OBESITY and AMERICANS, Especially BLACK Women
 

Study: Americans, Especially Black Women, Are More Obese Than Ever

Study: Americans, Especially Black Women, Are More Obese Than Ever
By Stacy Gilliam, BET.com Staff Writer

Posted Oct. 9, 2002 -- The new statistics on obesity in America reveal nothing to cheer about. Americans are getting fatter and fatter, despite the health implications. But the most sobering news is for Black women.

Fifty percent -- that's right, half -- of Black women are considered overweight.

The data comes from the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which has conducted this study for years. Twenty-three percent of adults were obese in 1994 and 15 percent in 1980. The latest survey is thought to be the most definitive assessment of Americans' weight because of the length and size of the study and because people's height and weight are actually measured.

Overall, 64.5 percent of American adults, more than 120 million, are overweight or obese. Thirty-three percent of adult women are obese compared with 28 percent of men. About 15 percent of children, ages 6 to 19, or about 9 million children, are overweight. Just 5 percent of people are extremely obese, of which 15 percent are Black women.

What's going on with sisters?

Dr. Rovenia Brock, nutritionist and BET.com health expert, believes much of it has to do with Black culture.

"To a man, Black women don't have it going on unless she has junk in her trunk. It's become an acceptable norm to be overweight," Brock says. "But it has long-term health implications for her and her children."

Obesity increases the risk for a number of serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure and even some types of cancer. Defined, obesity is having a body mass index of 30 or above. (Calculate your BMI to the left.) The index is a formula in which a person's body weight is divided by height squared. A BMI between 25 and 30 is considered overweight.

Brock also blames obesity among Black women on economics and convenience. To the mom on a budget with children to feed, the 2 for $2 deal at the local fast-food joints is too tempting for price and convenience.

Lastly, she says preliminary data suggests that Black women simply burn fewer calories than their White counterparts. It's in our physical makeup. But none of these reasons are excuses not to eat right and exercise, Brock says.

"Know that you have to work harder. If it means the difference between your life and your death and the quality of that life, you ought to be more willing to do it."


I know that a lot of us on here often TALK about losing weight or working out (myself included), but ladies, we need to BE ABOUT IT!!

Gym
 

My genetics will never make me a size 8 or 10 again, but I try to exercise three days a week, with the bike, Nautilus weights and elliptical trainer.

On the other hand, I like food, I like to eat and I don't want to be one of these women who eats nothing but salads, boiled chicken, the like. So that's why I exercise.

I have to say that even when I work out............it's so hard to get other sisters serious about it! I try to do my part and encourage my sisters, but I get so frustrated sometimes! I think it comes from the way we're raised. Most of us didn't have parents that went jogging in the mornings are were diligent in their efforts to not only lose weight, but to just be healthy. We were also raised to eat whatever tasted good (soul food) without any thought to health ramifications. So when we have our own families now, we continue this tradition. I have even heard sisters say they didn't want to work out because they didn't want to lose their back side! :eek:

I try to explainm, that looking good is a BENEFIT of working out, not the sole reason. EVERYONE needs to work out AND eat right to be healthy. I know it's hard to get motivated to do sometimes, because there are always so many other things to do than to workout......but we have to set the example for our young people. Which is hard since this is the happy meal generation! :D

Statistics are misleading
 

Hey Sorors, SFs,

The BMI or Body Mass Index is measured by this formula:

your weight {in lbs}divided by your height {in inches}, divided by your height again and multiplied by 702

I just did mine and I was like :eek:

According to the BMI formula, I need to weigh something crazy low so that I won't die :rolleyes:

Follow this and I'll be looking like Whitney! {{pouting, folding my arms}}

Don't Get Me Wrong....
 

I love working out and eating healthy. Sisters need to embrace a more active lifestyle. Sorry, but, walking to our cars and taking one flight of steps doesn't really count for much.

I am just leary of seeing people chase a number to determine how healthy they are.

There are a variety of tests that give you the whole picture. Have a physical done to know exactly where you stand. Most of us could stand to take off some pounds :p

A vain, conceited post........
 

I agree with everything said thusfar........

However, I know a LOT of sistahs (not me of course ;) ) that will not work our for fear of sweating out they perm, press, etc.

C'mon sistahs that's why they make headbands! :D

It is hard to make the committment to work out, especially with all the things we do in a day. Honestly, we need to make working out a priority....

I IGNORE numbers as well but I do know that I need to lose weight. When I moved here I had to get a physical and the doctor tried to tell me I was 40 lbs. overweight. Naw padna, I am not trying to weight 125 pounds. I would look like DEATH warmed over and dipped in chocolate. :p

I also know that **cough** is not the size I want to wear.

Re: A vain, conceited post........
 

That's why I work out AFTER the weekend, when I don't give a doodoo about sweating my hurh out because I've been single for over 3 years. :p

My weekly standing appt. is on Friday; I usually go to the gym Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Re: Re: A vain, conceited post........
 

I have a standing appointment either on Fridays or Saturdays. I work out Sat - Wed (5 times a week). I wear a dubbie (combination wet set and wrap) so my hair doesn't look bad at the end of the week.

I think the hardest part of exercising is actually finding the time to do it. I either exercise before work, during lunch time or after work. But now it's easier for me to do it now since I don't have kids.

For those who have children, when do you find the time to exercise after working, cleaning the house, being chaufffer and spending time with your children and being a wife?

#7 snuggles
RVA 12/93

**SIDEBAR: HAIRSTYLE NAMES **
 

Funny that you mention that I meant to start a thread on this chit too . . . since moving to Charlotte what we call a ROLLER WRAP in OHIO is a DOOBY in Charlotte and now I see FLORIDA. The first time someone asked did I want a DOOBY, I was like nooooooooooo :confused: :confused: I want you to roll my hair up WET, sit me under the dryer to DRY, take me out, WRAP it up, comb it out and VOILA. . . :D. . . how da HAYLE yall came up with DOOBY is beyond me. But hey DOOBY and I will DOOBYA :p

I am so silly. Why did I think this thread said OSCENITY and BLACK WOMEN? Sigh. Need...sleep...

CTFU. CTFU. CTFU.

:D

Re: Re: Re: A vain, conceited post........
 

This is so true!! I work out 5 times a week for about 1-2 hours. And the reason why I've slacked off in the past is because other "priorities" always come up. Now I just make it a part of my normal routine,....go to work/school--work out. I look at working out, just like eating..........gotta do it to live. That way when I get that extra helping of Lasagna, I don't feel as bad! :)

But for the single mothers out there that manage to get it done...yall are amazing!

Re: A vain, conceited post........
 

Girl, sometimes I'd sweat right thru that headband and my hair would still be jacked! :) Then, my beautician would tell me not to use it cuz my hair might break off. So, I tried a silk scarf. It helped a little bit. I'd still sweat through it.

For real, you're right, hair is one reason why black women don't work out. My college roomate would wait until she had her hair braided before she would even consider going to the gym. I was the same way, though...we'd sit in our room complaining about our guts and how reminiscing on we used to look in high school, making excuses constantly.

I had to make a conscious decision to make my health a priority and get in shape and eat better. Part of that was deciding to grow out this blasted perm, so I won't have to use hair as an excuse not to go to the gym. Not saying that all black women need to go natural, but I think we should take the necessary steps to be healthy and fit.

Re: Statistics are misleading
 

Sorry to intrude on your board, but I happened to notice that you have the wrong equation here, which is why your number came out so low.

The correct formula is:
BMI =
[Weight in pounds ÷ Height in inches ÷ Height in inches] x 703

So if you are 130 pounds and 5'4, it comes out thus:

130/64 = 2.03 /64 =.03174 x703 = 22.3

Hope this helps!
Ginger