Writing personal narrative

10

Obesity in African American Women: Annotated Bibliography

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Obesity in African American Women: Annotated Bibliography

Ard, J. D., Carson, T. L., Shikany, J. M., Li, Y., Hardy, C. M., Robinson, J. C., ... & Baskin, M. L. (2017). Weight loss and improved metabolic outcomes amongst rural African American women in the Deep South: six‐month outcomes from a community‐based randomized trial. Journal of internal medicine, 282(1), 102-113.

Précis

This article explores the rampancy of obesity in African American women, especially those residing in rural localities like Alabama. It mentions widespread obesity as a factor that precipitates the numerous chronic conditions that the women from the minority group contract, including diabetes. Given the disparities inherent in the U. S healthcare systems, the authors propose preventative measures such as weight loss programs and controlled nutritional intakes to reduce the condition among the female members of the minority group. The data compiled in the article shows that the prevalence of obesity in the African American women in the region is approximated to be over 57%, which is significantly higher than that of other female populations, such non-Hispanic white females. The authors conclude that weight loss programs and controlled nutrition should be encouraged among this vulnerable group to control obesity.

Vocabulary

Some of the key terminologies that have been included in the write-up include obesity, metabolic outcomes, community-based programs, randomized trials, and clinical assessments.

My Opinions on the Article

The article provides significant insights into the prevalence of obesity in African American women. I agree with the authors' perspective about the need to use strategic steps to reduce obesity in this population to safeguard them from contracting chronic ailments. Additionally, as indicated, weight loss and improved metabolism are essential in controlling obesity in the population. However, after perusing the article's contextual message, I have a significant question: Is there a specific reason why the African American women residing in the rural regions are more predisposed to obesity than those in urban regions? Also, I did not understand how some of the assessed variables, such as women living with an intimate partner, correlate with obesity.

Quotables

The article posits that "African American women living in rural settings have a higher prevalence of obesity compared to others within the same race/sex subgroups in urban settings" (p. 102). The authors further indicate that "Obesity has a direct, negative effect on health and quality of life, and it contributes to a large number of health risks and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and stroke" (p. 103). The write-up states that "Due to recent calls to explore macroenvironment interventions for obesity prevention, this study tested the additional benefits of community-level strategies to support healthier weight on weight loss outcomes of African American women living in rural Alabama and Mississippi" (p. 103). After the investigative study, the authors noted that ". Amongst all participants, over thirty-six percent lost at least 3% of their initial body weight, and these reductions in body weight were associated with significant reductions in blood pressure, serum triglycerides and waist circumference" (p. 110).

Dodgen, L., & Spence-Almaguer, E. (2017). Peer Reviewed: Beyond Body Mass Index: Are Weight-loss Programs the Best Way to Improve the Health of African American Women?. Preventing chronic disease, 14.

Précis

The article identifies obesity in African American women as a significant concern that needs to be addressed. It indicates that obesity is a major cause of the rampant cases of chronic infections, disability, and high mortality rates noted in the community. The article proposes using BMI as a strategy of ensuring that African American women maintain their weights within the recommended limits. According to the text, investigative studies show that monitoring individuals' BMI is an essential approach to preventing obesity by enlightening them about their ideal weight and encouraging them to shed excess body fat. The authors conclude that BMI in community-based forums is an essential approach that will help reduce the prevalence of obesity in African American communities.

Vocabulary

The key terminologies used in the article include Body Mass Index (BMI), obesity, weight loss programs, sustained weight loss, overweight threshold, and community-Based participatory research.

My Opinion of the Article

The article provides significant facts about obesity in African American women. I agree with the authors' indication that regulating the BMI will reduce the prevalence of obesity in the community. The approach will encourage African American women to instigate measures to attain their ideal weight according to BMI. Further, I concur with the insinuation that community-based initiatives are highly effective in providing social support to women seeking to lose weight and maintain a healthy BMI. However, the author's approach in dealing with obesity in this group does not address significant factors that are major contributors to obesity in this population. For example, it does explore how the aspects such as cultural factors contribute to excessive body weight. Consequently, one concept that I do not fully grasp is the indication that there are individuals who are obese but of optimal health.

Quotables

The authors clearly explain that "African American women have a higher prevalence (82%) of overweight (body mass index [BMI] 25–29) and obesity (BMI ≥30) than white women (63.2%) or Hispanic women (77.2%), and weight-loss programs yield minimal results in this population" (p. 1). The article further indicates that "The prevalent use of BMI combined with the US obsession with weight made BMI a primary choice to serve as an indicator of chronic disease risk and a measure of health" (p. 1). The authors argue that the strategy is effective because "Obesity prevention needs to expand in interventions to address factors beyond the individual to the environmental and social contexts of participants' lives to influence the social determinants of health" (p. 3). They conclude by indicating that "A broader, more holistic approach to health that includes the values of African American women may lead to greater reductions in chronic disease and a shift beyond BMI to create solutions that embody the complexity of staying or becoming healthy and that aim for health equity for African American women and their communities" (p. 4).

Gower, B. A., & Fowler, L. A. (2020). Obesity in African‐Americans: The role of physiology. Journal of Internal Medicine, 288(3), 295-304.

Précis

This article scrutinizes the physiological underpinnings of the prevalence of obesity among African American females. The authors attribute the increased incidences of excessive weight in the population to factors exclusive to this group, such as the secretion rate and insulin clearance. Further, they argue that the consumption of foods that increase insulin secretion also contributes to the increased cases of the condition. Compiled data showed that over 50% of African American women were obese, a significantly higher figure than men, which is 38%. According to the author, the disparity is caused by the physiological factors inherent in African American women.

Vocabulary

The key terminologies used in the article include obesity, glycemic load, insulin, insulin sensitivity, ethnic disparities, and bio-energetic efficiency.

My Opinion on the Article

The author explores significant factors that precipitate the rampant cases of obesity in the female members of the African American community. I agree with the authors' assertions that implicit factors in African American women, such as their insulin levels, predispose them to obesity. I agree with their indication that obese women from the community are susceptible to chronic conditions such as obesity. However, the other does not elaborate on how insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance increase or reduce the populations' susceptibility to obesity. Another concept in the article that I have grasped fully is that of bioenergetics efficiency and its contribution to obesity in the community.

Quotables

The authors state that "obesity (BMI> 30 kg m2) is more widespread in African Americans (AA) relative to Caucasians or European Americans (EA). However, this greater obesity prevalence amongst AA is confined to women" (p. 295). They further argue that "AA have a predisposition to obesity due to their unique metabolic phenotype, which is characterized by relative hyperinsulinaemia" (p. 295). The contextual message further indicates that "The unique propensity to obesity amongst AA women is due in part to being female. Compared to men, women have higher insulin sensitivity" (p. 299). The authors conclude the study by indicating that ". AA men are not equally predisposed to obesity; the obesity propensity of women specifically may be due to oestrogen, which augments both insulin sensitivity and beta-cell mass" (p. 302).

Knox-Kazimierczuk, F., & Shockly-Smith, M. (2017). African American women and the obesity epidemic: A systematic review. Journal of Pan African Studies, 10(1), 76-101.

Précis

The article identifies obesity as a global issue that should be addressed promptly. It reveals the fact that over 50% of African American women are obese. The write-up compiles a report after analyzing over twenty articles containing peer-reviewed content on obesity among African American women. It provides significant insights about obesity, including its causes such as poor dietary habits and negative impacts on the populations such as vulnerability to ailments such as cardiovascular diseases. The evidence compiled from the 23 investigative studies incorporated in the study indicates no single pathway effectively reduces obesity in African American women. The authors conclude that it is necessary to combine varying approaches to cover all aspects distinctive to African American women.

Vocabulary

The key terminologies that the authors incorporated in the write-up include obesity, obesity etiology, health promotion interventions, community-based programs, baseline weight, and BMI data.

My Opinion of the Article

The article provides significant information about obesity, including its causes and strategies that can be used to prevent it. I agree with the authors' perspective that obesity among African American women is caused by dietary consumption and inactivity. I agree with the authors' argument that the conditions predispose Black women to conditions such as diabetic states. However, the approach that the author uses to present the compiled data is not effective. In my opinion, visual representation of the content, such as using pie charts or graphs, makes data easier to interpret and understand. Additionally, I have not understood the content about the pathways initiative because significant content, such as where it is located, its participants are not included.

Quotables

The authors indicate that "African American women are disproportionately

affected by obesity and chronic disease" (p. 76). The article further states that "African American women are disproportionately affected by obesity and chronic disease" (p. 83). Additionally, it states that "The CDC (2003) recommends that communities mount a coordinated, collaborative effort to promote the prevention of obesity. This coordinated program should include health education, physical education, health services, school counseling and social services, nutrition services, the psychosocial and biophysical environment, faculty and staff health promotion, and integrated efforts of schools, families, and communities" (p. 84). The author also emphasizes that "Culturally tailored health promotion interventions are readily accepted as an effective

means to improve African American women weight management outcomes" (p. 88).

Tan, M., Mamun, A., Kitzman, H., Mandapati, S. R., & Dodgen, L. (2017). Peer reviewed: neighborhood disadvantage and allostatic load in African American women at risk for obesity-related diseases. Preventing chronic disease, 14.

Précis

The write-up investigates the factors that place African American women at a higher risk of developing obesity. The authors identify elements such as exposure to numerous psychological stressors as a major factor that causes the population's condition. Some of the stressful issues that the women grapple with include a lack of skills in coping with the day-to-day challenges. The author compiled factual data from over 200 participants that unearth factors that contribute to increased obesity in the community, including disadvantages in their neighborhood and socio-economic elements. Their health-related mannerisms and stress levels also escalate their vulnerability to obesity.

Vocabulary

The key terminologies that the authors use include obesity, allostatic load scores, socio-economic variables, neighborhood disadvantages, health behaviors, and perceived stress.

My Opinion on the Article

In my opinion, the article has effectively covered the factors that contribute to high cases of obesity among African American women. I agree with the elements that it outlines as the causes of increased obesity cases in the community. As indicated, factors such as socio-economic disadvantages determine individuals eating habits and levels of stress, hence dictate their susceptibility to obesity. However, the author does not fully explain the relationship between the participants' socio-economic status and their predisposition to an allostatic load. It only mentions the issue but fails to analyze it extensively.

Quotables

As indicated by the author, "African American women have higher rates of obesity and related chronic disease than other demographic groups" (p. 1). The article further explains that ". The high prevalence of obesity may be associated with harmful coping behaviors used to

manage the many roles that African American women are expected to fulfill in their daily lives" (p. 1). The investigative study revealed that "The lack of a significant relationship between educational attainment and allostatic load reflects a complex relationship" (p. 5). Therefore the authors concluded that there is a need for “crucial need for health equity policies that prevent and reduce the health risks associated with living in disadvantaged neighborhoods" (p. 5).