Obesity Among Women Varies By Race
POSTED: 2:58 pm EDT September 11, 2006
UPDATED: 3:08 pm EDT September 11, 2006
It's not just a matter of being five or 10 pounds overweight -- a third of Americans are actually obese and a good many of them are women.
Researchers conducted a survey that asked if culture and lifestyle influence a woman's perception about her weight. They now have the findings.
Stephanie, 27, works and goes to law school. Rena Addison, 30, is a working mother. Both exercise at least three times a week.
"My metabolism started changing," said Addison. "So, I felt myself needing to work out on a regular basis."
Both women are doing all the right things to stay healthy, but they are exceptions.
The American Journal of Public Health finds a third of all white women are obese, while half of all black women are. Obesity is defined as being at least 30 pounds more than your ideal weight, so why are those statistics so different?
Researchers questioned more than 200 black and white women about their attitudes and perceptions on weight.
"The African American women really felt that culture, their background, their culture played a big part in their gaining weight over the years," said Dr. Carol Blixen of the Cleveland Clinic.
The majority of white women questioned considered 25 pounds or more over ideal weight as obese. Black women felt it was more than 50 pounds.
In truth, being more than 20 pounds overweight can potentially lead to heart problems and diabetes.
Researchers also found black women wanted more culturally sensitive weight loss programs and one-on-one help
"You've got to look at their cultural backgrounds," said registered dietician Francis Tyus. "You've got to look at their family and all of those things that motivates that person to want to change."
The kind of motivation that could make a difference and change these statistics.
So what does all this mean? Researchers said more study is needed, but the survey makes it very clear that not every one is the same, nor should they be treated as such.
It also begins to explain a very definite need for culturally sensitive weight loss programs.
Obesity among women
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