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Race and Obesity

Racial and ethnic minority communities are disproportionately affected by obesity. A recent study in the American Journal of Public Health has found a strong correlation community demographics and the likelihood of inhabitants being obese. In this study, non-Hispanic Blacks (36.1%) and Hispanics (28.7%) were showed to have a higher percentage obesity than non-Hispanic Whites (24.5%) and non-Hispanic Asians (7.1%) . One reason for this disparity is that non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic communities are often impoverished. As a result, inhabitants often have to rely on cheap calories with little nutritional value. Food deserts are more likely to be located in these neighborhoods, which limits inhabitants food options. Another important factor is that these communities also tend to have less access to public goods (such as parks). While racial/ethnic minority communities are often impoverished, social standing alone does not explain the disparity between communities. A 2009 study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that racial/ethnic minorities have a highest risk of being obese within each observed socioeconomic group . This finding suggests that race may be a key indicator in determining disparities of obesity risk. It also implies that structural racism may be causing certain racial/ethnic groups to experience a disproportionate risk, as class alone does not determine the likelihood a person is obese.

Exposure to Obesogens

What little research has been conducted on the relationship between chemical exposure and body mass index points to chemical compounds known as obesogens as a likely contributor to the obesity epidemic. Some endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) belong to this class of compounds. Bruce Blumberg, a professor of developmental and cell biology at UC Irvine, has found compelling evidence that exposure the chemical tributlyltin(TBT) can trigger fat cell creation . TBT is a compound used in pesticides. As several cases have confirmed, many farm workers in America have been forced (or else unaware) to work in fields that had been recently sprayed with this and other dangerous chemicals. Among a wide variety of health risks, farm workers may bear a disproportionate risk of exposure to such obesogens. While legislation has been enacted to require a minimum amount of time to pass before workers enter sprayed fields, the lack of legal and political power of many farm workers combined with the fact that enforcing such laws can be difficult (and at times impossible) makes exposure to obesogens a very real threat to the livelihood of many farm workers.

Food Movement Solutions

Food Justice

The food justice movement works to address the obesity epidemic by promoting access to affordable and healthy food to communities. Underlying this discourse is the belief that healthy food is a right of every person regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or community. The New York-based non-profit organization Just Food defines food justice as “communities exercising their right to grow, sell, and eat healthy food.” Among other remedies to obesity, food justice advocates are in favor of providing affordable, quality food through Community Supported Agriculture and Slow Food . Food justice helps to empower historically disadvantaged communities and groups by advocating equal access to healthy food for all people.

Food Sovereignty

The food sovereignty movement seeks to increase empowerment fostered by the food justice movement by not simply advocating healthy food as a right. It seeks to empower those most affected/most at risk from the obesity epidemic by including them in the process of creating and implementing alternatives to the current food system. Leading food sovereignty organization, Via Campesina, defines food sovereignty as “the peoples’, countries’, or State Unions’ right to define their agricultural and food policy…”