Academic Journal
Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 19 Dec 2012 - 7:00 PST Current ratings for:
African American Women Avoid Exercise Because Of Hair Maintenance
The main reason why many African American women avoid exercise is because of hair care and maintenance, according to a study published in JAMA.
The research, led by Amy J. McMichael, M.D., found that complications of hair care is the main reason why African-American women don't exercise as much as they'd like to.
McMichael specializes in and teaches dermatology at Wake Forest Unviersity. She noticed that many of her female African American patients were overweight and she wanted to understand the reason why. About four out of every five African American women are overweight or obese according to data released by The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Minority Health.
She said:
"I treat a lot of African American women in our clinic and had noticed how many of them are overweight, and I wanted to know why," she said. "I'm treating them for dermatology related issues, but as a doctor this was even more concerning because excess weight puts these women at risk for hypertension, diabetes and other serious problems."
A total of 103 African American women aged 21 to 60 participated in the study. They were each given a questionnaire asking them about their physical activity and hair care maintenance. It asked what specific exercises the women did and how much time and money they spent styling their hair. They all understood the importance of exercise, however nearly 40 percent said that they didn't exercise due to the fact that it causes them to have issues with their hair.
A lot of African American women use chemical products or heat straighteners to straighten their hair and as a result their hair becomes very fragile. If you overwash fragile hair there is a chance that it will break off easily, this is why a lot of the women can't easily wash their hair after exercise and avoid it all together.
The research began several years ago and early findings were revealed at the annual International Symposium of the L'Oréal Institute for Ethnic Hair & Skin Research in 2007.
McMichael concluded:
"We have now identified the problem - hair care does seem to be a factor - and it is one that is not easily solvable. Somebody might say, 'Oh, just cut your hair,' but that does not make sense. We have to figure out better ways to address this issue."
Written by Joseph Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Arch Dermatol. 2012;():1-6. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.1946
Hair Care Practices as a Barrier to Physical Activity in African American Women Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
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31 Dec. 2012.
Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.
posted by Shani Francis on 24 Dec 2012 at 3:43 am
Your story neglected to mention that the research presented at L'Oreal was presented by Shani Francis, MD, MBA, FAAD. After this conference, this story was published in several sources with this referenced author, who was a medical student at the time.
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posted by Eshe on 21 Dec 2012 at 5:08 pm
I am a health professional and I do all of the Hair shows to reach African American Women...
The Bronner Bros. shows...many of the Women are grossly obese and are eating as they struggle to walk down the aisles with their weaves, creams and gels.
The Natural Hair shows...the Women are either at the point or getting there that their hair is just one part of them and to go without chemicals, food additives and to exercise is part of their beauty.
We need to face our demons, because this issue of being so-called "big-boned" is killing us and giving a legacy of inactivity to our children..
In many places, just going outside is not safe. I just had one of my clients tell me that her mother was robbed in front of her own house in D.C.!
So that stress is feeding her womb issues and its' a spiral effect on our health.
This is not a racist study. I get more women asking me for herbal solutions for helping to grow their hair than I care to deal with.
And the fake nails and the fake hair is just a way of making herself look good on the outside, even though many of these women are truly miserable with their weight and are overwhelmed as to what will truly make a difference.
Herbally,
Eshe The Herb Lady
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posted by Dennis on 19 Dec 2012 at 10:44 am
How ignorant!
The problem is not hair!!! Duh! It is this processed food addiction that makes you sluggish mentally and physically and w/o will to get up an move pass your employment desk or couch after work.
Do better research! This is societal/biological issue not an aesthetics issue!
THE FOOD IN AMERICAN GROCERY STORES AND PRODUCED BY ADA on these super farms producing genetically altered vegetables and animals for mass public consumption.
IT IS OFFENSIVE...that your research would be so lacking. No wonder you came to the WRONG conclusion. Sorrowfully, Your word bile has already been published!
Please print this!!!
Thank you
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posted by Olivia Marden on 19 Dec 2012 at 10:28 am
I am African American. There are 18 apartments in my building. I know for a fact that only 3 women in my building go to the gym or do regular exercise, me and two white girls. None of the other black women do. Most of the women in my building are African American. Most of them say it is because of their hair.
This study may involve a small sample, but it is incredibly accurate.
I implore those of you who wish to criticize or censure this article to hold back, and accept a fact. Denial and paranoia never got anybody anywhere.
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posted by Legallychitown on 19 Dec 2012 at 10:04 am
Yes I can believe this to be true. I'm a sista who exercises 4 times a week. I ask my girls let's go and the number one excuse is "GIRL BYE I just got my hair done." I kinda get the mentality although I don't agree. We spend so much money on our hair I can see not wanting to ruin it. BUT COME ON SON! That's crazy being obese or unhealthy for the sake of a hair style is just plain stupid. I believe we ought promote fitness and a healthy life style in our communities and we simply don't. That's where it starts. We need to promote a health first mentality amongst these young sistas. We must do better.
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posted by Louis on 19 Dec 2012 at 9:58 am
Cut It Out, I think the articles... and books... and made for t.v. movies about "Caucasian women avoiding eating to compete with one another for male attention" have been done already. This article is refreshing and educational in its content. And quite frankly, if you're honest with yourself, Cut It Out, it has a great deal of truth to it. You're apparently the exception, since you're headed to the gym.
I'm a Black woman-loving Black man! I'm also a son, a brother, a father and a friend of Black women. And I bear witness to its validity. Let's not get bent out of shape every time there is some news that can BENEFIT us! Our dirty little secrets have been killing us for too long...
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posted by Louis on 19 Dec 2012 at 9:45 am
I don't think "many" women have this issue, Christi. And when you say "many," I'm assuming you mean women of other ethnicities who have different type/grain of hair. I'm no hair expert, but I have friends of all ethnicities. And MOST women of ethnicities other than Black, exercise MUCH more with considerably less consideration for their hair afterwards. The article, sadly, is not grotesquely generalizing. It is very, very true. All my sisters and many of my Black female friends - particularly in our age group (45-50) are overweight. And I often hear it is because of the fear of "messing up their hair" because of sweating. Also, I have daughters who have fallen into that same foolishness. They're not overweight yet because they're still young. But unless they change their attitudes, it's inevitable.
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posted by Nick on 19 Dec 2012 at 9:23 am
How can you have a sample size of 103 and make a bold blanket statement "The main reason why many African American women avoid exercise is because..." as if you are stating fact?? Was it even a random sample? Terrible
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posted by Maria Suarez on 19 Dec 2012 at 9:01 am
Hi,
I am, what we call in the Dominican Republic "mulata" (white father, black mother).
Since having my hair straightened I have stopped going to the gym, because I do not want to keep washing it. I have put on a lot of weight.
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posted by PB on 19 Dec 2012 at 8:42 am
I saw a documentary (both humorous but also accurate) narrated by Chris Rock on this very topic - the connection between hair maintenance and exercise, swimming, etc. It was interesting and entertaining - the researchers would do well to watch and learn from it. It was called "Good Hair" and aired in 2009
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posted by Christi on 19 Dec 2012 at 8:33 am
I would think this would ring true for many women, not only African American women. Many women can't wash their hair daily (time, hair type, style, products) and don't want to sport sweaty hair that may ruin the hair style or possibly smell, let alone the dirty feeling. We can't jump out of the gym shower and towel dry our hair and go like many men can. We have specific products, hair tools, and much time and money invested in our hair.
I do believe they could ask the average woman if their hair impacts their workout and I bet we'd see a much larger trend. Count me as one!
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posted by Bert McElwain on 19 Dec 2012 at 8:31 am
One can not exercise with those expensive manicures. Could cause breakage of the nails.
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posted by Cut it out on 19 Dec 2012 at 8:20 am
Either begin publishing stories about Caucasian women avoiding eating to compete with one another for male attention, or stop this racism disguised as "medical" reporting.
Signed, a black woman on her way to the gym.
Seriously.
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