erall statistics compiled by insurance companies and health organizations indicate that obesity is also associated with increases in illness and death from Diabetes mellitus, stroke, coronary artery disease, and kidney and gallbladder disorders.
B. Extent of Obesity in America Today. The research indicates that obesity is a major health concern in the United States today. About one in every five men and almost one in every three women in the U.S. are obese (“Obesity,” 1995, 1). However, there are social perspectives concerning weight which must also be considered. Certain segments of American society, for example, view obesity as a condition of “pleasant plumpness” rather than a dangerous health condition.
C. Cultural Considerations in Weight Loss. The research shows that on average, about one in every three white women in the United States is obese, compared with over half of all black women being obese (33 percent to 52 percent, respectively). This large difference in obesity patterns has been attributed to cultural preferences, lifestyles, dietary habits and the economic realities facing black women in single-parent environments in America today. In a recent article in USA Today, a study from Obesity Research entitled, “Black women burn calories more slowly,” revealed that “. . . heavyset black women burn fewer calories when they are sitting still than heavyset white women,” (Helmrich, n. pag.). This phenomenon may help explain in part why black women sometimes have a more difficult time losing weight and tend to be heavier, overall, than white women. A growing body of scientific evidence also suggests that white women in America may burn more calories while not engaged in any physical activity than do black women.
Nationally, about 52 percent of black women are obese compared with 33 percent of white women. The high incidence of black obesity has been attributed to lifestyle factors such a...