"Soul Food"

Traditionally, in the Black community there are several factors that fuel this growing trend and debate. “Soul Food” has long been a main stay where there are family gatherings, celebrations, holidays, get-together’s, after church supper and nightly meals etc. Preparing and eating food has long been a tradition in the Black family. Great grandmother’s recipes have been handed down from generation to generation rich with fat, sugar, salt, and loaded with calories and carbs. These long held traditions have lead to obesity among African American women. And just keeping it real, sistah’s love to get their “eat on.” There also is a socio-economic component to consider. Low income households are more likely to spend on fast-food and unhealthy food more so than on healthy food consisting of fruits, vegetables lean meats and fish.

Many Black women hold a belief that a “thick sistah” is a more appealing sistah to a Black Man which is a cultural derivative. Black men in general do desire a little junk in the trunk, some meat on the bones and more cushion for the pushing if you please. The so-called curvy, thick, stacked, BBW, “Big Beautiful Woman”, fat and fabulous and big girls are labels that are affectionately given to overweight and obese women. Genetically speaking, African American women have wider hips, thicker thighs and bigger behinds. This is simply how our Creator created the Black female race. Traditionally, going back generations the so-called “Big Mama”, was a Black woman who was large and in-charge in matriarchal households. So we have come to admire and respect Big Black Women. This spells out generations who think that it is acceptable to be a “big girl.” Many believe that their weight is normal and perceive themselves as just being a little overweight and feel comfortable in their own skin. Thus African American women feel more accepting and attractive about their large frame bodies than do women of other races.

Cultural norms also play a pivotal role in obesity. Furthering obesity among African American women is the fact that this group is less inclined to engage in physical fitness. The indictment against Black women is that they are less likely to be fitness conscious. The fitness center is just not the place where you are going to find a lot of Black women sweating off the pounds. And do I dare say that some sistah's just don’t want to exercise because it might sweat their hair out! Black women in general make a big fuss about there hair, just ask one. Sistah’s who spend $45.00 dollars after sitting for two-hours in the hair salon to get their “dew did” are not likely to sweat it out the next day at the fitness center. Also worth mentioning, Black women would rather squeeze into clothing two sizes to small rather than shed a few dress sizes sweating off the excess pounds. Certainly, this will never be the answer. This however, makes African American women less inclined and less motivated to exercise regularly and incorporate fitness into their lifestyle.