Obesity, Weight, and Health
@afropuffz
Dr. Gwenetta Curry
Title: Assistant Professor, Gender and Race Studies
Research Title: The Relationship Between Education and Obesity Among Black Women in The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Cycles 1999-2010
Institution: Texas A&M University
Committee Chair: Dr. William Alex McIntosh
Abstract: Although the obesity epidemic in America has begun to level off in recent years, Black women’s rates have continued to increase. The latest Center for Diseases Prevention and Control (CDC) numbers show that 56.6% of Black women are considered to be obese compared to 44.4% Hispanic and 32.8% of white women. These numbers simply highlight the need for a deeper understanding of what factors increase the risk of obesity for Black women. This dissertation begins by exploring the current literature on factors that influence obesity rates and linking educational attainment to health outcomes.
The 1999-2010 years of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were combined for these analyzes. I examine the prevalence of obesity among Black women from 1999-2010 by education and age groups. The results show that Black women with some education and associate degree and age group 20-39 had the highest rates of obesity. Next, I ran multiple, logistic, and multinomial regressions to determine which factors are associated the obesity in Black women. The results indicate that Creactive protein levels >0.3 mg/dl had a positive association with obesity. C-reactive protein was used to measure exposure to stress triggering an inflammation response.
The results also indicate that Black women have increased odds of being obese if they worked more than 46 hours a week. Fruits and vegetable intake was not associated with body mass index of Black women. Lastly, physical activity was only positively associated with body mass index of Black women with Some College and Associate degrees. These data indicate there is a real need to focus on Black women’s health and the impact their environment has on their health behaviors and health outcomes.
Title: Assistant Professor, Gender and Race Studies
Research Title: The Relationship Between Education and Obesity Among Black Women in The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Cycles 1999-2010
Institution: Texas A&M University
Committee Chair: Dr. William Alex McIntosh
Abstract: Although the obesity epidemic in America has begun to level off in recent years, Black women’s rates have continued to increase. The latest Center for Diseases Prevention and Control (CDC) numbers show that 56.6% of Black women are considered to be obese compared to 44.4% Hispanic and 32.8% of white women. These numbers simply highlight the need for a deeper understanding of what factors increase the risk of obesity for Black women. This dissertation begins by exploring the current literature on factors that influence obesity rates and linking educational attainment to health outcomes.
The 1999-2010 years of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were combined for these analyzes. I examine the prevalence of obesity among Black women from 1999-2010 by education and age groups. The results show that Black women with some education and associate degree and age group 20-39 had the highest rates of obesity. Next, I ran multiple, logistic, and multinomial regressions to determine which factors are associated the obesity in Black women. The results indicate that Creactive protein levels >0.3 mg/dl had a positive association with obesity. C-reactive protein was used to measure exposure to stress triggering an inflammation response.
The results also indicate that Black women have increased odds of being obese if they worked more than 46 hours a week. Fruits and vegetable intake was not associated with body mass index of Black women. Lastly, physical activity was only positively associated with body mass index of Black women with Some College and Associate degrees. These data indicate there is a real need to focus on Black women’s health and the impact their environment has on their health behaviors and health outcomes.
| curry_diss_3.pdf |
@DrBradJohnson
Dr. Brad Johnson
Title: Educational/ Leadership/ Motivational Speaker, Author
Research Topic: Oppression of Obesity
Institution: Georgia Southern University
Committee Chair: Dr. William Reynolds
Abstract: This dissertation study investigated the cultural influences and oppressive effects of obesity among 10 highly visible adults in contemporary USA media. The following research questions guided the study: (a) What are the influential cultural factors affecting the increase of obesity in the USA? (b) What are the oppressive effects of contemporary cultural biases perpetuated toward overweight/obese/fat people in the USA? Participant characteristics assumed to indicate the cultural factors of influence on the development of obesity as well as the lived experiences of oppression were identified through the analysis of participant responses to constructed interview questions. The following cultural studies tenets guided the construction of the questions: (a) articulation; (b) hegemony; (c) ideology; and (d) representation. Phenomenological analyses indicated that there are multiple cultural factors that influence the development of 2 obesity and that the lived experience of oppression is common among those who are obese, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or gender. The study indicated that the oppression of obesity began early in the participants’ lives and continued into adulthood--at home, at school, and in the workplace. The analyses also revealed that the study participants were vulnerable to the effects of key cultural factors that affect the development of obesity in contemporary society. Specifically, these influences include the following: (a) misleading advertising; (b) sedentary lifestyles; and (c) increased consumption of processed foods.
Title: Educational/ Leadership/ Motivational Speaker, Author
Research Topic: Oppression of Obesity
Institution: Georgia Southern University
Committee Chair: Dr. William Reynolds
Abstract: This dissertation study investigated the cultural influences and oppressive effects of obesity among 10 highly visible adults in contemporary USA media. The following research questions guided the study: (a) What are the influential cultural factors affecting the increase of obesity in the USA? (b) What are the oppressive effects of contemporary cultural biases perpetuated toward overweight/obese/fat people in the USA? Participant characteristics assumed to indicate the cultural factors of influence on the development of obesity as well as the lived experiences of oppression were identified through the analysis of participant responses to constructed interview questions. The following cultural studies tenets guided the construction of the questions: (a) articulation; (b) hegemony; (c) ideology; and (d) representation. Phenomenological analyses indicated that there are multiple cultural factors that influence the development of 2 obesity and that the lived experience of oppression is common among those who are obese, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or gender. The study indicated that the oppression of obesity began early in the participants’ lives and continued into adulthood--at home, at school, and in the workplace. The analyses also revealed that the study participants were vulnerable to the effects of key cultural factors that affect the development of obesity in contemporary society. Specifically, these influences include the following: (a) misleading advertising; (b) sedentary lifestyles; and (c) increased consumption of processed foods.
| oppression_of_obesity.pdf |