According to The Office On Minority Health: African American women have the highest rates of being overweight or obese compared to other groups in the U.S. About four out of five African American women are overweight or obese.1
In 2009, African Americans were 1.5 times as likely to be obese as Non- Hispanic Whites.
In 2009, African American women were 60% more likely to be obese than Non-Hispanic White women.
In 2007-2008, African American children were 30% as likely to be overweight than Non-Hispanic Whites.
More than 80% of people with type 2 diabetes is overweight, I would even say those most people with lifestyle diseases such as high blood pressure are overweight, not all but many.
Weight management to me is an important issue because I know that by maintaining a healthy weight, many can reduce the risk of the myriad of problems associated with being overweight. Now, let me make my self clear, just because a person wears a size 10/12 does not mean they are overweight, never let society dictate to you what being over weight is, and for each person because of body structure it will vary. I notice often that there are many programs out there for weight management, but one thing most of those programs fail to address is the true cause of why a person keeps gaining weight. In holistic wellness, I tend to view things in terms of cause and effect. It is very important to look at the underlying causes of weight gain and ultimately obesity.
Weight management does not have to be a struggle when you uncover what is going on beneath the surface of a person. Weight gain is only the effect of something deeper going on. It is important to take a close look at the emotional dimension of who we are as it relates to weight management, and as we do this we can understand how closely related emotions and eating are. It is not enough to diet, you must get a handle of some of the unresolved issues before you will be successful in weight management. You have heard the term yo-yo dieting, well this type of dieting if closely looked at will be linked directly to rollercoaster emotions.
We need to constanly be aware of what it is we are placing on our plates, especially in times of emotional distress. Comfort foods are called comfort foods for a reason, they alter the way you feel, but in the long run they alter the way you look as well. When we experience negative triggers, we look for ways to make our self feel better. We turn to chocolate, sugary snacks, heavy starchews and a host of other foods that traditionally are known to soothe those emotions, but what we do not realize is why, nor do we understand the effects of this cycle. Most processed foods are laden with hidden ingredients that do not promote weight loss and will actually contribute to your weight gain.
A a study done at UNC Chapel Hill indicated that MSG (flavor enhancer in food could be a contributor in weight gain, I find this very interesting since many foods that are served outside of the home contain these flavor enhancers. Another thing to mention is the sodium content in many processed foods. I was alarmed to find out that my favorite whole wheat pretzels contained 2400mg of sodium per serving, now that is too much, no wonder I felt puffy and tired when I woke up in the morning. The important thing is to be mindful of when and what we eat, as well as what we are feeling when we eat. If you do not keep a food journal, now would be a great time to start.
The food journal will help you to manage your weight successfully. As I always say, weight management does not have to be complicated, just think of food as energy and if you take energy in you will need to release energy through physical exercise or else it will store in your body and create weight gain...say that out loud "Energy in, Energy out! Physical activity is not an option in weight management, it is important for you to exercise 30 minutes on most days of the week. This could include a brisk walk, jogging, Pilate's, power yoga, or some form of exercise that gets you to burn fat and calories. When we begin to look at weight management from the inside out instead of just the outside we will be well on our way to ending the struggle with weight management. Many of our battles in life began in the mind, manage your emotional and mental realm and you have the battle half won!
