Obesity and Black Women: Special Considerations Related to Genesis and Therapeutic Approaches

Abstract

Black women in the United States are disproportionately affected by obesity, with almost two-thirds considered obese based on body mass index. Obesity has been directly linked to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in black women. Therefore, understanding contributors to the genesis of obesity in black women is imperative. While biologic differences likely result in varying obesity prevalence across racial/ethnic groups, behaviors such as post-partum weight retention and limited leisure-time physical activity, may especially contribute to obesity in black women. Black women also appear to be particularly susceptible to cultural, psychosocial, and environmental factors that can promote weight gain. Therapeutic interventions are being tailored to specifically address these social determinants of health and to foster lifestyle modification; however, more work is needed to understand barriers to behavior change for black women. Knowledge gaps also remain in identifying mechanisms by which pharmacologic and surgical treatments for obesity modify cardiovascular risk in black women.

Associação entre cor/raça, obesidade e diabetes em idosos da comunidade: dados do Estudo FIBRA

“…Men (average ± SE) Women (average ± SE) conditions 13 , including obesity 12,15 . However, though black and brown elderly individuals in this study had unfavorable schooling and income levels, it was white men who showed the worst metabolic condition, indicated by higher WC values.…”

“…Some studies show associations with high BMI and WC values in white men 21,24,25 while in other studies, obesity is associated with women or individuals of both genders and black 9,15,22,23 and Hispanic 22,23 race/ethnicity, in comparison with white individuals. Meanwhile, national and international findings have shown associations between diabetes and minority races/ethnicities 26,27,28,29 , which is explained by a set of social, economic, biological and environmental factors 29 .…”

“…Socioeconomic disparities in obesity, as with other health conditions, are well-established in the literature 12,13,14,15,16 . Race and ethnicity, demographic characteristics which are also widely correlated with socioeconomic status 17,18,19,20 , are associated with obesity, evaluated by anthropometric indicators of general (BMI) 7,9,21,22,23 and central fat (waist circumference -WC and waist-hip ratio -WHR) 9,24,25 .…”

Depressive Symptoms and Well-being of Individuals with Obesity; Race and Gender Differences

“…Higher acceptance toward larger body sizes among Black women (4, 10) has major clinical and public health implications (11). More liberal body size attitudes may reduce desire to lose weight among individuals who are obese (11).…”

“…More liberal body size attitudes may reduce desire to lose weight among individuals who are obese (11). Such attitudes may also decrease engagement of obsess individuals in weight control behaviors such as physical activity and diet (12)(13)(14)(15).…”