Obesity is a health condition — not a failure of willpower.
The Latino Obesity Foundation provides culturally relevant, science-based education on obesity, healthy living, and treatment — so that Latino families can make informed decisions about their health with dignity and without shame.
What you will find here
- What obesity actually is, and why it is complex
- Why it affects Latino communities differently
- Everyday steps toward healthier living
- How obesity is treated today, and what to ask your doctor
- Trusted resources in English and Spanish
The numbers behind the mission
Every figure on this site is sourced and dated. Where estimates differ between surveys — for example, between self-reported and directly measured height and weight — we say so.
Education, prevention, and respect
The Latino Obesity Foundation works to advance health and well-being in Latino communities by addressing the root causes of obesity and promoting a comprehensive approach to prevention, education, and treatment.
We provide culturally relevant, science-based education on healthy eating, lifestyle, and obesity management — so that people can make informed choices that support long-term wellness.
Our vision is a community where people affected by obesity are treated with dignity and respect, have equal access to care, and are empowered to take control of their health.
Our commitments
- Culturally relevant education
- Educational resources on healthy eating, obesity prevention, and lifestyle management — grounded in current science, free from conflicts of interest, and built for the language and culture of the communities we serve.
- Healthy eating and sustainable habits
- Practical guidance toward whole, nutrient-dense foods and lifestyle changes people can actually keep, rather than short-term diets that are abandoned within months.
- Prevention and access to care
- Better understanding of preventive measures and supportive obesity treatment, with attention to the health disparities that affect Latino communities.
- Childhood obesity and family health
- Early habits shape lifelong health. We focus on family-centered education that helps parents and children build healthy foundations together.
- Respect, dignity, and empowerment
- A community where people affected by obesity find reliable information and support, and are treated with dignity rather than blame.
Where would you like to begin?
Three paths through the same idea: understand it, live it, treat it.
Understanding obesity
What obesity is, why biology and environment matter more than willpower, what BMI can and cannot tell you, and why weight stigma gets in the way of care.
Read the basicsObesity and Latino health
How obesity and related conditions — diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, fatty liver, sleep apnea — show up in Latino communities, and the barriers that affect care.
See the connectionHealthy living
Practical, realistic guidance on food, movement, sleep, and stress — including how to keep the foods your family loves and make them work for your health.
Get practicalObesity deserves the same seriousness as any other chronic condition
- Obesity is a complex, chronic condition that warrants science-based, comprehensive care.
- No one should face discrimination because of their weight or body size.
- There is no “one size fits all” approach — prevention and individualized care are both essential.
- Healthcare professionals should be able to have respectful, compassionate conversations about weight.
- People deserve education and resources in the language and cultural context they actually live in.
Latest articles
Plain-language education, sourced and dated, with no commercial influence.
Nine weight-loss myths, examined
The claims that sound like common sense, what the evidence actually shows, and why the difference matters.
Read the articleGLP-1 medications, explained
What this class of medicine is, how it works, what it does not do, and the questions to bring to your doctor.
Read the articleTalking with your doctor about weight
How to prepare for the visit, what to ask, and what to do when a conversation about weight goes badly.
Read the articleHelp us reach more families
We are building educational programs, community partnerships, and bilingual resources. If you are a healthcare professional, community organization, school, or neighbor who wants to help, we would like to hear from you.