Exercise and Obesity in African American Women
Exercise and Obesity in African American Women
African American women are more affected by obesity than any other ethnic group. Obesity leads to various illness and diseases and therefore should be seriously examined. One of the most common causes for obesity is the absence of or very little exercise. Given the high rate of physical inactivity and obesity among African American women there is an urgent need to better understand what barriers need to be removed in order to obtain increases in physical activity. (Rimmer, J. H., Hsieh, K., Graham, B. C., Gerber, B. S., & Gray-Stanley, J. A., 2010, p. 2). We will discuss the various barriers that African American women face and ways they can overcome them.
There have been several factors that have been identified that keep many women from engaging in physical activity. A few of these factors are fear that it will worsen a pre-existing condition, lack of financial means to pay to use a workout facility or simply not know how to or what kind of physical activity to engage in. It is important to become educated on how physical activity will truly affect your condition and to learn which activities can be done without causing harm. Obesity is also caused by poor eating patterns and inactive lifestyles that are passed down through generations. It is also believed that the economic status of African American women plays a part. It is believed that it is culturally acceptable for African American women to be obese due to strong family histories and acceptance of obesity. African American’s have a more positive body image of obesity than other ethnic groups.
A study was done to try to assist participants with overcoming some barriers that African American women face when it comes to engaging in physical activity. There were 53 participants who were coached over the phone and were asked about their physical activity in a gym, in leisure time and while doing chores or running errands. There were asked how many days per
African American women are more affected by obesity than any other ethnic group. Obesity leads to various illness and diseases and therefore should be seriously examined. One of the most common causes for obesity is the absence of or very little exercise. Given the high rate of physical inactivity and obesity among African American women there is an urgent need to better understand what barriers need to be removed in order to obtain increases in physical activity. (Rimmer, J. H., Hsieh, K., Graham, B. C., Gerber, B. S., & Gray-Stanley, J. A., 2010, p. 2). We will discuss the various barriers that African American women face and ways they can overcome them.
There have been several factors that have been identified that keep many women from engaging in physical activity. A few of these factors are fear that it will worsen a pre-existing condition, lack of financial means to pay to use a workout facility or simply not know how to or what kind of physical activity to engage in. It is important to become educated on how physical activity will truly affect your condition and to learn which activities can be done without causing harm. Obesity is also caused by poor eating patterns and inactive lifestyles that are passed down through generations. It is also believed that the economic status of African American women plays a part. It is believed that it is culturally acceptable for African American women to be obese due to strong family histories and acceptance of obesity. African American’s have a more positive body image of obesity than other ethnic groups.
A study was done to try to assist participants with overcoming some barriers that African American women face when it comes to engaging in physical activity. There were 53 participants who were coached over the phone and were asked about their physical activity in a gym, in leisure time and while doing chores or running errands. There were asked how many days per
References: Rimmer, J. H., Hsieh, K., Graham, B. C., Gerber, B. S., & Gray-Stanley, J. A. (2010). Barrier Removal in Increasing Physical Activity Levels in Obese African American Women with Disabilities. Journal Of Women 's Health (15409996), 19(10), 1869-1876. doi:10.1089/jwh.2010.1941