Chapter II Sample 2 (1)
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CHAPTER TWO
The purpose of this literature review is to explore how obesity is directly accompanied by
depression in African American (AA) Women. Depression can be caused and result from stress,
which, in turn, may cause you to change your eating and activity habits (Mind/Body Health:
Obesity, 2019, para. 2).
AA Women are much more prone to going through the obesity-
depression cycle. Statistics show that AA women who are obese increase their chances 37
percent for being diagnosed with depression.
The Afrocentric Perspective will be defined and its themes that are comparative to mental
health will be pointed out. Implementing a biopsychosocial lens as well as approaching the issue
of obese African American women with cultural sensitivity.
Obesity an African American Epidemic
Obesity is a global epidemic that is intensifying, but the prevalence of obesity is
dissimilar among racial and ethnic groups. In the United States, black women have the highest
rates of obesity compared to other racial/ethnic groups (Ross, Gipson-Jones &Davis, 2018; Scott,
Gil-Rivas, & Cachelin, 2018). Analyzing body mass index (BMI) measurements along; roughly
60% of black women are considered obese (Agyemang, & Powell-Wiley, 2013, para 2). Having a
very high body mass index (BMI) — that is, your weight is significantly more than what is
generally considered healthy for your height is a constant dilemma seen in AA communities
(Mind/Body Health: Obesity, 2019, para. 6).
Studies show that severe cases of obesity can reduce life expectancy, particularly AA
young adults and increase medical complications (Banerjee, Herring, Hurley, Puskarz,
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Yebernetsky, & LaNoue, 2017; Ross, Gipson-Jones & Davis, 2018; Scott, Gil-Rivas, & Cachelin,
2018). Prevalence of morbidity in African American women is due to their overall attitude when
it comes to body ideals. AA women exhibit greater satisfaction with their body image (Ross,
Gipson-Jones & Davis, 2018). Comparing AA women to their white counterpart’s body image is
seen differently.
Although there are numerous studies examining diet and physical exercise few studies
include vast sample surrounding AA women (Boggs, Rosenberg, Cozier, Wise, Coogan, Ruiz-
Narvaez, & Palmer, 2011) Knowledge gaps also remain in identifying interventions explicitly
created for prevention for obesity in black women. As a developing Professional Social Worker,
this is where the research proposal will hopefully fill in those knowledge gaps. Especially,
looking at connections between (BMI), obesity, and mental health issues. Obesity is not limited
to genetic factors, prolonged overeating or a sedentary lifestyle (Mind/Body Health: Obesity,
2019, para. 4). A biopsychosocial approach must be considered.
Depression and Obesity
According to Parekh (2017), “Depression is a common and serious medical illness that
negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act” (para. 1). Both obesity and
depression are substantial epidemics when it comes to health complications. According to
researcher Blaine (2008), depression often appears in individuals who are overweight or obese
(p. 1191). Obesity is a risk factor for several conditions, and so it might be that dealing with
other health issues increases the likelihood of becoming depressed.
Depression controls your thoughts, actions, and emotions. This impacts overall physical
and mental health. Delaying the direct correlation that addresses the emotions behind why
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overeating takes place results in obesity. Despite what is done and not done often results from
emotions. For instance, feelings of unhappiness, concern or pressure often lead people to intake
more calories than usual (Ross, Gipson-Jones & Davis, 2018; Scott, Gil-Rivas, & Cachelin,
2018).
Serval articles expressed how AA women experience increasing rates of depression than
their white female counterparts but receive lower rates of tolerable treatment, they remain one of
the most undertreated groups in the United States groups (Ross, Gipson-Jones & Davis, 2018;
Scott, Gil-Rivas, & Cachelin, 2018). Treatment includes looking at the AA women from a
collective perspective. Cultural diversity education is a must when working and combating
mental health.
According to Brown & Keith (2003) “There is a strong relationship between
socioeconomic status, mental health, and obesity. Such that people at the lower end, people in
poverty tend to have poorer health and tend to have fewer resources … for dealing with the
stressors of life,” (p.146).
Afrocentric Perspective
When defining the Afrocentric Perspective, the foundation is built upon Schiele’s three
assumptions. According to Schiele (1996):
The Afrocentric paradigm asserts three significant assumptions about human beings: (1) Human
identity is collective identity; (2) the spiritual or nonmaterial component of human beings is just
as important and valid as the material component (3) the practical approach to knowledge is
epistemologically valid. (p. 286)
According to Burton (2018), “Afrocentric Perspective was created to teach African
Americans about their African heritage from the standpoint of Africa. The magnifying glass that
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examines the African culture taking in to account the origins of blacks, the culture, and their
values. Values of family, community, and resilience. This results in being culturally grounded
allowing a solid understanding of how to eradicate the chains that hold people of the color bond.
Africans believed in togetherness and the mere fact one’s success was based on everyone’s
success. Focusing on what was valuable and unique to each person for their advancement.
Relying on the spirits and ancestors for guidance and holding that aspect as a central focus in
life. Uplifting and understanding that everyone has experiences and beliefs, and no one is the
staple for what is right” (p. 5).
AA women have a super woman complex that steams from slavery. When working with
AA women slavery must be examined. Culturally traditions are passed down from generation to
generation. Among these traditions come dieting habits, Eurocentric ideas about medications,
stigma with mental health, and the “yes sir” mentality. The strength perspective when applied to
the AA community in a whole is bringing to light the positive aspects of situations and life. But,
when applying that same perspective to AA women it fuels their slave driven roots, that women
are strong and are supposed to just deal with things. Emotions and feelings are considered weak
and nonexistent. According to Hamm (2018), “During slavery women were supposed to be the
strong ones. You weren’t supposed to speak. You were supposed to just do. Our moms and our
grandmothers always told us to suppress. Just be quiet, chalk it up, get up, dress up, fix your
face, put on your best outfit and just keep going,” (para. 10). This factor and generational speech
must be apart of interventions when dealing with AA depressed and obese women.
Studies show that AA women are underrepresented when it comes to the correlation of
obesity and depression, one reason why is because they do not see themselves either obese or
battling a mental health disorder. That is were barriers must be broken down to allow AA women
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to feel comfortable enough to let down that “strong black woman” persona. Understanding the
Afrocentric Perspective and have knowledge of the culture can open up doors to new research
opportunities and finally extend solutions to the epidemic encompassing AA women, obesity, and
depression.
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References
Adult Obesity Facts | Overweight & Obesity | CDC. (2019). Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
Agyemang, P., & Powell-Wiley, T. M. (2013). Obesity and Black Women: Special
Considerations Related to Genesis and Therapeutic Approaches.
Current cardiovascular
risk reports
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(5), 378–386. doi:10.1007/s12170-013-0328-7
Blaine, B. (2008). Does Depression Cause Obesity?: A Meta-analysis of Longitudinal Studies of
Depression and Weight Control.
Journal of Health Psychology
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(8), 1190–1197.
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Boggs, D. A., Rosenberg, L., Cozier, Y. C., Wise, L. A., Coogan, P. F., Ruiz-Narvaez, E. A., &
Palmer, J. R. (2011). General and abdominal obesity and risk of death among black
women. New England Journal of Medicine, 365(10), 901-908.
Brown, D., & Keith, V. (2003).
In and Out of Our Right Minds the Mental Health of African
American Women
. New York: Columbia University Press.
Burton, S. (2018). Afrocentric perspective reflection. Unpublished manuscript, Clark Atlanta
University.
Hamm, N. (2018). African-American Women and Depression.
Psych Central
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22, 2019, Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/lib/african-american-women-and-
depression/
Knox-Kazimierczuk, F., & Shockly-Smith, M. (2017). African American Women and the Obesity
Epidemic: A Systematic Review. Journal of Pan African Studies, 10(1), 76–110.
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Retrieved from
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Parekh, R. (2017). What Is Depression?
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depression
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