Obesity Among African Americans Essay - 2627 Words

Fried chicken, mash potatoes and collard greens mixed with fatback meat was my family’s favorite Sunday meal. Soul food, as it has been called, is valued by many African American families. Given the worldwide obesity epidemic that appears to be affecting most ethnic groups, there is an appreciation that the causes of obesity among African American families and others must lie in the fundamental aspects of the food supply (Capers, C et al. 2011). In my opinion, African Americans in the United Sates are more likely to be obese because there is a large number of low-income families’ and many are uninsured. According to the Office of Minority Health, African American women have the highest rates of being obese compared to other groups in†¦show more content†¦According to the World Health Organization some characteristics of obesity are abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health, a body mass index over 30 which is the most useful population-level measure of obesity as it is the same for both sexes and for all ages of adults. Policies and regulatory issues impacting obesity and access to care in the African American population have been limited due to the lack of financial and governmental support. However, public schools are required to have a mandatory physical activity class for students as an attempt to increase children recreational activity. In addition, the talk of the nationwide health care was an attempt to ensure the decrease of health disparities among the obese population. The government has provided financial support to some low-income families by a program called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families also known as TANF or food stamps. According to the Department of Social Services he TANF program provides eligible families with a monthly cash payment to meet their basic needs. For a child to be eligible he must be: under age 18, or if 18, will graduate from high school before age 19, going to school regularly if he is between the ages of five and 18, living with a parent or other relative and a U.S. citizen or an eligible immigrant. The Code of Virginia,  §63.1, requires that the TANF program be administered in accordance with federal and stateShow MoreRelatedObesity And Obesity Among Hispanic And African American Communities1701 Words   |  7 Pages Diabetes and Obesity Name Institution Diabetes and Obesity Abstract There exists a close relationship between diabetes and obesity. 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