Reasons for Racial Obesity Disparities

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The University of Alabama at Birmingham has conducted research study about the root cause of obesity among minority populations such as African Americans. It has always been known that the cause of obesity was socioeconomic status of those that are effected but that might not be the main cause anymore. "Non-Hispanic blacks in the United States have the highest age adjusted rates of obesity at 47.8%, while the rate of non-Hispanic whites is at 32.6%" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Researchers used behavior data for whites and blacks from Alabama and Mississippi taken from the National Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and applied economic strategies to look at different factors in health disparities. They concluded that African Americans have a higher body mass than whites and as a group have lower income and education levels, consume less fruits and vegetables and workout less. This was true to African American men but when it came to women, they had more reasons that caused their health disparities. Researchers do realize that since the research was only done in two states it does not represent the whole population.

 -Bisakha S. Using the oaxaca-blinder decomposition as an empirical tool to analyze racial disparities in obesity. Obesity. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140416172002.htm


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