Race, Gender, and Obesity

[sakano]

Despite having more muscle and bone mass, black people allegedly have lower metabolism rates--which predisposes them to obesity. The theory is that people of African descent inherited a "thrift gene," which helped their ancestors' bodies conserve energy during periods of famine.

In hunter-gatherer societies, having this "thrift gene" is beneficial. But, in societies with abundant food (like the United States), such a gene could be problematic.

Yet, what I don't understand is why there's no obesity epidemic among black men? If black men and black women both have this gene, then why does it affect the women more? Do you suppose that hormones also play a significant role?


*I think that this might also be true for whites and Hispanics (the men having lower obesity rates); but I'm not entirely sure.

 

[kp404]

The rates of obesity are reportedly higher for black women than they are for black men.*

This is so because black people allegedly have lower metabolism rates, despite having more muscle and bone mass. The theory is that people of African ancestry inherited a "thrift gene," which helped their ancestors' bodies conserve energy during periods of famine.

In a place where food is scarce, having this "thrift gene" is beneficial. But, in a place where food is plenty (like the United States), having this gene could be problematic. Some scientists believe that this gene partly explains the higher obesity rates amongst black people.

Yet, what I don't understand is why there's no obesity epidemic among black men? If black men and black women both have this gene, then why does it affect the women more? Do you suppose that hormones also play a role?


*I think that this might also be true for whites and Hispanics (the men having lower obesity rates); but I'm not entirely sure.

What scientist developed this thrift gene theory? Name and book please.

 

[sakano]

James Neel, a genetics professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, proposed this theory during the 1960s.

 

[Depreciating Asset]

Let me caution against anyone who thinks the explanation is simply a black women vs black men difference in attitudes, exercise, etc.

Women of ALL races in America have higher rates of obesity than their male counterparts. The difference between black men and women, while significant, is not much greater than the difference between Mexican American men and Mexican American women.

Here are the stats from the cdc website:

Table 2. Percent of healthy weight, overweight, and obese adults,
ages 20 years and older, by sex and race-ethic group: United
States, 1988–94

............................. Healthy weight....Overweight ..............Obese
............................. (BMI 18.5–24.9) (BMI 25.0–29.9) (BMI 30 or above)

Men ............................ 39.3 .............. 39.9 .............. 19.9

Non-Hispanic white . . . 38.1 .............. 40.7.............. 20.3
Non-Hispanic black . . . 41.4 .............. 35.9 .............. 21.1
Mexican American.... 35.2 .............. 43.3 .............. 20.7

Women ........................... 45.9 .............. 25.7 .............. 25.5

Non-Hispanic white . . . 49.2 .............. 24.8 .............. 23.1
Non-Hispanic black . . . 31.1.............. 29.4.............. 37.2
Mexican American.... 32.2.............. 32.6.............. 33.6

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/databriefs/adultweight.pdf

Okay carry on...

 

[Ooh Marty]

black men tend to be more physically active..yes we share the same shytty diet but men tend to play sports on a weekly basis and can drop weight a lot quicker than women.

 

[wheywhey]

I never knew this section was here.

In hunter-gatherer societies, having this "thrift gene" is beneficial. But, in societies with abundant food (like the United States), such a gene could be problematic.

I disagree with the thrift gene theory. So much money and effort is put into finding a scientific reason for obesity, that people don't use common sense. To be healthy a person needs three things:
-an alkaline diet
-an abundance of vitamins and minerals (blacks need lots of vitamin D)
-the love and respect of others

First of all, what Americans eat is not food. Food should rot. Even organic milk is not food because it keeps for over a month. We keep eating more because our bodies aren't getting nutrients. Sugar, corn syrup, and grains are foreign invaders and our body depletes its stores of minerals trying to flush them out.

Food should be mostly raw and consist of: mainly fruits and vegetables, some nuts, seeds, and meat. If this is your entire diet, then it would be impossible to be obese. Psychologically few people are willing to eat this way because it would cost them most if not all of their social network.

Look at Soul Train episodes from the early 70s. People were slim because we were still eating home cooked meals with a variety of vegetables. It wasn't just dancers but black society at large.

Yet, what I don't understand is why there's no obesity epidemic among black men? If black men and black women both have this gene, then why does it affect the women more? Do you suppose that hormones also play a significant role?


*I think that this might also be true for whites and Hispanics (the men having lower obesity rates); but I'm not entirely sure.

Depends on your definition of an epidemic. A third of black men are obese.

Obesity effect men and women inversely. Less educated or poorer women have higher rates of obesity. While higher educated and wealthier men tend to be obese.

Hormones have nothing to do with it. For black women it is a mental health problem. That's part of the reason they cling so strongly to the church. We get a lot of external and internal criticisms. Low quality relationships with men. Abandonment issues and abuse. Food is a cheap and legal way to make yourself feel better.

The men and women of other races/ethnic groups are very close in obesity levels. Blacks are the only group with a nearly 20 percentage point difference. White and Asian women have more prestige as being feminine and desirable, more education, more income. Hispanic women have stronger family network, greater sense of belonging and value as mothers in their community.

 

[wheywhey]

Globesity is a good documentary that shows how fake laboratory foods are making people all over the planet obese.