Obesity is a world wide problem, however for this paper I will focus on Obesity in America and from my previous paper focus on obesity in my family, other families and what causes people to become obese, whether is financial reasons, environmental reason and genes passed on by family members. I found an article written by Ellen Granberg, she earned a Ph.D. in sociology from Vanderbilt University in 2001. She wrote an article about obesity and weight gain, I chose her article because she doesn’t only focus on Obesity and weight gain but she also talks about African Americans and I consider myself an African American as I am from Africa an to read about obesity as it relates to African American it gives me a better understanding of why most of African Americans are obese. Ellen’s article starts with consequences of obesity; she states that, “In the early 1980’s…to be overweight was to be consigned to a diminished social status with negative consequences for mental health, social standing, and life …show more content…
In contrast, those residents living in the least advantaged areas had, on average, less than one high value major chain grocery store within three miles of their homes. Interestingly, the average count of premium stores was substantially higher in the most disadvantaged areas of the FACHS sample.” Her analysis is factual in Oakland we only have one wholefoods catering to everyone who leaves in Oakland, if you leave in West Oakland wholefoods is a couple of miles away and if you do no have a car you will have to go shopping with public transportation which gives people a more reason not to go as it would require them to take multiple buses to get to
Obesity in America is a very serious problem affecting many Americans currently and is a problem that continues to grow each year. Obesity is a disorder involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems. I believe that obesity in America is a huge problem which is caused by a few factors. Obesity in America is a huge problem that continues to escalate due to fast food chains, lack of physical activity, and overeating.
Obesity was significantly more prevalent amongst female African Americans in this community. With the highest rate affecting women between the ages of 45 to 64. Obesity was also higher amongst Black females who’s educational attainment was lower
Obesity remains an extremely serious issue worldwide. Once considered a problem for wealthier counties, overweight and obesity are now dramatically increasing in low and middle income countries (WHO, 2011). In American, the rates of obesity continue to soar. CDC (2009) recognizes obesity as a risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other health problems. According to NHANES over two-thirds of the US are overweight or obese, and over one-third are obese (CDC, 2009). Treatment for this illness varies; it may include the incorporation of diet, exercise, behavior modification, medication, and surgery. Since there is no single cause of all overweight and obesity, there is no single way to prevent or treat overweight
Abstract: African American people have a high percentage of obesity compared to other ethnic groups. Social determinants of obesity in African American people include low socioeconomic status, limited access to affordable and healthy food, dietary behavior and food culture, lack of nutrition knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, higher exposure of marketing of less nutritious food and limited access to safe places to physically active. This research was done to see how these social determinants affect the obesity rate in African American people. Different researches were reviewed. The effects of above mentioned social determinants were observed and some recommendations are given in order to minimize the health disparities in low income African
Over the years obesity has become more and more prevalent in the United States. Currently, approximately 35% of Americans are obese. The Center for Disease Control statistics on obesity are alarming. They have reported the obesity rate to be higher in Non-Hispanic blacks than Hispanics. 47% to 42%, while 32.6% of Non-Hispanic whites are obese. In addition to ethnicity, the CDC looked at obesity among age groups. Obesity was found to be higher among middle-aged adults 40-59, rather than younger adults age 20-39. As far as socio-economic groups were considered, Non-Hispanic black and Mexican American men with higher incomes are more likely to be obese than those with low income. When genders were factored in, the opposite was found. Non-Hispanic
Obesity is a growing problem and concern in American households today. However it cannot be narrowed down to one main problem. The most prominent underlying issues are psychological and environmental. These issues in turn create deteriorating health and economic problems degrading one’s self-esteem.
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
Obesity in America is a continually growing problem and even worse our own children are sharing in this problem. A commentary in the Washington Times reports that sixty million Americans are obese. What really is the meaning of obese? Obese is having a body mass index of thirty percent or more. In recent years, the percentage of obese Americans has risen. In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, the percentage of obese Americans rose from 22.9 in 1984-1994 to 32.2 in 2003 and 2004. The study also says if you throw in the number of "over weight" Americans (body mass index of 25 to 29.9) the total jumps to 66.3
Based on background information, a central hypothesis was developed that obesity is an ongoing, gendered and embodied cultural process that has harmful consequences for the obese individual (e.g. Harjunen, 2002&2003). The various social implications of obesity will be explored via interviews (with obese people or former obese people) conducted and the surveys taken of people in the Boston area.
In the general population, childhood obesity has increased considerably in the current times compared to two decades ago and certain ethnic communities and races have inexplicably been affected (Rippo & Angelopoulos, 2016). Kovner and Knickman (2011) state the health status of the people varies across racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Obesity among African American children has become a major point of concern in the modern society. It is evident that there are four times fewer supermarkets and lack of affordable food in the African American predominant areas compared to white neighborhoods (Whitsel, 2015). Increase the availability of healthier foods by opening more Supermarkets in the
Despite that fact that obesity has begun to receive major attention in the past decade, there is a yawning gap between what is perceived and what is reality. In a North Carolina study, it was found that almost one-third of overweight Blue Cross Blue Shield members identified their weight as just right (Ward-Smith, 245). Clearly, people are unwilling to recognize that obesity has become a major problem in our country. Despite public service announcements and other methods of advertising the disease, the effects of this disease on overall health are continually underappreciated. As a result, obesity continues to be allowed to define our
One of the main health issues that leads to many other degenerative diseases in the African American population is obesity. According to the Mayo Clinic obesity is likely to be clinically diagnosed in three stages, beginning with Class I when a person's BMI is greater than 30 (Obesity, 2015). Class II is defined as a BMI of greater than 35, and Class III (extreme obesity) is defined as any BMI above 40 (Obesity, 2015). African Americans are almost 1.5 times more likely to be obese than other Americans - and even more startling - 69% of African American men and 82% of African American women are overweight or obese, making up nearly 75% of the African American population (The State of Obesity, 2014). Of this 75% over 47% are considered 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 has caused great dilemma in America. It was known as an adult disease. “Over two thirds of adults are over weight or obese.”(Obesity, Jerry R Ballenttne) these numbers are increasing rapidly. Obesity is not just a appearance
Obesity has been a growing problem in the U.S. for more than a decade. Various reasons and theories are thrown around as to the cause of this severe problem by psychologists, dietitians, and professors trying to pinpoint a single cause. Due to America’s vast supply of resources, luxurious living standards, and moral of the country, there is no one cause for obesity contrary to advertisements offering a quick-fix drug. America’s obesity problem is rooted much deeper than just cheap fast food and poor choices. Medical conditions, influence of genes, unhealthy lifestyles, and mental illnesses are all contributors towards obesity in any one person. Obesity is a serious problem in America with multiple contributors and one lone solution