One statistical projection says that by 2034, 100% of Black women will be overweight, as defined by the BMI. When it comes to people, it’s usually the case that all of anything is nothing, so it’s not gonna be true that literally every Black woman will be overweight, but statistically all. And I know the limitations of using BMI as a measure of weight or obesity, but overall, it still gives a good idea. It’s close enough that research like this should cause concern.
Our projection models show that by the year 2030, ~90% (86.3%) of all American adults would become overweight or obese and 51.1% of them would be obese. Black women (combined prevalence 96.9%) and MA men (91.1%) would be the groups most affected. In children and adolescents, prevalence of overweight would increase 1.6-fold (to ~30%) by 2030. MA young boys and black adolescent girls would have the highest prevalence (both 41.1%), a level that would be 10 percentage points higher than the national average. Further, the prevalence in MA adolescents will increase by twofold and among African-American teens, by 1.8-fold, the largest increases.
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In ~15 years, by the year 2022, 80% of American adults would be overweight or obese; and the prevalence would reach 100% in ~40 years (by the year 2048) (Table 2 and Figure 1). For black women, the time course to reach 100% prevalence is <30 years (by 2034). Half of US children and adolescents overall will become overweight around the year 2070, but this level will be reached among black girls and MA boys by 2050.
Again, in this case, 100% cannot really equal all, but it should be enough for a real look at our lifestyle choices. Having had numerous discussions about the topic, I’m aware of many of the factors that go affect Black womens’ dietary and exercise choices, but at some point, some of that stuff has to fall by the wayside. I’m fairly fatalistic, in the sense that I believe people die when it’s their time, regardless of circumstance, so I’m not necessarily gonna say that a person could prolong her life, but maintaining a healthy weight will definitely help to prevent a lot of diseases and complications.
June 19th, 2009 at 9:41 am
I think people are going to wise up and cut back as it sinks in that being srsly obese = early death. The doctors can run all the ads they want about heart disease and diabetes and such, but for most folks I don’t think it’s really going to sink in until one of their friends or family needs the supersized box at the crematorium.
Also, thanks for that Fat Boys video. Haven’t seen that in 20 years but it’s still just as funny.
June 19th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Push Away From The Table, Mabel – Joe Tex…
Avery Tooley, a black moderate-conservative blogger, discusses disturbing health trends for black American women: “One statistical projection says that by 2034, 100% of Black women will be overweight, as defined by the BMI. When it comes to people, i….
June 20th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
The problem is deep. I’ve lost my grandmother (66), aunt (54), aunt (62) – all to obesity related illness. Most every woman in my family is near to or way over obese. I actually started a non-profit (along with a friend of mine) to address this exact issue. You should check out our website (www.girltrek.org). I am taking a group of six previously non-active women to Chicago in September to compete in the Chicago Half Marathon. We have to start somewhere!
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:47 am
Yeah, I think we have to stop lying to ourselves, and fighting all the available evidence about our dietary and exercise choices. We can say that the BMI isn’t a reliable index but, in the end, our health issues are the ultimate trump card.
We need more of this kind of real talk. Well said, fam.
And I was watching “All You Can Eat” the other day. It got me so sentimental that I put “Disorderlies” in my Netflix cue.