![]() ![]() African American women are held to the BMI standard as a measure of health despite the inability of interventions to change BMI. If African American women lose on average 4.5 kg (the highest weight loss reported in most programs) excluding possible weight regain, only people who are borderline between categories (eg, between overweight and normal) would move to a lower BMI category. In a review of weight-loss programs with a maintenance phase, at 18-month follow up African American women regained from 0% to 33% of weight previously lost (10). Maintaining weight loss is also difficult. To lose 5% to 10% of body weight, an 84 kg woman needs to lose 4 kg to 8 kg. A review of weight-loss programs (6), showed the average weight loss of African American women was 1.9 kg to 4.7 kg compared with 4.7 kg to 7.5 kg for white women. Research suggests that sustained weight loss of 5% to10% of body mass can reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease and prevent progression toward diabetes (9) however, on average, African American women participating in a weight-loss program do not lose this much weight. Most participants in weight-loss programs do not lose this much weight (6–8). ![]() The average African American woman weighs 85 kg, has a BMI of 32.2, and would need to lose more than 8 kg to reach the top of the overweight threshold (BMI 29). In weight-loss programs, African American women are unlikely to transition from obese (BMI ≥30) or overweight (BMI 25–29) to a normal body weight (BMI <25). Top Body Mass Index Is Difficult to Change Compared with white women, African American women in the same research programs lose less weight and maintain weight loss for shorter time (5). Multiple weight-loss programs for African American women over the past 20 years show minimal results. However, using BMI reduces the complexities of health to one primary indicator and its accompanying solution, weight loss. The prevalent use of BMI combined with the US obsession with weight made BMI a primary choice to serve as an indicator of chronic disease risk and a measure of health. Because African American women aged 20 years or older have higher prevalence of overweight and obesity (82%) than white women (63.2%) or Hispanic women (77.2%), weight loss is regarded as the way to improve their health (3).īody mass index (BMI) (kg/m 2) is widely used in medical practices, health promotion programs, and research as a measure of health because it is easy to calculate and involves no costly procedures (4). Hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and poor diet are known risk factors for chronic disease, and African American women experience these diseases at higher rates than white women experience them (1,2). Compared with non-Hispanic white women, African American women are 1.9 times as likely to develop diabetes, 2.3 times as likely to develop end-stage kidney disease, and 2.4 times as likely to die from complications of diabetes (1). Rates of chronic disease, disability, and premature death among African American women are disproportionately high. We examine the concept of BMI as a measure of health for African American women and suggests a more holistic, multifaceted approach to preventing chronic disease. Community-Based Participatory Research Provides a Broader, More Holistic Approach to HealthĪfrican American women have higher prevalence (82%) of overweight (body mass index 25–29) and obesity (BMI ≥30) than white women (63.2%) or Hispanic women (77.2%), and weight-loss programs yield minimal results in this population.Body Mass Index Minimizes the Complexity of Health.Body Mass Index May Not Affect Health Behavior of African American Women.Body Mass Index Is a Poor Proxy for Health. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |