More info on US Obesity Rates

Weight is measured in terms of body mass index (BMI). For adults, a healthy is a BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9. Over is a BMI of 25 to 29.9. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

Health experts say roughly 66 percent of American adults are over. The Obesity Society reports, 25.6 percent of Americans are obese. The extra is hard on the body and increases the risk for many types of chronic health problems, like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, liver and gallbladder disease and respiratory problems.

Obesity in African Americans

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports rates of over and obesity are higher among African-Americans than whites. In a health survey conducted between 1999 and 2000, researchers found 69.6 percent of blacks and 62.3 percent of whites were over. There is a much higher disparity in rates of obesity, with 39.9 percent of blacks being obese versus 28.7 percent of whites. Among African-American women, four out of five are over or obese. Low-income African-American women have the highest risks of being over.

For some, African-American culture plays a role in and body image. Weight issues often begin in childhood. According to the CDC, black girls are more likely to eat high fat/high salt foods and less likely to get the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. In adulthood, blacks are more likely than whites to be physically inactive. The CDC reports only 24.7 percent of black adults engage in regular physical activity compared to 33.8 percent of whites.

The Role of the Physician

Weight is a sensitive topic and many patients are reluctant to talk to their physicians about loss needs. Recently, researchers at Temple University School of Medicine, held focus groups to discuss loss issues with black women. Each group had 2 to 12 participants and was led by a black nurse practitioner. The goal of the discussions was to find out how well participants felt their health care providers dealt with loss issues. The researchers also wanted to find out what kinds of motivations and barriers patients had to loss and if these issues differed between women and men.

Internist, Stephanie Ward, M.D., says one of the main findings of the focus group research was that participants wanted physicians to initiate discussion of loss needs. Participants also reported they would be more encouraged to lose when doctors provided positive encouragement about the benefits of loss, rather than telling them the negative (health) effects of remaining over. More specifically, participants wanted to discuss personal loss challenges, eating patterns, the healthiest ways to achieve loss and how to incorporate exercise and healthy snacks into their daily life.

Ward says participants were especially concerned about the use of the word, ‘obese.’ Medically, the term refers to people with a BMI of 30 or higher. But those on the lower end of the obesity scale often don’t see themselves as obese. In fact, focus group participants associated the term, obese, with massive over. Instead, participants preferred the terms, ‘fat,’ ‘thick’ or ‘heavy."

Ward would like to eventually develop computer programs or educational materials that could be used by physicians to more effectively communicate with patients about issues. In the meantime, Ward advises patients who have concerns about their to not be afraid to bring the issue up to their physician for discussion, rather than waiting for the doctor to initiate the conversation.

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