Bridging Borders for Health: Noe Crespo’s Binational Research Tackles Chronic Disease

An SDSU binational and transformative research project bridges borders to promote lifelong physical activity and foster healthy lifestyles in underserved Latino families in the U.S.-Mexico border region.

The research project, led by Noe Crespo, a professor in SDSU’s School of Public Health, Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, and Daniela González Valencia, a professor in the Nutrition Program, School of Medicine at Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, aims to reduce chronic disease risk, such as heart disease and obesity, among disproportionately affected border populations.

 “Border populations face unique health challenges due to socio-cultural and environmental factors,” explains Crespo. “Our goal is to develop effective, sustainable solutions tailored to these contexts.”

 At the heart of the study is Athletes for Life (AFL), an evidence-based, culturally tailored program that engages school-aged children and their parents in structured physical activity and nutrition education.

“AFL is designed to be sustainable,” said Crespo. “We involve undergraduate and graduate students in partnerships with local Parks & Recreation centers and Mexicali’s Bienestar Social Municipal (BISOM).”

Over the next few years, the research team will enroll 290 parent-child pairs living in San Diego and Mexicali in a year-long AFL program, continuing to assess health impacts and sustainability.