Norfolk, Va. – Health experts agree the obesity epidemic is striking hardest among Hispanics and blacks, with waistlines – and rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke – expanding at alarming rates.
Predominantly black colleges such as Norfolk State University in Virginia are stepping in, rolling out veggie-heavy menus, building walking trails and even launching campuswide weight- loss contests. Their aim: to curb the ballooning of black America by targeting the next generation.
“Our students are at a prime time in their lives where they can make choices that can prevent them from having these problems,” said Cynthia Burwell, head of Norfolk State’s internship programs and an organizer of the health effort.
Similar weight-loss initiatives have been started at five other historically black colleges: Talladega College in Alabama, Alcorn State University in Mississippi, Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, South Carolina State University and Wiley College in Texas.
Their programs are supported through federal grants distributed by the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, or NAFEO. Later, the umbrella group will turn over data on student weight trends to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ minority health office for review.
NAFEO grew concerned last year after noticing national obesity trends having an especially striking impact at the 120 schools it represents.
“Obesity, as we all know, is an epidemic across the country, particularly affecting minorities,” said NAFEO senior health adviser Julia Anderson. “It’s no secret.”
Estimates are that nearly two- thirds of Americans are overweight or obese.
Blacks, especially women, are carrying many of the pounds: A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found as many as 70.6 percent of black women across various age groups qualified as overweight or obese between 1999 and 2002.
And while few of the participating black colleges keep hard data, Alcorn State human sciences chairman Ross Santell said it’s easy to see the weight problem is alive and well on black campuses.
“Many, many, many students are obese,” said Santell, organizer of his campus’ weight-loss effort, which includes passing out pedometers. “If you look around campus, you can see that clearly our student body is overweight.”
Officials at Wiley estimate nearly 25 percent of their students are overweight, and at Lincoln University, 90 students and staffers have signed up to shed pounds through their eight- week, campus fitness challenge.
At Norfolk State, campus health experts will teach students how to gauge their weight by calculating their body-mass index and to chart weight loss through shrinking jean sizes rather than dreaded weigh-ins.
In dining halls, monthly theme nights highlight new kinds of fruits and vegetables, while “PHAT stations” across campus let students check their blood pressure and heart rates.
