A Research on Obesity and Diabetes Plaguing African-American Women

I am going to discuss the issue of obesity among American minorities. Elma Dieppa, cousin of Helen Casillas, still wonders if her beloved family member would be alive today if she had been more conscious of her weight contribution to her diabetes. "She refused to take care of herself by not watching what she consumed or finding time during her day to exercise," Dieppa explains, reminiscing her as the “life of the party” during family reunions. At the age of 44, Casillas unfortunately suffered a fatal heart attack. Although Casillas worked in the medical field, the perception of her disease was skewed believing that she was not in fact over

Children and adolescents, their health is of the most upmost importance. The child is impacting through everything they do in their lives and everything that they come face to. One of these factors that come into play into a child’s life is Obesity. Most importantly the racial and ethnic disparities that involve Obesity. Unless this issue of this inclining obesity is addressed, there will be assumptions that the amount of years a person will live will surely decline (Johnson, 2012). Obesity is a killer as it is the secondary killer and could well be our first if the people don’t take action (Johnson, 2012). Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease as well as asthma and diabetes (Johnson, 2012). Seventeen percent of young adults in the USA today are obese (Rossen, 2014). The commonness of obesity has escalated throughout the years in Children and Young adults that were being seen in Adults (Caprio et al., 2008). There are many disparities in which affect children in every way but the one that affects the obesity in childhood is racial and ethnic disparities. The amount of obesity in childhood is increasing in all ethnic and racial groups but it is found that nonwhite population have the most amount of Obesity (Caprio et al., 2008). The Mexican- American and non-Hispanic black children have a heavier load to carry as of racial and ethnic subgroups (Rossen, 2014). As children are expose to different physical and social environments, they are wide-open to different

Obesity in pregnant women is a global concern. In The United States, obesity is a critical public health issue—one in every three women is obese (Masho, et al). This issue becomes crucial in the context that 36% of pregnant women in the United States are obese (Shub, et al). Studies show a strong association between maternal obesity and health risks during pregnancy and labor. In addition, a disconnect in perception and awareness exists such that most obese pregnant women who gain weight during pregnancy underestimate their Body Mass Index (BMI); and also have poor knowledge about the risk associated with obesity.

Despite the well-publicized health and emotional consequences of obesity, a successful weight-loss industry, and a high rate of voluntary dieting, the prevalence of obesity in African American women continues to increase. For the most part, African American women are aware of the serious health risks related to obesity. Honest attempts to diet and exercise properly usually resulted in gaining of the weight loss and additional pounds in the process. A limited number of studies suggest that African American women maybe less motivated to control their weight because of culturally determined, permissive attitudes toward obesity (Kumanyika & Guilford-Davis, 1993). In fact a select few of obese African

The research was done in North Carolina in December 3, 2012 and consisted of 92 African American women. Their objective was to identify the association between nutrition knowledge, body mass index and diet quality. They documented that African American are prone to health disparities and low socioeconomic status (SES) contributed a major part. The most common barrier to consuming a healthy diet was the high cost of healthy food. Poor dietary intake among low income African American was a major reason for the higher obesity rate in that minority group. (Acheampong & Haldeman, 2013). Burke and Heiland did another research explaining gender-specific racial difference in obesity, using biased self-reports of food intake and physical activity. The authors used data form the NHANES surveys to perform a gender-specific obesity in order to determine the extent to food intake and physical activity. The research was a cross-sectional study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that included BMI and information regarding socio-economic behavioral characteristics through in-person interviews. They found out that among African women, lower level of physical activity contributed to higher obesity prevalence. In addition, higher caloric intake

Heart disease is the number one killer of women and the leading cause of death in African-American women.1 African-American women have higher rates of heart disease with earlier onset and more severe complications than women from other ethnicities. A common strategy to address the increase incidence of heart disease in African-American females is by changing their behavioral attitudes towards diet and physical activity. The Heart Truth, a science-based health education program launched in 2002, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), a part of the National Institutes of Health, helps increase awareness about heart disease and its risk factors in women.2 It also aims at educating and motivating the women to take action

Unfortunately, childhood overweight and obesity rates in America have tripled the last three decades and tend to be much higher amongst African Americans. According to research done by UC Davis, “Nearly 40% of African American children are overweight or obese.”

In the United States, the process of childbirth is far more dangerous for African American women than it is for White women. For African American women, the path to a healthy birth is riddled with barriers. There are many health disparities between the two races. African American women face much higher low-birth and infant mortality rates; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published that although infant mortality rates in the U.S. have dropped by over 10% in the past ten years, a large gap continues to exist between the health of the races during the entire childbirth process. (World Health Organization, 2010) In the United States, Black infants are more than twice as likely to die within the first year of life as a White infant, and this disparity has not seen advancements in the last century. Many of these deaths can be attributed to low birth weight, and preterm birth among black infants.

Besides these organizations, the American Pregnancy Helpline and Prenatal Care Medline Plus are direct resources that low-income African American women can call for help (Bowser). Both these systems host a variety of links and follow up guidelines on how to deal with certain conditions; how to become better informed about care services; and how to receive financial and structural aid for pregnancy.

Despite the well-publicized health and emotional consequences of obesity, a successful weight-loss industry, and a high rate of voluntary dieting, the prevalence of obesity in African American women continued to increase. For the most part, African American women are aware of the serious health risks related to obesity. Honest attempts to diet and exercise properly usually resulted in gaining of the weight loss and additional pounds in the process. A limited number of studies suggest that African American women maybe less motivated to control their weight because of culturally determined, permissive attitudes toward obesity (Kumanyika & Guilford-Davis, 1993). In fact a select few of obese

Fried chicken, mash potatoes and collard greens mixed with fatback meat was my family’s favorite Sunday meal. Soul food, as it has been called, is valued by many African American families. Given the worldwide obesity epidemic that appears to be affecting most ethnic groups, there is an appreciation that the causes of obesity among African American families and others must lie in the fundamental aspects of the food supply (Capers, C et al. 2011). In my opinion, African Americans in the United Sates are more likely to be obese because there is a large number of low-income families’ and many are uninsured. According to the Office of Minority Health, African American women have the highest rates of being obese compared to other groups in

Obesity is one of the most rapidly growing health epidemics in the United States and affects more than 60 million people. Despite recent efforts to understand and treat obesity, there has been little success in reversing the rising trend. There is convincing evidence that obesity is directly related to many health risks. As a matter of fact, morbidly obese people are at a high risk for weight related illnesses, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease. However, research confirms that long-term weight loss success can help to significantly reduce these weight related health risks (Brethauer).

The article shows a correlation between the lack of prenatal care with infant mortality, and inadequate prenatal care with low birth-weight. Additionally, White women who delivered on a private service and received inadequate prenatal care experienced only slightly risk of low birth-weight. On the other hand, White and Black women who delivered on general service and received inadequate prenatal care experienced significantly higher risk of low birth-weight.

The Shape Program was a18-month randomized controlled trial of a weight gain prevention intervention for overweight black female patients in the primary care setting. Total participants was 194 black women aged 25 to 44 years with a BMI of 25-34.9 kg/m2. At baseline, participants were mostly employed and low-income, almost half of the sample reported a diagnosis of hypertension 12% reported a diagnosis of diabetes/prediabetes. Participants were randomized either to usual care group or to a 12-month intervention group.

| Weaknesses * Slow Weight Loss * Costly over time * Successful weight loss is not typical