous and even fatal, so it is important for parents to be aware of some of the warning signs associated with this disease.
Here’s what to be on the lookout for: •Extreme thirst
•Heavy, labored breathing
•Frequent urination
•Stupor, unconsciousness
•Sudden vision change
•Frequent infections
•Sugar in urine
•Blurred vision
• Fruity, sweet or wine-like odor on breath
•Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
•Increased appetite
• Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
•Sudden weight loss
• Recurring skin, gum or bladder infections
•Drowsiness, lethargy People with diabetes often display no early warning signs, making it extremely important to consult with your doctor to determine if you have diabetes. Remember - you do have control by making healthy choices – a valuable lifestyle you can, and should, share with your children. Families can help prevent childhood obesity, and even type 2 diabetes, by encouraging everyone to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diet. It is also important to choose whole grains and lean protein sources when planning meals. Portion control is a key component to a healthy lifestyle, along with plenty of exercise and daily, physical activity. Editor’s Note: Grace A. Derocha is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Continue the conversation at AHealthierMichigan.org
4 LivingWELL • March 2013
One day your weight will catch up with you. MAKE TODAY THE DAY YOU PUT YOURSELF FIRST AND LOSE 10%.
DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES
“Diabetic adults die of heart disease two to four times more than those without diabetes.” – David Lanfear, M.D., Henry Ford Cardiologist and Study Author
Diabetic Medication May Protect Patients from Developing Heart Failure LivingWELL Staff Report A class of medications commonly prescribed to lower blood sugar in diabetic patients appears to protect them from developing heart failure, according to a study at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. “People with diabetes are at risk for developing heart failure,” says Henry Ford researcher and cardiologist David Lanfear, M.D., lead author of the study. “Diabetic adults die of heart disease two to four times more than those without diabetes. “Our study data suggest that diabetic patients taking a particular class of medications are less likely to develop heart failure,” adds Dr. Lanfear. The results were presented March 10 at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting in San Francisco. There are more than 25 million adults and children in the U.S. with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. The ADA estimates that nearly 80 million people may be pre-diabetic, with nearly two million new cases diagnosed in adults in 2010. In 2007, diabetes contributed to a total of 231,404 deaths. The retrospective study looked at 4,427 diabetic patients who were taking blood-sugar-
lowering medications at Henry Ford Hospital between January 1, 2000 and July 1, 2012. Of these patients, 1,488 were taking GLP-1 medications (glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors) and 2,939 were not. Over an observation time of 663 days, there were 281 hospitalizations, of which 184 were due to heart failure, and 158 deaths. Results were adjusted for factors such as gender, age, race, coronary disease, heart failure, duration o f diabetes, and the number of anti-diabetic medications, in order to identify the effect specifically attributable to taking GLP-1 medications. The researchers also looked at hospitalizations and deaths from all causes. Use of GLP1 medications was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization for heart failure or any other reason, as well as fewer deaths. “These preliminary results look very promising,” says Dr. Lanfear. “However this was a retrospective study and this subject needs further investigation.” The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and Henry Ford Health System.
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TREATED FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
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HAS A HEART ATTACK
FINDS CANCER
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Losing just 10% of your body weight decreases your risk of chronic conditions, like heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer. Make today the day you put yourself and your future first, for once. Take the pledge to lose 10% today and get the support you need to change your life at www.michigan.gov/mihealthiertomorrow.
Rick Snyder, Governor James K. Haveman, Director
March 2013 • LivingWELL 5
5
Five Exercise Myths That Keep You Fat By Sterling Wise, NASM-CPT There are plenty of exercise misconceptions out in the world, some of which may be holding you back from your best body. Do the following 5 exercise myths sound familiar? This may be exactly what you need to hear.
1) Exercise on an empty stomach burns more fat. This theory says that if there’s no fuel in your body to burn then you’ll end up burning fat, but research has proven otherwise. Instead of pulling the energy from stored fat, there’s a better chance that your body will look to energy in your bloodstream and muscle stores. Further drawbacks to exercising on an empty stomach include shortened workouts due to lack of stamina, and dizziness or nausea from low blood sugar. Instead of going hungry, enjoy a small, nutritious snack about 90 minutes before you exercise.
2) Cardio is more effective for weight loss than weights. For some reason women seem to love the idea that they will burn more fat by running on a treadmill than by lifting dumbbells. Sorry ladies, but cardio alone is never as effective as a routine that also includes resistance training. Strength training is essential for building lean tissue, which increases your metabolism and decreases your body fat. If your goal is weight loss, then make friends with some dumbbells.
3) If you exercise enough, then you can eat anything you want. This myth makes me cringe, as I’ve seen so many people throw away their hard-earned fitness results by overeating. Even if you exercise daily at an intense rate, your diet still matters. To top it off, most people overestimate how many calories they burn as well as underestimating how many calories they are eating. This can be a fattening combo. For best results, maintain a calorie-controlled diet filled with fresh, wholesome ingredients. 6 LivingWELL • March 2013
4) For optimal fat burn, exercise longer at a low intensity. Wouldn’t it be nice if this one were true? Then instead of pushing it hard in the gym we could all simply go for a nice, long stroll to burn fat. Umm, usually if something sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is too good to be true. Intensity matters when it comes to getting great results, so challenge yourself.
5) Unless you exercise often, exercise is a waste of time. I hear this myth in the form of an excuse from people who haven’t started an exercise program due to the idea that they won’t be able to exercise enough to make it count. Research continues to prove that any exercise is better than zero exercise. So you can only exercise once a week? Do it. Any exercise is better than zero exercise. Editor’s note: To reach author and fitness consultant Sterling Wise call 313.444.9348.
Hold on to Your Heart (Health)! 9 Out Of 10 Blacks With High Blood Pressure Will Suffer Early Heart Disease By Clyde Warren Yancy, M.D. High blood pressure is strongly associated with heart disease in black Americans, new research shows. Researchers looked at 161 people who came to a single emergency department. More than 93 percent of the patients were black. None of the people in the study had symptoms or a history of heart disease, but 94 percent had a history of high blood pressure, or hypertension. However, what was disturbing was the fact that echocardiograms (an image of the heart) revealed that nearly 91 percent of the patients had the beginnings of heart disease despite the lack of symptoms. Most of the patients with heart disease had diastolic dysfunction, which means that the heart had a reduced ability to pump blood to the body, brain and lungs. “These results Clyde Warren Yancy, M.D. present a tremendous opportunity to screen for heart disease before it becomes symptomatic, especially in a population with high rates of hypertension,” lead author Dr. Phillip Levy, of the department of emergency medicine at Wayne State University in Detroit, said in a journal news release. “If we can detect incipient
heart disease early, we have a better shot at treating it before it turns into a full-blown health emergency. Our study is also a strong reminder that emergency patients with chronic disease — in this case, hypertension — are generally a high-risk group,” he noted. Levy urged emergency physicians to address high blood pressure with patients. “Blood pressure readings are taken for every patient in the [emergency department]. By not just taking in new information, but also acting on it, we can substantively contribute to . . . disease prevention efforts,” he said.
Nearly 91 percent of the patients had the beginnings of heart disease despite the lack of symptoms.
The study was published online in the Annals of Emergency Medicine Editor’s Note: Dr. Clyde Warren Yancy is a regular blogger on blackdoctor.org, an editorial partner of LivngWELL Magazine, a professor of internal medicine, and award-winning cardiologist. In 2006, Yancy became the medical director of the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute in Dallas, and the head of the center’s heart and lung transplant program. The American Heart Association named Dr. Yancy National Physician of the Year in 2003. Dr. Yancy, in addition to serving on the editorial board of the Journal of Cardiac Failure, also authored the Role of Race in Heart-Failure Therapy.
March 2013 • LivingWELL 7
CC
hallenging
Kidney transplant recipient Sheila Jackson helps others cope with kidney disease
ondition By Jackie Berg
For the more than 80,000 Americans currently on the national waiting list for a kidney transplant, the need for immediate action is real. For Sheila Jackson, the need became urgent almost immediately. Jackson was diagnosed with Focal Segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) — a form of kidney disease found in about one third of cases diagnosed the U.S. — at the age of 17. Researchers put FSGS in two categories: primary and secondary. Jackson’s case is classed as a primary, which means that it happened on its own, for no obvious reason. For the majority of other cases, causes include kidney defects from birth, urine backing up into the kidneys, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, sickle cell anemia and viruses, such as HIV.
LISTED
“I stopped fighting the condition and learned to do everything I could delay (my) kidney failure.” – Sheila Jackson, transplant recipient
Stunned with the diagnosis, Jackson and her family quickly discovered that she counted among the more than 300 Americans diagnosed with kidney disease that day. In Michigan, although African Americans make up only 14 percent of the general population, they make up 45 percent of the dialysis population and 46 percent of the kidney transplant waiting list. Although daunted, Jackson faced her condition head-on. While doctors told her that she could expect to experience kidney failure within five to seven years of her initial diagnosis, she was determined to live her life as normally as she could for as long as possible.
8 LivingWELL • March 2013
The Jackson Family
Jackson quickly learned the dos and don’ts of managing
kidney disease, including the importance of taking prescribed medications on schedule, seeing her doctors regularly, getting plenty of rest and exercise and managing her stress levels — including her parents understandable need to “over-protect” her. “I found a new ‘normal’ in my life,” she states. “I stopped fighting the condition and learned to do everything I could delay (my) kidney failure.”
Chronic Kidney Disease Fact Sheet
Despite getting tripped up and faltering in other areas, Jackson consistently maintained her regularly scheduled appointments with her doctors, who carefully monitored her kidney function, blood pressure (hypertension) and blood sugar (diabetes) which, left uncontrolled, can hasten kidney failure.
DATING & DIALYSIS Jackson, a typical teen, lived life to its fullest. She graduated high school and enrolled in college, where she faced the normal challenges of campus life and the beginning stages of kidney failure, which caused waste products and extra fluids to accumulate in her blood.
“We’ve become even closer as a result of his (Jason Jackson) selfless act, and because I was able to undergo a successful kidney transplant, we were able to have our son Donavan.”
By her senior year of college, Jackson managed a typical course load while undergoing dialysis three times a week in order to maintain the functions her kidney could no longer support — from removing the build-up of waste, salt and extra water in her body and helping control her blood pressure to keeping her potassium, sodium and bicarbonate levels safe. “You have to stay on top of this condition regardless what stage of kidney disease you are experiencing,” says Jackson, who got engaged and married her husband following her graduation from Wayne State University.
MARRIAGE, MOTHERHOOD & A MATCH! Not long after completing her bridal registry, Jackson’s doctors informed her that her kidneys were failing and added her to the national kidney donor registry. The (then) 25 year old wife who often avoided asking others for help and support was now in desperate need of a very personal donation — a kidney. Although many of Jackson’s family members and friends willingly lined-up to be tested, none proved to be a match for her. But her husband Jason did. “I did not want to ask Jason or anyone to make this kind of sacrifice for me,” says Jackson. “But he did and it has turned out to be the greatest gift in our life. We’ve become even closer as a result of his selfless act, and because I was able to undergo a successful kidney transplant, we were able to have our son Donavan.”
MOVING FORWARD Today, Jackson happily works for the Michigan Kidney Foundation, helping others better understand how to prevent kidney disease and, if diagnosed, how to live with the condition. Jason and Sheila Jackson
“I’ve been blessed to have been given 10 additional years of life thanks to my husband’s donation and hope to have many more,” says Jackson.
“For many people, kidney disease is an avoidable condition,” she states. “I share my story in hope that those that can prevent the disease do all that they can to avoid it. And for those facing the disease, I hope that my story provides inspiration that it is a manageable condition.” “Life is a gift,” she concludes. “We need to do all we can to experience every moment that it has to offer.” Editor’s Note: For additional information and resources visit the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan at: www.nkfm.org
Definition – Chronic Kidney Disease Chronic kidney disease is permanent kidney damage or decreased level of kidney function for three months or more. If left untreated, chronic kidney disease can lead to total kidney failure, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival.
Statistics • 26 million American adults (age 20+) have chronic kidney disease. • More than 900,000 Michigan adults (age 20+) have chronic kidney disease. • In Michigan, African Americans make up only 14 percent of the general population, yet make up 45 percent of the dialysis population, and 46 percent of the kidney transplant waiting list. • As the incidence of obesity in children increases, so does the rate of type 2 diabetes, which is a leading cause of kidney failure. One in three kids born in 2000 will develop diabetes. • More than 2,500 people were waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant in Michigan on March 1, 2013. Detection and Prevention • Many adults with chronic kidney disease do not even know it – there are little or no symptoms in the early stages, people are not visiting their physicians regarding the illness, and many are not educated on the risk factors or the detection steps they should take. • In 2010, diabetes and high blood pressure caused more than 71% of all kidney failure cases in Michigan. Diabetes alone caused 42% of all cases. • 71 percent of kidney failure cases in Michigan caused by diabetes and/or high blood pressure could have been prevented or delayed. • Ask your doctor to calculate your glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from the results of a simple blood test. GFR can tell your doctor what your level of kidney function is. Risk Factors • Individuals with diabetes and high blood pressure are at higher risk. • Older individuals, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and Arab Americans are at increased risk for developing chronic kidney disease. • African Americans are four times more likely to develop kidney failure from diabetes than Caucasians. • African Americans are 6.5 times more likely to develop kidney failure from high blood pressure than Caucasians. March 2013 • LivingWELL 9
He Did It. And You Can Too…
How Bishop Gregory Davis went from fat to fit Bishop Gregory Davis is a living example of the power that faith and determination can have in our lives. This week, the 50-year old author, recording artist, producer and Impact Network host, who once topped the scale at 248 pounds, agreed to share his own personal weight loss journey with our readers in the hope that they too will be inspired to bring their bodies into the divine order of God. These are his words. This is his story. - Editor
The Tradition It was a tradition . . . two fried, smothered pork chops, a double side of rice, candied yams, blackeyed peas, macaroni and cheese, with a side of barbecue sauce. I topped it off with a large sweet tea. I ate this every Wednesday before Bible Class. It is a wonder that I could get up, stand up in the pulpit, and teach with such power and anointing after physically being weighed down with all this food. But this was not just a “Wednesday Ritual.” No, I ate all sorts of fried foods and cake. I thought I was doing my body a favor by drinking Sprite because there was nothing wrong with clear sodas. So I thought! I did
10 LivingWELL • March 2013
It is a wonder that I could get up, stand up in the pulpit and teach with such power and anointing after physically being weighed down with all this food. this for several years, not taking any consideration or thought to what damage I could be doing to my body.
THE TIPPING POINT I was obese, tipping the scales at 248 pounds. And sadly, it did not matter to me. Like most people, things did not really hit home for me until something happened. For me, that something was type 2 diabetes.
DODGING DIABETES As is the case with most people, a change in my body’s normal ‘state’ caused me to seek advice from my doctor, whose tests confirmed that I had type 2 diabetes. Although medication is always the recommended course of treatment in cases of hyper-elevated blood sugar levels like mine, I chose to address my weight-induced diabetes head on — through exercise and lifestyle changes alone. It was a risky decision that required immediate changes in my everyday habits. So I went to work.
DOCTORS ORDERS I began the process listening to my doctor’s advice to start eating good foods and eliminating the unhealthy habits. I was given a list of foods to avoid, proper portion control, and an exercise routine that needed to be followed despite the demands associated with my ministry, TV show, radio appearances and travel. Although it was extremely difficult, I followed his guidelines daily. By my next doctor’s visit, my blood sugar had dropped down within a normal range thanks to my 15 pound weight loss.
A DISCIPLINED DISCIPLE The urgency of my medical condition required incredible self discipline devoid of excuses and days off. Over time, I learned to embrace it and make it my friend. And, as a result, I’ve only missed 5 days of exercise since I began my quest. While it wasn’t always the case, exercise has become an enjoyable part of my daily life. I’ve also learned better self-control. I choose not to ‘reward’ myself with unhealthy snacks or succumb to days of eating whatever I want. Of course, I’ve been tempted to stray, but my commitment (and fear) kept me focused. Breaks in routines only lead to temptation, which threatens to disrupt success.
SWAG Bishop Gregory Davis’ book How I Did It! is available on Amazon. To contact Bishop Davis, follow him on Twitter @bishopgregdavis
Discipline is required in all aspects of life. Never take a day off from doing the right thing and you will be rewarded. I’ve ditched old habits and acquired new swag. For the first time in many years, I’m able to buy clothes off the rack. I enjoy clearer thought, easier breathing, and don’t experience chest pain or tightening before or after preaching.
March 2013 • LivingWELL 11
The Choice is Easy I travel several times weekly without the luxury of a personal chef or access to a kitchen stocked with fresh foods, so I have learned to make good food selections when eating out. I typically eat oatmeal for breakfast, plenty of salads, chicken and salmon for my meals. Snacks consist of nuts and graham crackers with fruit in moderation. I’ve learned that restaurants will respond to food preparation requests, but you do have to speak up and ask.
Switch up Your Routine Exercising in different locations and in different ways is necessary for me because I bore easily. I focus on a combination of walking and running on the treadmill, the elliptical machine and outdoor exercise. Changes in scenery keep my interest and make it easier to stick to a daily routine. Find out what works for you and stick with it. You can do it!
Strive for Success When you feel challenged, it is good to remind yourself that God left you here with a purpose. There is vision on the inside of you. There is destiny inside of you. And you will succeed against the odds. I did, and you can, too.
Something has to break down in order for us to seek help or even begin to think about the consequences of our actions.
Starting Weight: 248 Current Weight: 178 The loss of as little as 10 percent of your body weight can make significant changes in your health, improving blood pressure, lowering cholesterol levels, improving heart health and decreasing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Ask Bishop Gregory Davis, who lost more than 70 pounds in a seven month period reversing his once life threatening blood sugar levels and lowering obesity-related health risks. His weight loss plan included; ■ Following (his) doctor’s advice ■ Exercising daily ■ Eliminating sugary drinks ■ Increasing water intake ■ Eliminating fatty and high calorie foods ■ Eliminating fried foods ■ Eliminating desserts ■ Eliminating “whites” (bread, pasta, rice, sugar) ■ Increasing frequency of meals (3 meals and 3 snacks daily) ■ Increasing intake of salads and proteins (chicken, eggs, fish) Editor’s Note: Medical experts recommend a weight loss goal of 1 to 2 pounds per week. Please consult your physician before starting a new diet or exercise program. 12 LivingWELL • March 2013
SlowonDown LivingWELL Staff Report
In recognition of National Kidney month and National Nutrition month, we asked experts to demystify the connection between salt, high blood pressure, heart disease and kidney disease and about the all important question: how much (salt) is too much? Salt, made up of sodium and chloride, is both good and bad for our bodies. Our body needs sodium to balance fluids and help nerve and muscle function. Traffic Cops
Our kidneys act as our bodies’ traffic cops, controlling the amount of sodium in our body. When we retain more sodium than our kidneys can get rid of, it builds up in our blood, holding excess fluid in our blood. This can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension), which makes our hearts work harder.
There’s a high correlation between eating too much salts and raised blood pressure levels, according to research.
Age Matters Blood pressure normally rises with age. The recommended sodium intake is about one teaspoon (2,300 milligrams) of salt per day, but for African Americans, particularly those with high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease or diabetes, the recommendation drops to 1,500 milligrams daily. If we cut our salt consumption to just 1 teaspoon of salt a day, we would save at least 500,000 lives in the U.S. over the next decade, according to new research released by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Help with Healthy Habits Area healthcare provider Health Alliance Plan is offering its “ A Taste of Health” low-sodium cooking classes beginning March 27 for anyone interested in learning more about how to prepare flavorful, low-salt meals. It also introduced its no cost Speakers Bureau to area organizations, which provides health experts to speak on issues such as kidney disease, heart health, healthy eating, low-sodium diets, and weight management. “National Nutrition Month and National Kidney Month are good reminders to take steps today that can help prevent serious diseases in the future,” said Terri Kachadurian, director, Worksite Wellness and Member Engagement Programs at HAP. “Healthy choices, like passing on processed foods that are packed with sodium, can reduce our risk of high blood pressure and diabetes – the two most important risk factors for kidney disease.” Cutting down on salt in your cooking doesn’t have to mean giving up flavor. By replacing salt with other seasonings and herbs, you can take dishes from dull to delicious. Editor’s Note: LivingWELL will feature tasty, low-salt recipes this month. To see recipes and other articles visit: www. michiganchronicle.com. If you would like additional information about programs supported by HAP, visit: www.hap.org. March 2013 • LivingWELL 13
The Blog Log
Shame Them?
Blame Them? NYC Teen Pregnancy Ads Try To Shame and Insult Teen Girls Into Not Having Babies
By Denene Milner
Well yeah, this makes all the sense in the world: New York City’s Human Resources Administration is going all in with a new “straight talk” campaign that uses ads and text messages to stereotype, ridicule and ostracize teenagers into waiting to have babies—a tactic Mayor Bloomberg and other city officials think will totally stop teen pregnancy. The ads feature images of crying babies—most of them children of color—alongside messages like, “Honestly, Mom… Chances are he won’t stay with you. What happens to me?” and “I’m twice as likely not to graduate high school because you had me as a teen.” They also encourage readers to text “NOTNOW” to 877877 “for the real cost of teen pregnancy,” where teens are directed to choose an “adventure game” that spits out “scenarios about Anaya being ignored by her ‘baby daddy’ and shunned by her parents,” including one in which “Anaya” asks users if she should go to the prom with her boyfriend Louis despite that she’s pregnant and will “look HUGE in my dress.” Advise Anaya to go to the prom and her response is, “My BFF called me a ‘fat loser’ at prom. I was devastated.” Dead serious. Bloomberg insists the campaign will make “very clear to young people that there’s a lot at stake when it comes to deciding to raise a child.”
Judging, lecturing, shaming and stereotyping teenagers— pregnant or no—gets them, their babies and us absolutely nowhere.
“By focusing on responsibility and the importance of education, employment and family in providing children with the emotional and financial support they need, we’ll let thousands of young New Yorkers know that waiting to [become] a parent could be the best decision they ever made.” Of course, an even better way to help teenagers
14 LivingWELL • March 2013
make rational decisions about sex and its consequences would be to both educate them about and give them access to quality reproductive health care and affordable, effective birth control—tactics that youth advocates who actually work with and have the trust of teens say are much more effective than awkward, goofy, out-of-touch bus and subway ads and cellphone “adventure” games that shame teen moms in general and black teens and single mothers in particular. “The latest NYC ad campaign creates stigma, hostility and negative public opinions about teen pregnancy and parenthood rather than offering alternative aspirations for young people,” said Haydee Morales, vice president of education and training at Planned Parenthood of New York City. “The City’s money would be better spent helping teens access health care, birth control and high-quality sexual and reproductive health education, not an ad campaign intended to create shock value.” Truth is, New York City’s been doing a damn good job of reducing teen pregnancy within its borders; the Department of Health and mental Hygiene recently reported a 27 percent reduction in teen pregnancy rates over the last 10 years, with about 72 pregnancies per 1,000 girls. Advocates credit the drop to the city’s comprehensive sex ed in classrooms and onsite clinics in some public schools where teens can get information, emergency contraceptives, birth control, pregnancy tests and confidential referrals. For the 20,000 per year who do end up pregnant, the last thing they need is naysayers telling them they screwed up and that they and their kids are going to be nothing more than abject failures sucking the life out of “the system.” Natasha Vianna, a former teen mother, laid this point out beautifully by recounting her own experience on The Push Back, a blog hosted by the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy: “As a teen mom, my life has seen some insanely high peaks of hell and it wasn’t because of my pregnancy or motherhood, it was because of the crappy experiences I had to endure with people who were (and still are) judgmental and bitter. When I wanted to apply for college in high school, my guidance counselor told me not to bother – that I should focus on trying to graduate high school first and apply to a community college if that even happened. When I turned to people for support, they threw statistics into my face and told me I was what these very ads portrayed. I wasn’t. I’m not. And most teen moms aren’t. Until today, I still hear the ‘Well, you should have thought about that before becoming a mom.’ “It’s this very concept of shaming teen moms that drives us into a deeper hole of isolation. I didn’t want to tell anyone that I was a teen mom, I didn’t want to ask for help, I refused to apply for any aid, and I put myself in unhealthy situations so I wouldn’t have to face the judgment of others. It was horrible. Yet, no one ever bothered to talk to me about the occurrences in my life that led up to my pregnancy. Or what my life was like before becoming a pregnant teen. No one knew that I was already depressed in high school. No one knew that I already faced many of the adversities that teen moms face, too. My life may have been exactly the same if I hadn’t become a teen mom, but no one cared to look at me until there was a baby involved (that no one really cared about either).” In other words, judging, lecturing, shaming and stereotyping teenagers—pregnant or no—gets them, their babies and us absolutely nowhere. Same for spreading subliminal messages that black fathers don’t ever support the women they impregnate, that the only way anyone can raise a smart, financially-stable, successful human being is to be heterosexual, educated and married, and that black women of childbearing age need to be bullied into planning their pregnancies. Acknowledging that teen pregnancy is an outcome, rather than a cause, of poverty and that the best way to keep teens from getting pregnant in the first place is to give them quality sex education, healthcare, contraception and a choice about when they’ll become parents goes a much longer way in keeping teen pregnancy numbers in check. Perhaps New York City could slap that on a billboard or two.
The last thing they need is naysayers telling them they screwed up and that they and their kids are going to be nothing more than abject failures sucking the life out of “the system.” Editor’s Note: Denene Milner is a LivingWELL Magazine editorial contributor and founder of My Brown Baby, an irreverent, funny website filled with posts that make you think and occasionally say “Amen” because it reminds you of what’s going on behind your closed door with your family. March 2013 • LivingWELL 15
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