According to a new report from Duke University, segregation, discrimination and a lack of upward social mobility contributed to Blacks and Latinos being disproportionately affected by obesity, reported Duke Today.
The report was done by the Duke Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity. It highlights how housing discrimination caused a lack of access to parks and fresh foods in predominately Black neighborhoods, both of which help reduce obesity.
“The impact of discrimination is pervasive and occurs in all arenas of everyday life. Discrimination’s adverse effect on maintenance of healthy weight and well-being is virtually as pernicious as its effects on employment and income,” said William A. Darity Jr., co-author of the report,
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It also shows despite some Black families having higher incomes, discriminatory practices prevent it from being a protective factor the way it is for whites.
“For whites, increased income and educational attainment tend to yield increased access to resources that promote healthy weight maintenance. But for Blacks of similar status, racism-driven mechanisms often prevent them from accessing those same resources,” said Imari Z. Smith, lead author of the report.
The center made recommendations for policies that would reduce the obesity disparity between races. They include: investing in quality parks and recreation centers in Black neighborhoods. Implementing federal programs that remove economic barriers to managing weight, updating zoning laws to reduce the prevalence of food deserts (low access to fresh, healthy food) and food swamps (high access to fast, unhealthy foods) in Black communities, etc.
