We already know that sisters are more likely to be overweight or obese than white women. But a new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology reveals that our perceptions of our bodies may be markedly different than the reality. Bottom line: we think we’re smaller than we actually are. And unfortunately that can be hazardous to our health.
This study focused on women in the inner-city, Philly and the Temple University Hospital Clinic to be exact, who were more likely to use their GYN as their primary care physician. Unlike other studies, most of the women polled were either black or Hispanic. (Mexican American women now actually have as high a rate of obesity as we do.) Researchers compared the participants self-perception, ideal size and current weight/body mass index (BMI) to see if there were any discrepancies. You know there were. Perhaps body confidence actually makes us have a more flattering view of ourselves. In this case that’s not necessarily good.
But what’s groundbreaking is the takeaway. Doctors now understand that if sisters don’t consider themselves to be at risk, they won’t seek care. Compound this with doctors who simply want to get us in and out of their offices without a discussion of our weight and we have the perfect recipe for the growing health crisis in the black community.
At the heart of this is a clash between cultural perceptions and scientific measurements. Being big-boned and thick can be compliments to some of us and the BMI is often thought of as something that white folks use to measure their ’small bones’. Okay, so let’s just chalk that up to some sort of urban legend. (I know I had a hard time with that too.) Everyone may think it’s true but it is not. And the BMI applies to us as much to any other ethnic group.
So what’s a sister to do? The first thing is you have to make sure a checkup includes a discussion on weight and your risk factors for diseases—especially diabetes and high blood pressure. I am not saying that this news will suddenly make us all skinny but it will make us more aware of the risks we may be taking by carrying around too many extra pounds. And only you and your doctor can decide what’s both normal and realistic for you. So sisters it’s time we stopped lying to ourselves.
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May 12th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Great post.
May 13th, 2009 at 10:11 am
I’ve dropped doctors over this very subject. I exercise and watch what I eat, but I enjoy being “thick” and wouldn’t change it for anything. It’s all about being healthy, not about being skinny.
May 20th, 2009 at 8:58 am
K.Ann, that post was about you.
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Honestly, I think this post should be run daily as well as plastered on all of the KFC buckets until the message sinks in. I too got smart with my doctor when she suggested I could lose a few pounds after I told her I exercise and eat right. “What’s my motivation,” I snapped, after getting a clean bill of health. My white doctor just kind of looked at me and I chalked it up to cultural differences. Deep down, I knew I might be slightly wrong, and at the next checkup I asked my new GP, a black woman ,if the other doctor was being hard on a sister. DocSis minced no words when she said “The BMI speaks for itself.” and went on to speak to me gently about going from good health to optimal health. Essentially make the foundation great now so that problems don’t creep up when you get older. I was able to hear that and use it as an impetuus bring my BMI down.
August 7th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
This is why more than 60% of African American women are obese, this is why diabetes, high blood pressure, and strokes are some of our tops killers. This is why we have the highest incidences of new HIV cases of all population groups..we DON’T TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES. We get comfortable in our own skin which is wonderful in and of itself…but we short change ourselves by not making the hard decisions…we make excuses for our bad behaviors, justifying the poor decisions we make. We need to make decisions and choices for US, and our health, our longevity. Living with HIV, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, is NOT living. Eat right, exercise, so that at 60 and 70 our insides look as great as that wrinkle-free face that we so proudly display