Alarming Statistics: Overweight & Obesity In Black Women

[kbragg]

I was actually SHOCKED by these statistics!

According to the CDC 79.8% of black women are overweight and 53.4% are considered obese:eek:

Now I know the usual arguments "muscle weighs more than fat...The Governator would be considered obese" yada yada but the truth is the vast majority of us are NOT athletes. Actually 49% of us are actually inactive with only 26.4% of us having some leisurely activity and 24.9% having regular activity (the majority of these I bet are in the 20.2% that is not overweight) 12% of us are diabetic.

What also alarmed me was that white are more likely to receive advice on eating and exercise than we are.

The rates amoung our children is even more alarming. I understand that we like to be "thick not like a stick" but c'mon ya'll, belly rolls, back fat, double chins, etc. That's not thick!

Here's the entire article: http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=6456

I am really happy we have communities like this one on LHCF where we are being proactive about our health. Let's keep it up and teach our daughters these same principles and hopefully we can beat this epidemic that is ravaging our communities.:yep:

I am so proud of each and every woman on here no matter what program you're doing that is proactive about her health!:clap:

[SmartyPants]

kbragg....

The link to the article isn't working for me.

[kbragg]

I wonder if the page is timing out? When I click it goes to the Office Of Minority Health site. If you google "Black women obesit statistics" it's the second link that come up.

[dlewis]

I think we all know this is true. :sad:

[JayAnn0513]

I just shared this with 8 of my girlfriends... Of the 9 of use only 3 aren't over weight.

[AVNchick]

It's not that alarming......I see all the time.

[Dak]

I wonder if it's because we tend to take care of everyone except ourselves, working, childcare, the house, the shopping, leaving no time for good nutrition.

[MizAvalon]

It's not that alarming......I see all the time.

Agreed. Most black women I see are overweight. It''s very impressive when I see one with a tight body.

[Avaya]

Those stats seem kind of low to me...

[kbragg]

I wonder if it's because we tend to take care of everyone except ourselves, working, childcare, the house, the shopping, leaving no time for good nutrition.

Well in my personal experience, health and fitness tends to be looked at as a "white thing." I have relatives who won't eat heathy cuz they don't want to eat "that white people food.":rolleyes: We don't want to sweat out our perm/weave/rollerset/etc. We don't want to "look like a anorexic white woman" and the list goes on.

The truth is though I have yet to see a black woman that has ever gotten the "anorexic white woman" look from eating clean and exercising.

[neenzmj]

I really appreciate this post. My mom is very overweight and has high blood pressure -- so high the doctors have problems keeping it down at times. My mother-in-law has high blood pressure and is now experiencing problems breathing simply walking from her apartment door to her car. I have a cousin who had a stroke: IN HER 30'S. This is so distressing to me, especially for my family members.

A couple of Sundays ago I made an impassioned plea to the ladies at my church that there is a urgent need to make some lifestyle changes. Most of them looked at me like I was crazy. I could tell they weren't feelin' it.

[cutiebe2]

Also remember that you only need to be 10pounds outside your range to be overweight. I am overweight even though I have neer been called fat and most would say im "normal"

the American perception of normal is really overweight to begin with. I feel like its not just our race....although we venture over into obese more than other races (obese= 30 pounds+ over weight)

[kbragg]

Also remember that you only need to be 10pounds outside your range to be overweight. I am overweight even though I have neer been called fat and most would say im "normal"

the American perception of normal is really overweight to begin with. I feel like its not just our race....although we venture over into obese more than other races (obese= 30 pounds+ over weight)

Like I mentioned in my OP I get that as far as the overweight side goes, but over 53% OBESE!? Doesn't that concern you?

ETA: That is so true about American perception. I mean 70% of EVERYBODY is overweight and 33% considered obese. It's so bad that clothing companies are faking their sizes just to make people feel better!

For example Marilyn Monroe was a size 12 which we would think was a pretty large (not huge) size. But what's wild is that the size 12 from then is today's size SIX!:eek:

My friend Jenn experienced this on a recent shopping trip. She's a Pear and hasn't bought new jeans in like forever (she takes really good care of her stuff, I gotta learn to do that lol). Well she walked out of the store with some size 7/8's! She was like "Wow I dropped 4 clothing sizes without losing any weight or inches! Best diet ever:lachen:

[Allandra]

It's a shame, but I'm not surprised. :ohwell:

[lexi08]

Agreed. Most black women I see are overweight. It''s very impressive when I see one with a tight body.

Yes, I have to say this is true in my experience. I'm petite around 125lbs/ size 6. I always get called really tiny by most black women I encounter. Yes, 99% of the time they are overweight or obese :ohwell:

[JustKiya]

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Yeah, that's - :nono: *sigh* I'm trying to be one less.

[kami11213]

Well in my personal experience, health and fitness tends to be looked at as a "white thing." I have relatives who won't eat heathy cuz they don't want to eat "that white people food.":rolleyes: We don't want to sweat out our perm/weave/rollerset/etc. We don't want to "look like a anorexic white woman" and the list goes on.

The truth is though I have yet to see a black woman that has ever gotten the "anorexic white woman" look from eating clean and exercising.

This is so true, all my family cooked growing up was fried chicken, fried pork chops, yams, mac and cheese, greens seasoned w/ pork neck bones... the list goes on and on... and when someone would suggest a healthier alternative we would hear "this is how black folk eat, we don't eat that mess" or "we are meant to be thick, not little and skinny like white people" :ohwell:

[Oasis]

Honestly, I'm surprised it's not more like 90%. Almost every older woman in my fam is overweight.

And the youngins who were thin are catching up.

[naijamerican]

What also alarmed me was that white are more likely to receive advice on eating and exercise than we are.

Thank you for creating this thread, KBragg. I saw this report a few days ago and wanted to post it but didn't get around to doing so. The bolded is what alarmed me the most. A few years ago I was a research assistant on a study that was looking at the link between obesity and breast cancer among Black women (:nono: the fact that such a study even needs to be done is sad in and of itself). When the other researchers did focus groups with both African American and Caribbean women, they found that women were shocked to even learn some of the information presented. They specifically said that their doctors never told them such things. :nono:

The statistics are sobering and have devastating implications for us as a people and for future generations. However, I firmly believe that we're our best advocates. Ask your doctor to give you more information. Ask to see a nutritionist that can help you develop a diet plan. Don't fall for some of the unfortunate norms that have emerged in our community that equate proper exercise and diet with White people's behavior. I'm telling you, this whole "that's for White folks to do" is literally killing us. :sad:

Thanks again for this thread. :yep:

ETA: By the way - there is indeed some evidence that obesity rates are at least partially responsible for the development of breast cancer among African American women. Obesity is dangerous and contributes to diabetes and a host of conditions that compromise the health of one's heart - hypertension, heart disease, etc. Many of these heart conditions are related to other heart conditions, such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and its link to heart disease and stroke. I implore all of us, myself included, to take better care of ourselves! Not just for us, but for our loved ones!!!

[cheerleaderbody]

I think this is accurate if not on the low side. Most African-American females I see are "thick" as some like to call it. :perplexed