Comments on: Dieting and weight loss – black women vs white

By: Miss. Vicky

Miss. Vicky — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:33:31 +0000

I am an educated black woman, and I have noticed the differences in the way weight is perceived in the black and hispanic communities vs. the white community.

While no one wants to be unhealthy, the black and hispanic communities don’t always share the same aesthetic values as white communities. Culturally there is a high value placed on curves and feminine frames. Being very thin is often associated with being unhealthy or under developed. So we don’t necessarily strive to be a size four. Most strive to be healthy and around a size eight or 10.

By: Em

Em — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:47:56 +0000

Overall, weight isn’t as big an issue in the our community even among middle class blacks. Upper middle class blacks are sometimes a bit more weight conscious,though.
My friends and I choose to watch our diets and exercise to prvent health problems,not to fit into a size 4 dress.I’ve never heard a black woman raised among black people say she was dieting to improve her body image. (With all the interracial adoptions and black kids raised solely in white suburbs,that’s likely to change due to the lack of a strong,consistent connection to the black community.)

By: Obagi Nu Derm

Obagi Nu Derm — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:40:16 +0000

There a lot of black people that I know are worried about their looks and weight and I think these studies can not be taken seriously.

But I think they make for interesting reading.

By: Findmybbw

Findmybbw — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:20:52 +0000

Well these days there are studies on so many things and this comes as an interesting find!

I think white women are indeed more conscious and that is mainly because of the social stigma and also the mental make up.

By: Neem

Neem — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:18:02 +0000

This is an interesting study, I think the major reason of course is the social circle that people are in.

I didnt know such a thing existed and this has helped me see things in new light.

By: Smartlipo laser liposuction

Smartlipo laser liposuction — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:07:13 +0000

Weight loss is something that everyone is interested in and I think it is mainly because being fat is not well received in the society.

I think ethnic origin can determine the patterns too. I have seen examples myself. I think white woman are more concerned about their weight maybe because of social pressure.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:44:26 +0000

Can this also be due to the difference in genetic makeup? What I mean is that will there any chance that black people are more difficult to lose weight due to the genetic makeup?

By: Ada

Ada — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:24:30 +0000

Nothing as formal as research, mostly from personal experience and interaction.

By: Neo

Neo — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:42:03 +0000

I never thought there is a difference. Have you conducted some sort of survey among black woman? Or is it just a wild guess? But I do agree with you that there is more tolerance for being overweight in black community compared to whites.

By: Ada

Ada — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:34:20 +0000

Hi Matt. Thanks for dropping by. Partly, I think there is more tolerance for being overweight in the black community. Statistics show that obesity is more common in blacks than in whites. I think maybe some research is needed in which black communities are asked about the way they access health care services and maybe what makes them uncomfortable in terms of the way health care is delivered to them. There are obviously some obstacles that are getting in the way.