The conditions of being overweight or obese affect 77% of African American women over the age of 20. National data support that African American women are acutely aware of the contributing factors of obesity. This study aimed to explore intrapersonal, community, and institutional factors that may be associated with obesity in this population.
The researchers wanted to understand how the quality of life of African American women impacts their rates of obesity. African American women with a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 kg/m2 or greater participated in the study. BMI and other personal data such as the participants’ financial status, educational attainment, marriage status, and physical and mental health ratings were collected.
It was found that African American women in lower economic classes with lower education levels reported worse mental health and physical health. This study suggests that intrapersonal, community, and institutional factors greatly impact obesity rates among African American women. Providing equitable resources for African American women to improve their economic and educational situations may improve the rate of obesity in this population [1].
Source:
[1] Knox-Kazimierczuk, F. (2020). Relationship between psychosocial-cultural factors and African American women obesity. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice, 13(3). https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jhdrp/vol13/iss3/5
