African Americans are 20 percent LESS likely to engage in active physical activity than non-Hispanic whites. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, African American women have the highest obesity rates or being overweight compared to other groups in the United States. Weight control is not just about education. The road to better health comes from regular exercise and a nutritious diet. To beat obesity, we must be dedicated to making fundamental changes to our diets and lifestyles. Here are five ways that can help fight obesity.

Get active!

Getting at least Twenty to Thirty minutes of aerobic or physical activity every day and two days a week of strength training to help in weight loss, build muscle, and burn fat. Did you also know that obesity is strongly associated with vitamin D deficiency? An estimated 40% of American adults may be vitamin D deficient. For African Americans, that number is 76%, according to a new study by The Cooper Institute.

Vitamin D plays a role in the Covid-19 pandemic by affecting the black and minority ethnic population with obesity. Vitamin D is essential for regulating immune function and has shown to reduce the production of pro-inflammatory diseases associated with lung damage caused by acute viral respiratory infections such as influenza and Covid-19. So, GET ACTIVE!

Reduce Stress!

One of the consequences of stress is the increasing levels of fat in the abdominal area and muscle loss, which leads to insulin resistance and obesity. Everyday stress can be a normal part of life. However, if stress is extreme, unusual, or long-lasting, the stress response can be overwhelming and quite harmful and kill.

Pay Attention the Nutritional Contents in Your Food!

Read labels! You do not have to be on a diet however, knowing how many calories you are consuming will help you not eat more than your body needs.

Avoid Sugar Laden drinks!

Besides the apparent Pop/Soda; Calories from alcohol have no nutritional value. Your body cannot store liquor, so processes such as absorbing nutrients and burning fat are interrupted to get rid of the alcohol. Drinking water between alcoholic drinks can decrease the number of grams of ounces you are drinking.

Learn about and understand your eating habits!

Avoid emotional eating. Understanding your eating habits can help you figure out what triggers you are eating. Research has found that people who struggle with obesity also suffer from many emotional issues about their weight and body image. So, Journaling or keeping a food diary of everything you eat daily can perspective your feelings before eating and how much you are eating.

There is no one or easy solution to the obesity epidemic. It is a compounded problem, and there must be a multifaceted approach. Our community must work together to create an environment that supports a healthy lifestyle.

Our Black Lives Depend on it!

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Five Ways to Fight Obesity and Its Impact on Fighting Covid-19 in African Americans. - Chicago Defender