Obesity

Obesity is a chronic disease that requires a comprehensive approach for both prevention and treatment.

Obesity as a disease

Black Health President, C. Virginia Fields, talks to Dr. Sylvia Gonsahn-Bollie and Kesha Calicutt about obesity and its implications in Black and Brown communities.

What you can do for weight management​

screen shot of obesity action coalition websiteThe Obesity Action Coalition has some excellent resources to understand obesity risk factors, share evidence-based health solutions, and empower community members along your journey to better health.

National council on the aging screenshotThe National Council on Aging’s health resources website has a series of resources focused on setting goals to achieve for a healthy weight, and an AgeWell Planner

Support your mental health - links between weight and mood disorders

screenshot from stop obesity alliance resources websiteMental health and obesity are related in complex ways and have been shown to affect each other. For example, people with depression are more likely to experience obesity and people with obesity are more likely to experience depression.

High rates of obesity have been observed in studied in populations with mood disorders, schizophrenia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and trauma. 

Factors that affect both mental illness and obesity are:

  • Inflammation
  • Coping behaviors
  • Neurotransmitter levels
  • Sociodemographic factors like poverty 

Obesity has also been associated with anxiety disorders and eating disorders, specifically bulimia and binge-eating disorder.

Read more on mental health and obesity in the Stop Obesity Alliance health resources (opens pdf).

Obesity and Health Disparities

The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) 2021 Leadership Summit Session: Obesity in Communities of Color – A Closer Look at Addressing Existing Disparities

Black Health Mental Health Experts

Dr. Patrice  Douglas

Rachael Johnson

Body

Food:

Medical:

Movement:

Obesity Information Sources

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