Fat Black Women

[Juice.]

Here is a telling statistic: 78% of Black women are overweight. and 50% are obese.

Of course, that's only a statistic. And I don't believe the numbers are truly that inflated, but we can all acknowledge the obesity problem the Black female has. Everywhere I look, everywhere I go, I'm seeing these nasty fat bodies. Today, as I made my way to the bank to cash a check, I noticed a lot of fat people. I decided to count the number of fat people waiting in line. Out of the 13 Black women I saw, 9 were overweight, and 3 of those 9 I could classify as land-whales.

The question is: why?

I could name a few social reasons. When you're working several jobs just to get by, you may not have enough time to cook up a healthy meal for yourself or family. Picking up some McDonalds or KFC sounds like a less time consuming alternative. But that can't be the underlying reason, as the obesity problem in Black women is exorbitantly higher than in Black males.

A lot of fat Black women I come in contact with seem to believe that "thick" means "grossly overweight". Don't get it confused, everyone likes a nice big ***, but not like that.

Others misguidedly believe that being fat is natural, African, and how the Black female should look. The Black female has a naturally beautiful body. It's curvy and feminine. Obesity is not inherently African or naturally Black, it destroys the naturally beautiful characteristics of the Black body.

I heard on CNN that within 30 years, it's estimated that 86% of Americans will be considered obese. Judging by what I've seen, I believe it. This is not an attack on fat Black women. I just want to hear some of your opinions on the issue.

[mlc0908]

Being a "PLUS SIZE" black woman, I can offer a few reasons...doesnt mean I'm correct or have all of the answers. Poor eating habbits, lack of exercise, slow metabolism, health conditions, genetics....these are all obvious contributing factors. The point I'd like to make is just because a person is overweight doesn't always mean they're not healthy. My blood pressure is always good, my cholesterol or blood sugar levels aren't high, takes more than a few flights of stairs to get me winded, Im active (walking and bike riding etc)...and Im overweight. Hey, I just may qualify as one of those land whales you were referring to. Everybody has their own story. Just as everyone has their own preferences, and believe me when I tell you, there are no shortages of men who prefer big women. Like my stepmom always used to tell me, only a dog wants a bone! lol

[JamieC]

Originally Posted by Juice.

Here is a telling statistic: 78% of Black women are overweight. and 50% are obese.

Of course, that's only a statistic. And I don't believe the numbers are truly that inflated, but we can all acknowledge the obesity problem the Black female has. Everywhere I look, everywhere I go, I'm seeing these nasty fat bodies. Today, as I made my way to the bank to cash a check, I noticed a lot of fat people. I decided to count the number of fat people waiting in line. Out of the 13 Black women I saw, 9 were overweight, and 3 of those 9 I could classify as land-whales.

The question is: why?

I could name a few social reasons. When you're working several jobs just to get by, you may not have enough time to cook up a healthy meal for yourself or family. Picking up some McDonalds or KFC sounds like a less time consuming alternative. But that can't be the underlying reason, as the obesity problem in Black women is exorbitantly higher than in Black males.

A lot of fat Black women I come in contact with seem to believe that "thick" means "grossly overweight". Don't get it confused, everyone likes a nice big ***, but not like that.

Others misguidedly believe that being fat is natural, African, and how the Black female should look. The Black female has a naturally beautiful body. It's curvy and feminine. Obesity is not inherently African or naturally Black, it destroys the naturally beautiful characteristics of the Black body.

I heard on CNN that within 30 years, it's estimated that 86% of Americans will be considered obese. Judging by what I've seen, I believe it. This is not an attack on fat Black women. I just want to hear some of your opinions on the issue.

Unfortunately that's the way of the world. Sometimes it's not by choice that a person is overweight. I myself is only 125 lbs whereas my stepmother is over 250 lbs. She's a nice looking woman, dresses and carries herself well. But how can anyone statistically say that 78% of black women are obese? That's like saying 85% of black folks are on welfare. (Which isn't true because I used to work for The State Of Oregon as a Social Worker) So I could tell ya some things.

Anywho: Topic at hand

You have to remember that in the 21st century foods are processed, manufactured, and shot up with hormones. Just take a look at the average teenager in high school. Some of these kids look older then my momma and have the bodies to prove it. I work with this Japanese chick and she's a hefty 320 so I don't blame it on the rice or the Habu Saki. A lot of times it's all in consumption, other times it's hereditary. I see obese people from all walks of life everyday and their NOT all black women. Have you seen the overweight Mexicans, Whites, and the OTHERS?

Why do you think that people in Europe are so small? That's because they take care of their bodies, drink plenty of wine without over indulgance and unlike us here in the good 'ole United States we consume out salads before a meal whereas they consume theirs after a meal because it cleanses the system.

Yes, I get upset and a little flustered when I walk into a McDonalds to my sweet tea and the person standing in front of me orders the two big macs for $3.50, two large fries and a huge DIET Coke. And that's just for themselves. You've got to remember that the woman in front of me has two huge pre-teens with her and their not on the verge of ordering Happy Meals.

My point is just to say that wherever this statistic came from it's wayyyyyyyy off the cuff because if you look around, you've got obesity everywhere you look, from all walks of life, every color you can imagine and it's not going to get any better unless people wake up and start taking care of themselves. I'm sure that no one likes to have their thighs rubbing together because ya gotta "Breathe" and let the air flow.

[Juice.]

Here's where I got the statistics from by the way:

EURweb.com - GOVERNMENT OBESITY SURVEY DOUBTED: 78% of black women are overweight?!

Obesity and African Americans - The Office of Minority Health

It's not only about what you eat either. Me, I eat upwards to 4,000 calories a day. But I also work out daily. And I'm not in the least bit overweight. We're getting too lazy. There's a corner store right by my house, about a block away, and I always see people from my building getting into their car and driving a block over there, and than a block back. I'm saying, one day America is gonna look like this:

Just as everyone has their own preferences, and believe me when I tell you, there are no shortages of men who prefer big women. Like my stepmom always used to tell me, only a dog wants a bone! lol

That's true. It doesn't detract from the health issues though. It's another reason why Black women have higher obesity rates than Black men. Cause if a Black man is fat, he isn't getting laid. Period.

[Samoon]

"Cause if a Black man is fat, he isn't getting laid. Period."

Agreed! If a male is seriously attempting to LOSE the fat and making progress, I can give him a pass. But if he has long-term obesity and does NOTHING to bring himself to an optimal state of health?

I can advise (if asked), but to get with a walking coronary? No offense to anyone, but the heart-beats ARE ticking away.

[Da Flash]

Originally Posted by Juice.

Here is a telling statistic: 78% of Black women are overweight. and 50% are obese.

Of course, that's only a statistic. And I don't believe the numbers are truly that inflated, but we can all acknowledge the obesity problem the Black female has. Everywhere I look, everywhere I go, I'm seeing these nasty fat bodies. Today, as I made my way to the bank to cash a check, I noticed a lot of fat people. I decided to count the number of fat people waiting in line. Out of the 13 Black women I saw, 9 were overweight, and 3 of those 9 I could classify as land-whales.

The question is: why?

I could name a few social reasons. When you're working several jobs just to get by, you may not have enough time to cook up a healthy meal for yourself or family. Picking up some McDonalds or KFC sounds like a less time consuming alternative. But that can't be the underlying reason, as the obesity problem in Black women is exorbitantly higher than in Black males.

A lot of fat Black women I come in contact with seem to believe that "thick" means "grossly overweight". Don't get it confused, everyone likes a nice big ***, but not like that.

Others misguidedly believe that being fat is natural, African, and how the Black female should look. The Black female has a naturally beautiful body. It's curvy and feminine. Obesity is not inherently African or naturally Black, it destroys the naturally beautiful characteristics of the Black body.

I heard on CNN that within 30 years, it's estimated that 86% of Americans will be considered obese. Judging by what I've seen, I believe it. This is not an attack on fat Black women. I just want to hear some of your opinions on the issue.

I believe that overweight is slightly different from race to race. What you or I may think of as fat is consider acceptable by others. My oldest daughter is 5'7" and 140-145lbs, to me she looks fine but, she been listening to her co-workers (almost exclusively europeans!!)version of "in-shape", some ol' mess about her weighing 125-130. Try putting european or Black standards of weight on a Polynesian, and you'd basically have a group of people who 95+% of them would be considered overweight!

While I do agree that quite a few of our sista's (and brotha's) could shed a few pounds, we shouldn't use a non-Black measuring stick to measure Blacks.
As mlc0908 was saying, if you exercise, eat healthy foods, and get regular bloodwork done. You should be your own judge of what's overweight and when you feel that you need to lose weight(your clothes don't lie!!!), lose it for your reasons, not those of others.

[Juice.]

That is true, what the Black community might consider thick and beautiful, maybe 150 or so pounds and 5'5, the white community would consider overweight. But I'm talking more like 250 pounds and 5'5.

Forget the statistics. Think about what you have seen in the Black community lately. I'm not talking about the beautiful curvy Black body. I'm talking about grossly obese women.

Originally Posted by Samoon

"Cause if a Black man is fat, he isn't getting laid. Period."

Agreed! If a male is seriously attempting to LOSE the fat and making progress, I can give him a pass. But if he has long-term obesity and does NOTHING to bring himself to an optimal state of health?

I can advise (if asked), but to get with a walking coronary? No offense to anyone, but the heart-beats ARE ticking away.

Haha, I have to agree. Plus, no one wants to have sex with a sitting duck that you you have to physically push around to change positions. What's gonna happen when everyone is so fat that it becomes damn near physically impossible to have pleasurable sex? And yeah, I'm serious on that point.

[mlc0908]

Jamie C makes a good point...the ways food is processed, the additives, chemicals, etc are contributing factors. Fast food is a major culprit and so are prepared boxed, canned and frozen foods, almost always high in fat, carbs, sodium and cholesterol. This coinicides with what Juice said about people being lazy. Adding to the fact that there is a severe lack of exercise, serving foods that are already prepared is more appealing to those looking to take the easy way out. On the flip side of that, heat and serve types of foods are more convenient for people who are short on time even though we end up with ingesting far more "bad stuff" then we would if we had eaten a healthy home cooked meal. Take a look back to a time in America before McDonalds, Frito-Lay, Chef Boyardee, Swanson, Betty Crocker, Pepsi Cola, etc. Everything consumed was grown naturally and prepared fresh from scratch. Lack of technology required physical and manual labor to accomplish almost if not everything that needed to be done, which, provided more activity and exercise on a daily basis.

I always say that technological advancement will be a main contributing factor of our extinction. While we are fortunate to have so many different innovations at our disposal, some of the changes that occur in society can be more of a hinderance than a help.

[Amico]

Weight is irrelevant.

Two people can weigh a 100 lbs each. One with 10% body fat and the other with 35% body fat. The person carrying 35% body fat is at an increased risk for diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea, despite only weighing a 100 lbs.

The key is to reduce the amount of fat you carry.

[proudBlatina113]

I do agree that there is a weight problem in america, but ethnicity, what you eat and your genes play a large role. Like I myself am 4'11" i weigh about 105- to 108. Now i have a friend who eats right exercises and everything shes white same height as me and weighs about 130 something. Then i have a Japanese friend same height as me, eats like a pig and weighs 95 lbs. Body types also are a huge a factor. because you could be a bit over weight and others might not even know it depending on where you carry your weight when its gained. for those of us who carry it in our booties will just look thick. while those who carry in their middles will look more over weight.

There are plenty of people out there who are healthy and are in shape, they are just bigger. just because you're skinny doesnt mean your healthy. I may have a speedy metabolism, but i defiantly dont eat right or exercise. i know i should but im lazy. and you would never know that just by looking at me because my body looks like i work out. I know its hard for alot of us to get the "Skinny is all that is pretty" mentality out our heads but we all gotta start somewhere. ^_^

Now juice, i do get what your saying about the death knockin on ur door overweight. and not to dis my hubby but mexicans are really bad too. and their food does not help(even though its sooo yummy). I remember i was at the mall once and saw a woman who was so obese she couldnt walk. yet there she was sittin in her wheel chair eat one of those giant cookie cakes all by herself. i was like QUE!?