The third installment of “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in the Levin Hall Auditorium at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. The award-winning series of seven documentaries explores how social conditions affect health.
“Becoming American,” the third episode of the series, focuses on the phenomenon of the “Hispanic Paradox.” Recent Mexican immigrants, although poorer, tend to be healthier than the average American. They have lower rates of death from heart disease, cancer and other illnesses, despite being less educated, earning less and having the stress of adapting to a new country and a new language. However, their initial health advantage erodes over time. After five years or more in America, they are 1.5 times more likely to have high blood pressure — and be obese — than when they arrived. Within one generation, their health is as poor as other Americans of similar income status. Moderator is Rebeca Wong, director of the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center on Aging and Health at UTMB.
“Unnatural Causes” continues on the UTMB campus through May 13. All sessions are free and open to the public.
Future topics are:
April 22: “Bad Sugar” with Dr. Kirk Smith and colleagues
April 29: “Place Matters” with Dr. Dayle Delancey
May 6: “Collateral Damage” with Dr. Jason Glenn
May 13: “Not Just a Paycheck” with Dr. Alexandra Nolen