Good health is no doubt the most important of all wealth that one can possess. It is therefore an absolute tragedy to see the continuous and alarmingly accelerated increase in the number of people living with obesity, lack of physical fitness and other lifestyle related conditions. Unlike in the past, these conditions know no boundaries in terms of age, social class or even race.
Statistical studies show that in the past things like obesity and being unfit were practically unheard of among the African American community. Now, they are actually among the group at highest risk of ending up with lifestyle diseases. Below are a few interesting statistics that should help you get a better view of the situation.
· There is a 7% difference between the average fitness capacity between a white and African American male of the same age. That of the African American is lower.
· In women, the fitness capacity of African Americans is lower by 3% than that of a white woman the same age.
· The chances of being obese are 44% in African American males, 33% in white males, 37 % in African American females and 27% in white females.
· African American women are 8% more likely to suffer from severe obesity than white women of the same age.
From the statistics above it goes without saying that there is a desperate need to deal with the situation before it get out of hand. Lack of fitness is one of the easiest and surest ways of predicting death at an early age. The best way to reduce this risk is to first educate the people on the need to stay physically active, to exercise and to eat right. This will go a long way in improving the overall fitness capacity among members of the African American community and could even end up helping to save a life or two.
Though it could be argued that minorities in poorer areas have less access to gyms and fitness centers, there are places such as the YMCA that offer discounted gym memberships to those that prove they are in need. No child should not have a place to play basketball with friends, lift weights or take part in physical activities. Gyms like Woodlands Strength in North Houston offer group classes for children at a reduced rate. It’s a great way to get young kids, who would otherwise not be able to experience such fitness centers, active in a community that they can grow with.
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