Sisters speak out: 'too many Black women are too fat'

NO harm intended, but the statistics speak for themselves. Black women, in epidemic proportions, some would say, are eating themselves to death. According to recent studies, 50 percent of African-American women are obese compared to only 40 percent of Mexican-American women and only 30 percent of White women. The problem, which seems to affect more Sisters at younger ages, is not simply a cosmetic problem. Obese women are more likely to suffer from cardiopulmonary disease, some forms of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and arthritis.

Some African-American women on the forefront of are stepping up to say enough is enough. Dr. Ro, practicing nutritionist and author of Dr. Ro's Ten Secrets to Livin' Healthy, has firsthand advice and practical sup port for Sisters struggling against the odds. And Dr. Willarda Edwards, internal medicine doctor, president of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America and former chairman of the board of the National Medical Association, offers African-American women a much-needed road map to find their way back to better foods, healthier appetites and slimmer figures.

SISTERS, after years of eating all the high-fat, high-sodium and sugar-laden food you wanted, if you looked in the mirror and wondered, "Who's that following me back there"--you're not alone.

It is my story to the very world!

Although the extra pounds and inches may seemingly come from nowhere, they are the result poor food choices combined with little to no activity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that half of all Black women are overweight and 1 out of 2, age 40 and over, is obese. It is a troubling statistic, given that obesity leads to an increase in heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some forms of cancer.

For me, the devastating effects of obesity came firsthand. I lost my biological mother, Larvenia Brock, tragically, to stomach cancer. My mother was an overweight country girl, cab driver and owner of a juke joint in her hometown of Orange, Va. Her diet--complete with fried chicken sandwiches on white bread, pigs' feet, chitlins, potato salad and greens cooked with fatback (which served as my dietary blueprint)--contributed to her premature death.

But [fatty foods] aside, weight gain for African-American women may be different from that of other women. Your "sista-body" is different from the bodies of other women of other ethnic groups. And some researchers believe the difference may date back to the Middle Passage and slavery!

A group of German researchers have identified a gene, the thrifty gene, that may have been the reason African slaves were able to survive the Middle Passage. The thrifty gene, which helps the body to function based on a minimal amount of food, is still carried by some generations, even though starvation is hardly a threat. The typical sedentary lifestyle along with the high-fat, high-calorie diet of many African-Americans jump-starts the gene, causing obesity and its attendant diseases--diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease--all more prevalent in the Black community.

Still, genetics are not the only challenge that we face. Our cultural belief system and attitudes about our body image may also work against us. Culturally, we may think ourselves into bad health. Just as the once-popular hip-hop rap lyric announced that 'baby got back'--where Back women with ample derrieres were applauded for having big butts--some Black women (and their men) don't think themselves attractive unless they carry 'a little meat on their bones.' But when your standard of beauty places you at risk for chronic disease, it's time to change your mind in order to save your life!

There is hope. It's not where you start, like all processes, it's where you end up. Each day is a new opportunity to get it right. Today could be the day that you decide to eat smaller portions, cook your vegetables with herbs, without fatty meats or sauces and include one additional colorful vegetable or fruit in your diet. Why not? You've tried everything else. Make the decision to make your life better--today!

OBESITY is not a personal failure; it is a medical problem. But because of the pressures of our fast-paced society, complete with fast foods, packaged foods and high-calorie dishes, obesity has become more prevalent, especially among the Black community.

In some respects, the disparity may lie within the economic challenges of some African-American families. These families, including many single-parent households, may tend to purchase foods that are less expensive. Although less costly, these high-fat foods are high-carbohydrate and high-calorie substitutes for required daily nutrients. Many of the parents of these households may grab the fastest thing to cook, snack packages, prepared foods, frozen dinners, or similar items--all lacking the requisite nutritional value. A fast food-oriented lifestyle combined with a sedentary nature that includes little exercise contributes to obesity. Still, the underlying reasons may be emotional. In addition to dietary concerns and environmental issues, depression, isolation, psychological problems, etc. may also play a role.

But if you are obese, there are things you can do to alleviate the extra pounds. I encourage my patients to walk as much as they can. Most patients will tell me, 'I'm doing a lot of walking already,' but I let my patients know that if they've been walking a certain amount, their body is already used to that, so they have to step it up a pace. I tell them to park a little farther away, take the stairs and think more consciously about trying to do more exercise. Many companies are trying to incorporate healthy walking into their daily regimen.

Making better decisions also includes a change in diet that includes eating more fruits and vegetables. Steer clear of fried foods. Try to bake, broil, or grill, and stay away from fatty foods. Drink at least eight glasses of water per day and pay attention to portion sizes.

Most people don't pay attention to the amount of food they are eating. But look at what true portion sizes are and know that it's not the size of your hands and fingers all together. Your portion size is the size of the palm of your hand. It's all relative.

So, we have to learn to be more accountable for ourselves. It's not the industry that is making us fat. It is the individual who is making the choices. We make our own decisions.

Once you've finally got the weight off, keep it off through diet, exercise and healthy eating habits--the same way you lost it. Find a buddy who encourages you and stick to a daily regimen of activity and nutrition. All it takes is one step at a time. Although the first step is the hardest, it can be the best step of your life.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group