Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Black Women's Magazines Giving Bad Diet Advice


Seems Essence, Ebony and Jet are doling out bad diet and fitness advice:

African-American women's magazines are more likely to encourage fad diets and reliance on faith to lose weight, while mainstream women's magazines focus more on evidence-based diet strategies, according to the study by UI researcher Shelly Campo, published in a recent issue of the journal Health Communication.

AA women's mags are more likely to suggest Faith as a weight loss strategy, which never is a suggestion in more mainstream mags:

Relying on God or faith was suggested by 1 in 10 weight-loss stories in the African-American magazines, but in almost no weight-loss stories in the mainstream magazines.

The study also says that Black magazines put too much blame on the individual and not enough focus on envrionmental and economic issue that make it difficult for Black women to lose and maintain their weight:

"Both genres are highly guilty of over-reliance on individual strategies," Campo said. "We blame individuals too much for circumstances that are not entirely within their control. We know people living in unsafe neighborhoods are much less likely to exercise. And fast food is cheap compared to fresh fruit and vegetables. To tell a poor person that they made a bad choice because they couldn't afford the salad fixings raises some ethical concerns."

Why is there such an unwillingness in the Black mags to discuss health issues? I haven't been a regular reader of Essence, Ebony or Jet in years but I distinctly remember plenty of articles on making more money, finding a man, God and any number of other issues but not too many on health and fitness and leading a healthy life. It feels like Black women's weight is the elephant in the room (no pun intended) for many Black women and out magazine's reflect this.

What do you think?

To read the rest of the article click on the link in the left sidebar under "Articles."

4 comments:

Miriam said...

"elephant in the room"

you are funny.

Re: bad advice. I wonder if they just don't know? I know some people who are totally religious, they do good work, but aren't ......practical!

This is hard for BW who only read these and hope to lose weight.. Hmmmmm...

(Not to say that faith has nothing to do with it, but knowing how to apply that faith is the practical part that needs to be put in)

Tracy said...

Miriam!!

Whatchu doin on my neck of the woods? Welcome!

It seems that with all the sins that the church has issues with, Gluttony gets a pass...oh and Lust when you get away with it..

Luckily, some churches are getting away from the Chicken Dinner Social every Sunday nite, and actually having socials that integrate healthy eating and exercise, like the Adopt a Block program that we have.

We walk about 12 blocks picking up litter, offering prayer and healthy food giveaways. You fill your spirit, extend your service and help your natural body at the same time!

Miriam said...

We walk about 12 blocks picking up litter, offering prayer and healthy food giveaways. You fill your spirit, extend your service and help your natural body at the same time!

~~~~
Wow. Now that's great.

Nona said...

I'm not a big reader of Women's Mags. but it's disappointing to know that those targeting BW aren't tackling obesity more aggressively, especially considering the epidemic of obesity among BW.