S/O, why is the black woman figure big?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There cannot be much truth to the idea about stronger/fatter slaves bringing more propensity for overweight/obesity to the US:

In 1960, the rate of obestity for black women was 25%, in 2008 the rate was 51% (obesity only, not including overweight people). For black men in 1960, the obesity rate was 13.9%, in 2008 it was 37.6%.

During the same time, the rates for white women increased from 13.7% (1960) to 33% (2008). For white men, the obesity rate increased from 10% (1960) to 33% 2008).

The rates of increasing obesity for men (both white and black) were about the same over the 48 year span --- roughly 24% increase in obesity. For black women, the overall increase was 26%; for white women, the increase was 20% for the same timeframe.

It ain't about the genes.... it's about the prevalence of fast food, large portions, refined foods with little nutrition, and the idea that we are supposed to feed our faces whenever we are bored. It also has to do with less physical work, less walking, more automation of chores.

Cheap, low-quality, high calorie food is everywhere and advertised. Nobody advertises "apples." We buy what we are told to buy, by the people who want our money.

Lastly, if there were any "weight" to the genetic/African theory, wouldn't the black people in 1960 have a higher percentage of obesity than people in 2008 since those in 1960 are closer in time and more similar genetically than the black population in 2008?

I rest my case.

Nicely done PP

[Anonymous]

The fallacy in that argument is this: the africans who survived the slaveships had a propensity for being bulky, but not necessarily the access to food; studies show that the people most likely to survive the near starvation and dehydration metabolize differently, and process sodium differently...
In this era, the propensity becomes reality because of diet: access to high fat high carbs is easier than ever before
so it's a genetic tendency exacerbated by a perfect storm of microwave megameals and fast-food footlong sandwiches...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The reason for my post is that I am curious why black women who are heavy think that is just the way it is. Sort of like "if I am black, I should be heavy".

I am black and quite thin, but I have heard my whole life that I am shaped like a white woman. How ridiculous is that?
I am thin because I eat little food (health conscious and picky). I have very little genetic contribution from Europe or Asia, so most (>85%) of my genes are African, and I am thin.

You sound a bit snobby OP. You are thin because you eat little food? Great, now go barf after you eat. Men probably say you are shaped like a white woman because you have no ass. I really doubt black people are born with the goal of being heavy, just because they are black. Weight has nothing to do with race my dear. Some people (of any race) are fat and just freaking proud of it.

And yes, I am "quite thin" myself, and I am black. Maybe we are cousins....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The reason for my post is that I am curious why black women who are heavy think that is just the way it is. Sort of like "if I am black, I should be heavy".

I am black and quite thin, but I have heard my whole life that I am shaped like a white woman. How ridiculous is that?
I am thin because I eat little food (health conscious and picky). I have very little genetic contribution from Europe or Asia, so most (>85%) of my genes are African, and I am thin.

You sound a bit snobby OP. You are thin because you eat little food? Great, now go barf after you eat. Men probably say you are shaped like a white woman because you have no ass. I really doubt black people are born with the goal of being heavy, just because they are black. Weight has nothing to do with race my dear. Some people (of any race) are fat and just freaking proud of it.

And yes, I am "quite thin" myself, and I am black. Maybe we are cousins....

I am not snobby about anything. I am very health conscious, and I don't care what looks good, it is about diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. WHAT is wrong with that.
The people that talked about a white figure were ALL black and I started hearing that in my 20s. BTW, I still think that talking to someone about their figure is rude. Any man that is that into looks would scare me away.

WHAT is so snobby???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both will be fat.

I've exercised and ate healthy my entire life. I was a professional athlete in my home country and made a successful career as a personal trainer and fitness coach in a weight loss clinic there. Still my lowest weight ever was 160 lbs at 5ft tall. I have PCOS and low thyroid. My labs are all in the perfect range of normal and my blood pressure/heart rate is always on the low side because of the constant exercising.

In some circumstances there's just no way to go skinny even if you starve yourself. And that is not smart.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you for real?

There are several metabolic disorders that will cause one to gain fat even though they consume a well balanced diet and exercise often. Also inumoerous medications can cause weight gain even when the person keeps good habits.

Aging also can cause weight loss/gain Even when the person keeps healthy habits. Freaking weather changes can cause your body to process ATP at a different rate so you'll gain weight even though you're consuming the same diet and doing the same exercise as before!

How ignorant can you be? You really didn't know this or you're just trolling?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crap.

People who eat more, weigh more. It's not rocket science.

Maybe it is true that some people, black and white, have a propensity to be bigger, but that is just a propensity.... it can't take effect if you aren't eating more than your body needs.

Too much fuel = fat.

I can't believe this! We're almost in 2011 people still believe this is the only reason for one to be fat?!

So what is your explanation? I think you are wrong. High caloric intake is THE ONLY explanation for obesity. Until we accept that, things will never get better.

Take two people with hypothyroidism give one a high calorie diet and the other a low calorie diet, guess which one will be heavier.
Take two old people...

OK, then ship yourself out to Somalia, and live in a tent city, lets see how you maintain the weight.

[Anonymous]

OP again, I wish that this was NOT about what men want (who cares) or what we look like hips, boobs, butt or none. I WISH that people cared about health.
We all know that anyone can get fat even on healthy food if they eat too much of it.
What worries me is that there is a dangerous acceptance, that will shorten lives of the obese.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think you are very right -- the acceptance of obesity as normal, especially in the black community, but really in any population is very dangerous. We are going to be seeing more and more of the effects of this in the next ten years.

It's not just a personal issue, it's a national issue b/c we all have to pay for Medicare. Issues like diabetes, heart disease, knee replacements, strokes, heart attacks, even dimentia --- it's going to be very expensive to have nearly 100% of the population overweight/obese. In addition, our military won't be able to get recruits, or the military will have to have "pre-basic training" (i.e. Biggest Loser training).

It really is a serious issue. And other countries, like the Chinese and Indians (of India) will be happy to see us get fatter, stupid-er and more indebted. They'll be laughing all the way to the bank when they own us.

[Anonymous]

OP - you are a douche bag even more so since you claim to be black.

Really, you are posting this - disgraceful

signed,

a black woman

[Anonymous]

I'm Black and I find this thread hilarious...are people really this ignorant?

It's no surprise that a large part of the population of black people in the US are poor. If you have $10 to feed your family, what are you going to do? Not everyone can afford to shop "organically" at Whole Foods. When you have hungry children and you can fill them up for $2 at McDonald's....that's what you're going to do. There's no concern about nutritional content...the concern is to rid yourself of gnawing hunger. Some of you people are clueless.....do you really think that the problem is simply that black women like to eat? OMFG....get a clue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Black and I find this thread hilarious...are people really this ignorant?

It's no surprise that a large part of the population of black people in the US are poor. If you have $10 to feed your family, what are you going to do? Not everyone can afford to shop "organically" at Whole Foods. When you have hungry children and you can fill them up for $2 at McDonald's....that's what you're going to do. There's no concern about nutritional content...the concern is to rid yourself of gnawing hunger. Some of you people are clueless.....do you really think that the problem is simply that black women like to eat? OMFG....get a clue.

So true. People with money and a high disposable income are often out of touch with reality, which is abundant evidence on this thread. And not only African Americans have high obesity rates. Rural white Americans are often morbidly obese too from fast food and soda. In the Metro DC area there are more poor black people, and so their problem with obesity is more evident to us. But just visit some impoverished parts of Kentucky and W. Va, for example, and you'll see high rates of Caucasian obesity and dental decay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Black and I find this thread hilarious...are people really this ignorant?

It's no surprise that a large part of the population of black people in the US are poor. If you have $10 to feed your family, what are you going to do? Not everyone can afford to shop "organically" at Whole Foods. When you have hungry children and you can fill them up for $2 at McDonald's....that's what you're going to do. There's no concern about nutritional content...the concern is to rid yourself of gnawing hunger. Some of you people are clueless.....do you really think that the problem is simply that black women like to eat? OMFG....get a clue.

THIS.

Its evident that the OP is the black person that claims to understand "her people" but would be clutching her purse walking down Georgia Ave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm Black and I find this thread hilarious...are people really this ignorant?

It's no surprise that a large part of the population of black people in the US are poor. If you have $10 to feed your family, what are you going to do? Not everyone can afford to shop "organically" at Whole Foods. When you have hungry children and you can fill them up for $2 at McDonald's....that's what you're going to do. There's no concern about nutritional content...the concern is to rid yourself of gnawing hunger. Some of you people are clueless.....do you really think that the problem is simply that black women like to eat? OMFG....get a clue.

So true. People with money and a high disposable income are often out of touch with reality, which is abundant evidence on this thread. And not only African Americans have high obesity rates. Rural white Americans are often morbidly obese too from fast food and soda. In the Metro DC area there are more poor black people, and so their problem with obesity is more evident to us. But just visit some impoverished parts of Kentucky and W. Va, for example, and you'll see high rates of Caucasian obesity and dental decay.

Thank you for this PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm Black and I find this thread hilarious...are people really this ignorant?

It's no surprise that a large part of the population of black people in the US are poor. If you have $10 to feed your family, what are you going to do? Not everyone can afford to shop "organically" at Whole Foods. When you have hungry children and you can fill them up for $2 at McDonald's....that's what you're going to do. There's no concern about nutritional content...the concern is to rid yourself of gnawing hunger. Some of you people are clueless.....do you really think that the problem is simply that black women like to eat? OMFG....get a clue.

THIS.

Its evident that the OP is the black person that claims to understand "her people" but would be clutching her purse walking down Georgia Ave.

I agree to this 100%

[Anonymous]

Just watching Serena Williams play tennis. Seeing her walk down the street, she doesn't exactly look like twiggy now does she? but yet she is more "in shape" and athletic than most people, white or black. Her body type and genetic make-up is wider and muscular.

Some people are build like that. Something to keep in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm Black and I find this thread hilarious...are people really this ignorant?

It's no surprise that a large part of the population of black people in the US are poor. If you have $10 to feed your family, what are you going to do? Not everyone can afford to shop "organically" at Whole Foods. When you have hungry children and you can fill them up for $2 at McDonald's....that's what you're going to do. There's no concern about nutritional content...the concern is to rid yourself of gnawing hunger. Some of you people are clueless.....do you really think that the problem is simply that black women like to eat? OMFG....get a clue.

So true. People with money and a high disposable income are often out of touch with reality, which is abundant evidence on this thread. And not only African Americans have high obesity rates. Rural white Americans are often morbidly obese too from fast food and soda. In the Metro DC area there are more poor black people, and so their problem with obesity is more evident to us. But just visit some impoverished parts of Kentucky and W. Va, for example, and you'll see high rates of Caucasian obesity and dental decay.

African Americans are actually the highest consumers of sugary soft drinks. Soft drinks are expensive but water is free. It's definitely an issue of being poor but also an issue of being less educated and understanding what to buy with limited funds. I remember reading an article years ago which discussed how the AA diet used to be extremely healthy because AAs were very poor but they ate a lot of fruits and vegetables which could be inexpensively grown. Now, that prepared food is cheap and easy, we can see the effects of fast food on AAs and other poor populations, including whites and hispanics.