Obesity in African Americans: Causes, Consequences, and Cures

Introduction 

Obesity is one of the most significant public health crises in the United States (US) of America. The National Study representing the national obesity prevalence in the country has increased steadily in the past three decades. However, there has been a disparity between the continuous changes as depicted in the associated patterns. Current evidence shows that the prevalence of obesity is likely to be on the rise, making it more difficult to achieve the objectives of Healthy People 2010. African-Americans in low-income neighborhoods in the US are associated with high rates of obesity and generally poorer health. Ghosh-Dastidar et al. (2014) believe that the inability to access healthy foods is a significant reason why high rates of obesity are common among African Americans in low-income neighborhoods. At the same time, Wang et al. (2008) estimated by 2030, more cases of obesity and overweight among adults will increase by 86.3%, while obesity cases will increase by 51.1%. The study’s primary aim was to provide a comprehensive analysis to show the potential future trends of obesity and how they relate to general healthcare costs. The study was done according to the nationalities represented by the collected survey data over the last three decades. The article contributes to the rich information base to help policymakers, health professionals, and the public enhances their preparedness to face the related challenges associated with obesity. 

Despite the seriousness of obesity, no serious interventions have been effected to reduce the rates of obesity in populations. One of the most significant reasons for the increase in obesity rates is complex integrations of environmental, behavioral, and biological factors ( Seo & Sa, 2010). To reverse the obesity rates in the populations, there will be a need to address both the obesogenic environment and individual behavior. Additionally, obesity rates can be reduced by treating the affected individuals or preventing the gradual increment of population body weights ( Seo & Sa, 2010) . While success in the long-term treatment of obesity is poor, the inclusion of large behavioral changes can be sustainable. The promotion of small lifestyle changes can also be a good alternative approach to prevent the gradual bodyweight increase among the African-American populations. Besides the US, this strategy can be used in other countries as well to reduce obesity rates. 

Ghosh-Dastidar et al. (2014) conducted a census where they established that supermarkets around the neighborhood were connected to a 24% lower obesity prevalence and a 9% overweight prevalence. The authors’ study involved a national sample of 60,775 women between the ages of 50-79 years. The study results indicated that the supermarket density in a radius of 0.5 miles of an individual’s residence was linked to a reduced BMI rate. Simultaneously, the availability of establishments offering healthy foods is not a guarantee that the residents will have access to the shops there. Ghosh-Dastidar et al. (2014) also reviewed studies focused on establishing how store characteristics may impact health. The studies reviewed studies attempted to investigate how the distance traveled, and the store audits collected within the specified radius. However, among these studies, two of them established no association between distance to the stores and the people’s BMI, while other studies associated shopping at a discount store with a high BMI (Ghosh-Dastidar et al., 2014). Another two studies found no association between the in-store characteristics (cereals and vegetables, vegetables and fruits, food prices) and BMI rates. Additionally, other studies specifically focused on the prices of foods and established mixed relationships between body weight, consumption and price. However, a few studies found out that the high prices of foods in low-income neighborhoods proved to be a barrier to access to healthy foods (Ghosh-Dastidar et al., 2014). Another study established that lowering the prices of healthy food in a rebate program would increase the purchase of healthy foods and decreased purchases of nutritious foods. 

The two studies are surveys of the increasing cases of obesity in America, albeit with differences in particular sections. For example, Wang et al. (2008) surveyed the potential burden of the prevalence of obesity and healthcare costs and overweight cases among various groups among the US population. On the other hand, Ghosh-Dastidar et al. (2014) established that the store prices and the distance to the store affect the prevalence of obesity. Generally, both studies are concerned by the increasing obesity prevalence in the US. The study by Wang et al. (2008) is a quest to establish the prevalence of obesity among particular age groups, while Ghosh-Dastidar et al. (2014) seek to relate the rising prevalence of obesity to factors such as an individual’s proximity to store foods and how the prices of stores would also affect the prevalence of obesity. 

Wang et al. (2008) used the obesity prevalence data from the National Health, and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) gathered between the 1970s and 2004 to provide measurable and high-quality weight and height data. Ghosh-Dastidar et al. (2014) carried out a study involving 10,763 residents drawn from four states to test their hypothesis that the distance to the supermarket is an underlying cause of obesity instead of other health disparities. The authors used a sample size of 1372 households from African-American neighborhoods that did not have a supermarket. However, the sample was not carefully chosen because most desert residents are characterized with a low SES, making it difficult for the study results to be generalized. Wang et al. (2008) used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) between the 1970s and 2004 as their data sources. However, one significant limitation of the study is using simplified scenarios as assumptions. 

Recommendations 

Several interventions need to be considered to reduce the burden of obesity in the US and reduce healthcare costs associated with obesity. Seo & Sa (2010) opines that one of the most significant obesity interventions for African-Americans includes lifestyle change, the reduction of involving children in computer-based programs and engaging the minors in culturally-based adaptation programs. Other intervention strategies include the involvement of parents and knowledgeable people in making diet and general lifestyle changes and the integration of physical activity. This includes incorporating people in the multi-component programs that combine healthy dietary habits and healthy physical activity. However, in the real world, the adoption of multi-component interventions can be very challenging due to the limited resources and the inefficacious single-component interventions. 

According to Hu (2013), sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) form the greatest source of added sugar calories in the US. SSBs for the greatest representation of energy diet in the US. Hu (2013) evaluates the possibility of reducing obesity prevalence and its associated diseases and complications. The study results from rightly-powered prospective cohorts show a significant link between SSB consumption and the long-term risk of type 2 Obesity (T2D). A recent study carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO) involving a meta-analysis of RCTs established that a lower intake of added sugars is associated with reduced body weight and a high confidence interval (Hu, 2013). At the same time, the study established that high sugar intake was associated with a consequent increase in weight. A similar meta-analysis involving cohort studies also established that a higher intake of SSBs among children was also linked with a high risk of obesity or overweight compared with children who take a lower proportion of SSBs. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the paper was based on two primary articles to give the considerations and recommendations to reduce the prevalence of diabetes in the US. The paper considered multiple elements to form critical trends on obesity among the African-American communities in the US. In general, obesity is one of the most significant crises in the US public health care sector, is expected to continue to rise in the future if the current trends continue. The US has recorded high national obesity prevalence rates in the last three decades. Current evidence shows that high obesity prevalence rates are likely to be on the rise in the future. The presence of supermarkets in neighborhoods is associated with increased rates of obesity. At the same time, there was no evidence that accessibility to establishments offering healthy foods is linked to reduced obesity rates. Additionally, the in-store characteristics, including cereals, vegetables, fruits, and food prices, have no direct links with BMI. However, there was evidence that proximity to supermarkets in the neighborhoods is associated with reducing BMI rates. However, some studies showed that proximity to health food stores and the distance traveled within a certain radius had no association with BMI. Generally, the primary objective of both surveys was to assess the increasing rates of obesity in the US. To reduce the burden of obesity, several recommendations were suggested. Firstly, reducing the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), the greatest source of added sugar and calories in the United States of America, was recommended to reduce the prevalence of obesity and related diseases. Additionally, lifestyle changes, reducing children’s participation in computer-related programs, involving parents and professionals in making decisions regarding lifestyle changes, and encouraging physical activity are other significant interventions. 

References 

Ghosh-Dastidar, B., Cohen, D., Hunter, G., Zenk, S. N., Huang, C., Beckman, R., & Dubowitz, T. (2014). Distance to store, food prices, and obesity in urban food deserts.  American Journal of Preventive Medicine ,  47 (5), 587-595. https://d oi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2014.07.005 

Hu, F. B. (2013). Resolved: There is sufficient scientific evidence that decreasing sugar‐sweetened beverage consumption will reduce the prevalence of obesity and obesity‐related diseases.  Obesity Reviews ,  14 (8), 606-619. https://d oi.org/ 10.1111/obr.12040 

Seo, D. C., & Sa, J. (2010). A meta-analysis of obesity interventions among US minority children.  Journal of Adolescent Health ,  46 (4), 309-323. https://d oi.org/ 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.11.202 

Wang, Y., Beydoun, M. A., Liang, L., Caballero, B., & Kumanyika, S. K. (2008). Will all Americans become overweight or obese? Estimating the progression and cost of the US obesity epidemic.  Obesity ,  16 (10), 2323-2330. https://d oi.org/10.1038/oby.2008.351