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Obesity and Disparity in African American Women
Background to the problem
Several studies indicate that the rate of developing obesity is the highest in African American populations in the US. In fact, federal statistics, the centers for disease control and prevention as well as other institutions indicate various disparities in the prevalence rate and risk to obesity (Must, Gortmaker & Dietz, 2009). For instance, African Americans are about 1.5 times likely to develop obesity as non-Hispanic Caucasoid. Secondly, African Americans are about 1 times as likely to develop obesity as Hispanic and Latin American groups. Surprisingly, women in all groups have a higher chance of developing obesity than their male counterparts. However, the likelihood is relatively high among black people. According to statistics, African American women have the highest rate of developing obesity compared to other groups in the US. In fact, statistics indicate that four out of five African American women are obese or at risk of developing the condition. In addition, African American women are 80% more likely to develop the condition compared to Caucasoid women (Allison, Edlen-Nezin & Clay-Williams, 2010). It is also worth noting that young African American girls are about 80% likely to develop obesity compared to other groups. Therefore, these statistics indicate a disparity in the public health sector.
Significant of the problem
The cause and development of obesity is multifactorial. In fact, studies have shown that obesity results from a combination of individual genetic makeup and lifestyle behaviors. In combination with genetic makeup, lifestyle behaviors such as diet, smoking, physical and alcohol consumption increase the risk of developing the condition (James, Fowler-Brown, Raghunathan & Hoewyk, 2010). In addition, socioeconomic position (SEP) in childhood and adulthood is an important contributor to obesity in the US. In fact, black people, especially women, have relatively low SEP in childhood and adulthood compared to other groups as well as their male counterparts. They score low in almost all SEP variables such as level of education, income, occupation, home ownership and employment status.
Factors contributing to healthcare disparity
As indicated above, African American women have a relatively low capacity to meet the cost of healthcare services meant to deal with obesity. It also means that their ability to access these survives is relatively low. Variables of SEP such as level of education, employment status and income levels further affect the probability of continuity with care delivery. African American women score low in these variables, which means that they have the highest likelihood of developing and living with obesity. Secondly, genetic studies have shown that African Americans have a number of genes coding for protein hormones and enzymes responsible for accumulating fats in certain regions of the body. Specifically, Black women express more fat accumulating proteins such as estrogen compared to their white and Hispanic counterparts.
Emerging strategies to deal with the disparity
Although several strategies have been developed or discussed, only a few intervention programs have produced effective results. Creation of supportive groups and education programs are the two major initiatives that seem to produce positive results.
Over the last few decades, empowering women through supportive groups has become an important intervention program in various parts of the US. In case of obesity, women groups with 10 to 30 or 40 women of the same age group are developed. One or more social workers, community nurses and expert in dietetics are included to provide support. These programs ensure that women are encouraged to discuss their health problems. Information is shared between the members, including facts on diet, lifestyles and other variables. In this way, women are able to seek healthcare services as a group. In addition, it encourages them to continue with the healthcare services in order to manage the condition.
Secondly, school based intervention program produces significant results in managing obesity. Since young girls are at risk of developing the condition, school-based programs seek to provide education on healthy living, diet and the need to increase the level of physical activity (Dietz & Gortmaker, 2011). The program is a long-term intervention protocol as well as a risk mitigation method.
References
Allison, D. B., Edlen-Nezin, L., & Clay-Williams, G. (2010). Obesity among African American women: Prevalence, consequences, causes, and developing research. Womens health (Hillsdale, NJ), 3(3-4), 243-274.
Dietz, W. H., & Gortmaker, S. L. (2011). Preventing obesity in children and adolescents. Annu Rev Public Health, 22(2), 337353
James, S. A., Fowler-Brown, A., Raghunathan, T. E., & Hoewyk, J. (2010). Life-Course Socioeconomic Position and Obesity in African American Women: The Pitt County Study. American Journal of public health, 96(3), 554-560.
Must, A., Gortmaker, S. L., & Dietz, W. H. (2009). Risk factors for obesity in young adults: Hispanics, African Americans and Whites in the transition years, age 1628 years. Biomed Pharmacother, 48(12), 143156
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