MIAMI, Nov. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 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. Also available is the microsite www.discoveryfamilia.com/pala, featuring videos, health tips, easy and nutritious recipes, and other useful resources, such as a digital calculator to help measure calories.

"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."

To learn more about Discovery Familia programming, interactive games and channel news, please visit discoveryfamilia.com or follow us on facebook.com/discoveryfamilia.

About Discovery Familia
Part of Discovery Communications, Discovery Familia is the only Spanish language network completely dedicated to the Hispanic mom and what's important to her: her kids, her home and her well-being.   With insightful programming targeted to children aged 2-6, the network's daily Discovery Kids block provides a safe, entertaining and curriculum-based co-viewing experience that helps preschoolers get ready for the real world. Each night, Discovery Familia is programmed for mom, spanning relevant topics from cooking and home improvement, to parenting and relationships, to beauty and health.  With trusted content, entertaining programs and unmatched quality, Discovery Familia is a place that Hispanic moms and their children can call "home". For more information, visit discoveryfamilia.com or follow us on facebook.com/discoveryfamilia.

SOURCE Discovery Familia