Hair Styles Linked to Obesity in Black Women.

The Commercial Appeal ^ | 09-28-03 | johnny7

[johnny7]

Lets 'Do' it Right: Exercise.
Wendi Thomas
gomemphis.com

More than 60 percent of black women are overweight. And I'd bet that many of these women have nicely styled hair. How are the two related? Many of us are overweight because we don't exercise. And I maintain many of us don't exercise because we don't want to sweat out our hair. For those unfamiliar with black hair, here's a primer. Many black women have their hair chemically treated to make it straighter. As the hair grows, the process - called relaxing - must be repeated on the kinkier roots.

Water, humidity and sweat are the enemy of relaxed hair. I know. Many of my sporadic attempts to exercise have been foiled by my hair. I've done TaeBo under a swirling ceiling fan. I've ridden a stationary bike under an air-conditioning vent with a fan aimed at my head. I'll do almost anything to avoid sweating hard enough to mess up my 'do.'

Of course, other factors contribute to obesity, such as poor diet. But for women, and black women in particular, hair is a factor. "When the one thing you have going for you is your hair, you don't want that messed up," says Brenda Speight, community nutritionist for the health department. Speight remembers how as a child, she'd get her hair pressed on Saturdays, to ready it for church Sunday. When her hair was done, so was playtime. Her mother wouldn't let her start sweating and messing up that hair. For many women, Speight says, getting their hair done is about more than looking good. That trip to the beauty shop "may be the only time that week that the black woman is cared for, instead of doing the caring," Speight says.

The link between hair and black women's health hasn't escaped the attention of the medical community. With obesity comes a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, breast and colon cancer. While researching black women's health issues, Harvard professor Rima Rudd learned of the hair/health link at a community meeting, and from a man. "He said, 'You're not going to get anywhere talking about physical exercise in the black community unless you talk about hair.'" Interviews with Boston-area women confirmed the man's theory.

The research continued, at first with the support of the National Institutes of Health. But the NIH eventually withdrew financial support "because they said there was no scientific link between physical activity and hair," she said. Undeterred, Rudd and others spent $6,000 of their money to publish the pamphlet, Hair Care Tips for Sisters on the Move. That was five years ago. In the last few months, Rudd gave the pamphlet to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to republish. To see the brochure, go to www.hsph.harvard.edu/sisterstogether/hair.pdf. But do more than read. Move until you sweat. Even if it costs you your 'do.'

Contact Wendi C. Thomas at (901) 529-5896 or E-mail thomasw@gomemphis.com.

[small_l_libertarian]

I love afros, too. I like them when they're just a little "too" long, like Donovan McNabb's (except when he has helmet hair).

[wizardoz]

I think she's got a pretty face. Chubby, but cute.

I dunno, she looked a little bug-eyed to me.

[cyborg]

I should print it out and hand it out to some of my customers. The more I think about it, less silly this article seems. Aside from hair, false nails are perceived to be a barrier to physical activity as well. I dunno. I like my nails and hair, but who cares? If I got cancer and had to take chemo, I'd lose all my genetically blessed hair. After reading this article, I took a nice walk to the store in the rain and watched my inner poodle emerge.

[cyborg]

Nah it's the picture. She's cute and chubby.

[workinggirl]

Halle Berry is half black. Her mother is white.

[cyborg]

All the more reasons why race based medical studies are stupid.

[wizardoz]

Notoriously, "comfort" food is universal--fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, warm bread, chocolate cake, fruit pie, and a sweet drink.

My God. I can't believe the dizzying wave of longing that swept over me when I read this list. You're right, that's not racial, unless Anglo-Irish folks are genetically obsessed with potatoes, which we may well be....

[wizardoz]

Nah it's the picture. She's cute and chubby.

Well, I went and looked again because I hate to contradict a lady, but I just see a bug-eyed woman with a weak chin. But hey, maybe there's a Thandie Newton in there just struggling to come out. (There may be 2 or 3.) Thandie is stunning. She's like a high-calorie dessert version of Audrey Hepburn.

[cyborg]

Thandie is English. More to the point half Zimbabwean and English. Plus she's an actress and takes care of herself. She has to look good like every other actress.

Women who are not attractive tend to compensate in other areas. What I do not like is the passive acceptance of being overweight, thick, queenly,whatever as a sign of a woman's black pride. My black friends love to point out that black girls don't get anorexic like white girls. Well being overweight isn't really any better is it?

[Moonman62]

Halle Berry is half black. Her mother is white.

But it's better for her career if she identifies with the black father who abandoned her.

[Fraulein]

I wish I better understood black womens obsession with getting their nails done, or at least how the obsession originated. It's interesting, I think, how oftentimes black women will get their nails done in a way that is so very flamboyant and outrageous and expressive of personality. White women often have boring nails...black women, on the other hand, have crazy nail colors and lengths, rhinestones in their nails, airbrushing, you name it! There's one woman I know who often goes for 'thematic' nails...a crazy red, white, and blue design for July 4th, something else crazy for Halloween, and so on. A black woman at a local store has the longest fake nails I've ever seen. I'm amazed at how she nonetheless can operate a writing utensil and punch things in on the cash register. She works a register, yet somehow she has enough money to get new nails practically every week. Strange, but I always notice black women's nails, and, yes, I always make sure to give compliments when they are due!

[cyborg]

I get the acrylic tips because I have short fingers. They maje them look nice and long. Now I'm not going lie and tell you they will not be painted the colors of the Italian flag for Columbus Day OR the colors of the South African flag when the Springboks smash Barmy Army. I was tempted to paint them the colors of the Trinidad flag for carnival. Some girls get pictures. I know for for 9-11 a lot of salons were doing patriotic airbrushing for free. Once you wear them awhile, you get used to it.

Depends on where you live. I used to think the same thing then I met girls from NYC and girls from New Jersey. Younger girls more into the hiphop lifestyle will opt for the creative nails. Older ladies tend to get plain manis and french nails. But sure! I got into the whole nail obsession watching black girls' nails.

[Marie]

Somebody HAS to post a picture of Halley Barry on this thread. (My husband's probably looking for one right now. *sigh*)

[Marie]

I knew it! LOL! (see above post!)

[FreedomCalls]

Cornrows solve the problem!

[Fraulein]

I think it's all just really neat. The more intricate and outrageous they are, the more impressed I usually am. However, when one goes for the crazy colors and airbrushing, does that not limit what one can wear during that time? Must one's nails not clash with their clothes? Or is that generally not a concern?

[cyborg]

Afro puffs, goddess braids,tastefully done locks,etc. also nice looking...

[FreedomCalls]

A even more slightly different theory: Most overweight people are sitting at home on the couch all day eating Cheetos and drinking Sam's Club Colas while watching "The View" and Jerry Springer.

[cyborg]

I am not a fashionista so if I get a design done it's going with whatever. However, yeah there are women that spends HUNDREDS of dollars getting very precise airbushing done, colors matching,etc. The women who have real jobs probably are matching. I'm just a cashier though.

[Fraulein]

A dear friend of mine -- who is white -- always goes and buys cans of Murray's because it helps his mohawk. I laugh because the black check-out girls always say, "White man buying Murray's. That's just Crazy! Crazy!" Once walking down the street (Atlanta) a black man commented on his hair and asked him how he got it to stand up. When my friend answered Murrays, the black guy said, "Whatcha say? Murrays? How a white guy know Murrays?" LOL! All very funny.