Obesity and Health Disparities in African American Women
This paper examines obesity as a major health issue among African American women, highlighting that 56% of this population is currently obese or overweight. It situates the problem within a broader cultural and historical context, exploring how socioeconomic stressors such as poverty, limited healthcare access, and racial income inequality contribute to elevated health risks including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. The paper also discusses faith-based intervention strategies, the persistence of healthcare disparities despite the Affordable Care Act, and the role of health literacy and preventive medicine in addressing inequities in care quality between African American and white women.
- Introduction: Obesity Among African American Women: Statistics on obesity prevalence and racial disparities
- Cultural and Historical Context: African American identity, religion, and political context
- Socioeconomic Stressors and Health Risks: Poverty, crime, and faith-based health interventions
- Healthcare Disparities and the Affordable Care Act: Persistent disparities in screening and care access
- Strategies for Reducing Health Disparities: Health literacy, preventive care, and practitioner advocacy
- Conclusion: Multifaceted approach needed for equitable health outcomes
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What makes this paper effective
- Uses current statistics to ground claims in measurable evidence, such as the 56% obesity rate and racial comparisons among adolescent girls.
- Connects individual health outcomes to structural and historical causes, situating obesity within systemic racial and economic inequality.
- Introduces a constructive dimension by discussing faith-based interventions and health literacy as practical strategies for reducing disparities.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper effectively uses source integration to build a layered argument. Each paragraph introduces a new dimension of the problem — statistical, cultural, structural, or interventional — and supports it with at least one cited source. This technique demonstrates how to move from identifying a health disparity to explaining its causes and then proposing solutions, all while maintaining an evidence-based academic tone throughout.
Structure breakdown
The paper is organized into six logical sections. It opens with prevalence data and racial comparisons, then moves to cultural and historical context, followed by socioeconomic stressors. The fourth section addresses ongoing healthcare disparities despite legislative reform, while the fifth introduces intervention strategies including health literacy and practitioner advocacy. The references list follows APA format and supports all major claims in the body.
Introduction: Obesity Among African American Women
Obesity is one of the major health issues facing African American women today. African American women who suffer from obesity span a wide range of places and demographics. According to the State of Obesity (2018), 56% of African American women are currently obese or overweight. The data also reveal a stark racial disparity: nationally, between 2011 and 2012, 20.5% of African American girls were obese compared with 15.6% of white girls (State of Obesity, 2018).
In many cases, socioeconomic class serves as a key indicator of obesity risk among African American women. Lower incomes and poverty correlate strongly with increased obesity rates, since less nutritious, calorie-dense foods are often less expensive than healthier alternatives. Compounding this, African American families have earned approximately $1 for every $2 earned by white families over the past 30 years (State of Obesity, 2018). As a result, African American women who suffer from obesity are also at greater risk of developing diabetes, cardiac arrest, heart disease, and other serious health conditions (Banerjee, Herring, Hurley et al., 2018).
Cultural and Historical Context
African American culture is distinct from other American cultures in the United States. African Americans have a cultural identity informed by a history of slavery, racism, and a long fight for equal rights — a struggle that did not achieve meaningful legal equality until the 20th century, despite African Americans having been present in the country for centuries. Their culture is infused with a variety of religious traditions, from Protestant Christianity to Catholicism to Islam.
Politically, African Americans have tended to vote Democratic, as that party has historically aimed to represent their interests. However, the political upheaval following the 2016 presidential election has created division across the broader American population, including within African American communities.
Socioeconomic Stressors and Health Risks
Stressors for this population include a range of socioeconomic factors: low-income neighborhoods, poverty, crime, drug exposure, limited access to healthcare, limited political representation, and restricted access to upward mobility. These systemic challenges compound health risks and make it more difficult for African American women to achieve and maintain healthy lifestyles.
Some studies have shown that African American women who suffer from obesity find meaningful support through faith-based initiatives that empower them to take ownership of their health. These programs provide community support that encourages life-changing choices regarding diet and exercise (Yanek, Becker, Moy et al., 2016).
Conclusion
Addressing obesity among African American women requires a multifaceted approach that accounts for the cultural, historical, and structural dimensions of health inequality. Improving health literacy, expanding faith-based community programs, increasing practitioner advocacy, and closing the healthcare access gap are all essential steps toward achieving equitable health outcomes for this population.
References
Banerjee, E. S., Herring, S. J., Hurley, K. E., Puskarz, K., Yebernetsky, K., & LaNoue, M. (2018). Overcoming obesity: A mixed methods study of the impact of primary care physician counseling on low-income African American women who successfully lost weight. American Journal of Health Promotion, 32(2), 374–380.
Modell, S., Mathew, E., & Greenberg, S. (2015). Status report: Oncogenomic testing in the wake of health care reform. Annals of Public Health and Research, 2(3), 1022.
State of Obesity. (2018). Current status. Retrieved from
Walcott, F. L., Dunn, B. K., DeShields, M., & Baquet, C. (2014). The Affordable Care Act and genetic testing for inheritable cancer syndromes: Impact on high-risk underserved minorities. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 15, 46–62.
Yanek, L. R., Becker, D. M., Moy, T. F., Gittelsohn, J., & Koffman, D. M. (2016). Project Joy: Faith-based cardiovascular health promotion for African American women. Public Health Reports, 116(1), 68–81.
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