Discovery Familia Expands Its Health Content Offering

MIAMI, May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mondays and Wednesdays are now health nights on Discovery Familia. The network has incorporated two nights of programming dedicated to physical and emotional health with a focus on problems with a disproportionate impact on the Hispanic community, among them heart disease, diabetes and obesity. The new format also includes the premiere of "Un minuto de salud" (One Minute Health), a series of informative on-air segments hosted by Dr. Selene Velasco, the network's new health expert.

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"We know that one of the problems affecting the U.S. Hispanic community is a lack of health information, especially with regard to preventive medicine. That is why we have designed programming that is entertaining but also provides objective information about issues ranging from alternative medicine, nutrition and mental health to disease prevention," said Bilai Joa Silar, Vice President of Content, Discovery Familia.

The "Lunes de Salud" (Health Mondays) and "Miercoles de Enigmas Medicos" (Medical Enigma Wednesdays) programming begins at 9PM E/P and includes some of the network's most popular series, including Detectives de salud (What is Good for You), Secretos de mi cuerpo (My Naked Secret), Pequenos milagros (Little Miracles) and Entre la vida y la muerte (Diagnosis: Dead or Alive), as well as new productions such as Embarazo secreto (Secretly Pregnant) and La bella y la bestia (Beauty and the Beast), premiering 5/22 and 6/17, respectively.

Also new on Discovery Familia, the "Un minuto de salud" capsules feature Dr. Selene Velasco, who presents health topics of special relevance to the Hispanic community, health news, medical trends and advances, and healthful lifestyle tips.  The shorts, airing during evening programming, feature titles such as Preventive Mastectomy, Gestational Diabetes, Losing Weight and the Power of Statins.

"I am very excited to be part of the Discovery Familia team and to be able to make a difference in our community," Dr. Selene Velasco expressed.  "Women have a fundamental role in family health, and I think that providing more information about preventive medicine will have a long-term impact on our lives.  As a doctor and mom to be, I feel I have a responsibility to offer Hispanic women useful and up-to-date information, and Discovery Familia is giving me the opportunity to do so."

About Dr. Selene

Dr. Selene Velasco brings to Discovery Familia years of experience in the field of general medicine with specialties in nutrition and chronic disease management (diabetes and hypertension). She completed her degree in family medicine at UCLA Santa Monica with a special interest in women's health. She has practiced international medicine and was at the epicenter of the H1N1 influenza outbreak in Mexico, where she has traveled frequently to provide primary care to underserved communities.  Dr. Velasco is now practicing as a faculty member of the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine as well as the Family Medicine Residency program, with a permanent position at the Los Angeles Department of Health Services. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles and is expecting her first child.

About the new programming:

Embarazo secreto - premiering Wednesday, 5/22 at 9PM E/P
Most women celebrate when they find out they are pregnant, but for others, it's the last thing they want to share with the world. Embarazo secreto (Secretly Pregnant) follows two women who have their own reasons for hiding a pregnancy from their family, friends, boyfriends, bosses, etc. – following them through the emotional revelation of their secret, and the aftermath that includes the birth of the baby.

La bella y la bestia – premiering Monday, 6/17 at 9PM E/P
Each episode of La bella y la bestia (Beauty and the beast) brings together two people who feel defined by the way they look - one has a facial disfigurement, the other an intense preoccupation with looking better every day. As well as a sensitive and compelling view of dealing with serious physical impairment, the show argues that the notion of spending vast amounts of money on looking good can also lead to unhappy consequences, both physically and mentally.

For more information about the theme nights, Discovery Familia programming 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 channel dedicated entirely to Hispanic mothers and the things that matter in their lives: their children, their homes and their time. During the day, the Discovery Kids block provides a safe environment for children aged 2-6 with entertaining, research-based programming to prepare them for the world around them. In the evening, the channel offers programming for moms, focusing on such topics as childcare, the home, food, health and beauty.  With trustworthy content and top-quality entertainment, Discovery Familia is a place for Hispanic moms and their children to call "home."  For more information, please visit our website, discoveryfamilia.com, or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/discoveryfamilia.

SOURCE Discovery Familia