Overweight and Obesity

Minority Women's Health > African Americans > Health Topics > Overweight and Obesity

African American women have the highest rates of being overweight or obese compared to other groups in the U.S. About four out of five African American women are overweight or obese.

Use the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator to calculate your BMI.

Being overweight or obese increases your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, breathing problems, arthritis, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea (breathing problems while sleeping), osteoarthritis, and some cancers. Obesity is measured with a body mass index (BMI). BMI shows the relationship of weight to height. Women with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight, while women with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese. All adults (aged 18 years or older) who have a BMI of 25 or more are considered at risk for early death and disability from being overweight or obese. These health risks increase as the BMI rises.

Where your body stores extra weight is also important. For most women, carrying extra weight around their waists or middle (with a waist larger than 35 inches) raises health risks more than carrying extra weight around their hips or thighs. These health risks include heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. If you are overweight or obese, losing weight can lower your risk for many diseases. And exercise is a key part of weight loss. Try to be active (30 minutes of exercise most days of the week is best) and eat better to help prevent and treat obesity.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, published jointly by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, can help you reach your goals. These guidelines offer advice on choosing healthy foods, keeping a healthy weight, and getting enough exercise.

Publications

1.   Do You Know the Health Risks of Being Overweight? - The more overweight you are, the more likely you are to have health problems. Weight loss can help improve the harmful effects of being overweight. This fact sheet explains how to verify if you might be overweight, how extra body weight can add to health risks, and how to safely lose weight.

   http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/health_risks.htm

2.   Fit and Fabulous as You Mature - This easy-to-read publication explains why obesity is a health problem for aging Americans. It discusses the benefits of physical activity and the health risks of poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle. It also gives tips for how to become more active and eat better.

   http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/mature.htm

3.   Frequently Asked Questions - Obesity and Weight Loss - This fact sheet defines obesity and explains some of the factors that contribute to becoming overweight or obese. It provides statistics on how many women are obese, explains the serious health problems associated with obesity, and how obese women can lose weight and improve their health.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/weightloss.htm

4.   Improving Your Health: Tips for African American Men and Women - This publication for African American men and women provides information on weight loss and the health risks of being overweight.

   http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/improving.htm

5.   Recipes and Tips for Healthy, Thrifty Meals - This colorful book provides information to assist families in purchasing and preparing healthy, thrifty meals that meet the recommendations in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. The book contains two sample meal plans (consisting of two weekly menus, 40 recipes, and two food lists), tips for shopping, healthy cooking, and keeping food safe.

   http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/food/rec-thrifty/recipes.htm

6.   Sisters Together: Move More, Eat Better: Celebrate the Beauty of Youth! - This fact sheet for African American women provides tips on nutrition and exercise as a way to feel healthy. It also provides useful tips on setting doable goals and how to eat out and still be healthy.

   http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/celebrate.htm

7.   Walking...A Step in the Right Direction - This publication contains information about how to start your own walking and exercise program. A sample walking program and guidelines are provided to help guide you through developing your own program.

   http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/walking.htm

8.   Weight and Waist Measurement: Tools for Adults - This fact sheet gives information on how you can use Body Mass Index and waist circumference to determine if you are at risk for weight-related health problems, such as heart disease or type 2 diabetes.

   http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/tools.htm

9.   Weight Loss For Life - This publication contains information about diet and the various types of weight-loss programs to help individuals decide what's best for their needs.

   http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/for_life.htm

10. Exercise: How to Get Started (Copyright © AAFP) - This fact sheet discusses the importance of exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preventing health problems. Tips are offered on how to get started as well as diagrams on how to properly stretch before any level of exercise.

    http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/physical/basics/015.html

Organizations

1.   CDC's WISEWOMAN™ - Well Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation
2.   Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, FCS, FNCS, USDA
3.   Food and Nutrition Information Center, NAL, USDA
4.   National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Information Center, NHLBI, NIH, HHS
5.   Nutrition.Gov
6.   Smallstep.gov
7.   Weight Control Information Network, NIDDK, NIH, HHS
8. American Heart Association

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007