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Structural Social Forces and Health Disparities

By (student’s Name)

Affiliation

Course

Professor’s Name

Date of submission
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Outline for "Structural Social Forces and Health Disparities"

1. Introduction

a) A brief explanation of the importance of understanding the role of social influences in

health experiences.

 Disparities in health status are both caused and exacerbated by social factors.

 Health inequalities may be better understood and addressed if we consider social

factors' role (Jones et al., 2019).

 There might be significant differences in health-related behaviors and results

based on social variables, including race, ethnicity, financial level, and cultural

norms.

 Health inequalities may have origins in societal structures that promote unhealthy

behaviors, such as systemic racism and obesogenic settings (Crear-Perry et al.,

2021).

 Promoting health equality and decreasing health inequities requires taking on

these underlying socioeconomic pressures.

b) Thesis statement: Structural social forces play a significant role in the prevalence and

distribution of health disparities, specifically in the case of obesity.

2. Body

2.1 Health Issue: Obesity

 Definition and prevalence rates in the United States

 Obesity is having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (CDC, 2022).

 In 2019-2020, the prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States was 42.4%

(Farberman & Bright, 2022).

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 Obesity prevalence was higher among adults aged 40-59 years (47.1%) and 60 years

and older (44.8%) compared to adults aged 20-39 years (38.6%) (CDC, 2022).

 Obesity prevalence was higher among non-Hispanic Black adults (49.6%) and

Hispanic adults (44.8%) compared to non-Hispanic White adults (39.8%) and non-

Hispanic Asian adults (17.4%).

 Obesity prevalence was also higher among adults living in nonmetropolitan counties

(49.6%) than in metropolitan counties (41.2%).

 Impact on health outcomes and healthcare costs

 The condition of obesity has been linked to a heightened likelihood of health

complications such as respiratory issues, certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes,

and cardiovascular disease (Yang, Wang & Sheridan, 2018).

  Obesity may result in functional limitations, reduced quality of life, and untimely

death.

 The economic burden of obesity on healthcare is significant, impacting both the

individual and the collective society.

 According to estimates made in 2008, the United States incurred medical

expenses of $147 billion annually due to obesity (Yang, Wang & Sheridan, 2018).

 Individuals who suffer from obesity are inclined to incur greater medical expenses

in general, as well as elevated expenses for particular conditions such as diabetes

and hypertension.

 The costs associated with healthcare related to obesity can substantially influence

public health initiatives, including Medicare and Medicaid.

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2.2 Population: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Obesity

 Prevalence rates and disparities among different racial and ethnic groups

 Of all adult demographics, non-Hispanic blacks have the greatest obesity rate (at

38.4%), followed closely by Hispanics (32.6%) (CDC, N.D).

 The rate of obesity among adult non-Hispanic whites is 26.8% lower than in other

races.

 According to the State of childhood obesity (2022), childhood obesity was greater

among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic children than non-Hispanic White and

Asian children.

 The prevalence of obesity varies considerably by both income and location.

 Factors contributing to these disparities, such as access to healthy food options and

physical activity opportunities

 Problematic lack of availability of nutritious food in underserved areas

 Greater concentration of fast food and convenience outlets in low-income areas

 Certain regions have a shortage of fresh produce and a high price tag.

 Those living in low-income areas often lack access to recreational facilities like

parks.

 Lack of public transit and unsafe walking paths prevent obtaining healthy meals and

engaging in physical exercise.

2.3 Structural Social Forces: Systemic Racism and Obesogenic Environments

 The Impact of systemic racism on Food and built environments in marginalized

communities
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 Communities at the margins frequently have limited access to nutritious foods and

places to exercise.

 Obesity rates are higher in these areas because supermarkets and access to healthy

food are absent.

 Racially and ethnically based health inequalities result from redlining and other forms

of housing discrimination.

 The role of the food industry in perpetuating obesogenic environments

 To maximize profits, the food business puts the marketing and availability of harmful

foods ahead of public health concerns.

 The prevalence of overweight and obesity is exacerbated by aggressive marketing

efforts targeting youngsters and low-income neighborhoods.

 Healthy food promotion initiatives have been hampered by lobbying and political

influence by the food industry.

2.4 Behavioral Causes: Interplay of Social and Individual Factors

 Social and cultural norms around food and physical activity (Williamson et al., 2021)

 Social and cultural norms influence what foods people consume and how often they

engage in physical activity.

 Cultural values and traditions can shape food preferences and preparation methods.

 Social factors, such as peer pressure and media influence, can impact eating behaviors

and physical activity levels (Williamson et al., 2021).

 Availability and accessibility of healthy food options and physical activity

opportunities in the community can also be influenced by social and cultural factors.
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 Psychological factors, such as stress and depression, and their influence on eating

behaviors

 As a coping technique, stress and sadness may cause overeating or eating high-

calorie, high-fat meals (Alzahran et al., 2020).

 Stress and despair may also lower physical activity.

 Obesity and associated health issues may be more common in those with chronic

stress or depression.

 Addressing psychological problems via therapy or stress reduction may help manage

obesity and promote healthy habits.

3. Conclusion

 Recap of key points and how they connect to the thesis statement

 Obesity affects US health outcomes and healthcare expenses.

 Systemic racism and obesogenic conditions cause racial and ethnic obesity

inequalities.

 Social, cultural, and psychological factors contribute to obesity.

 The premise is that systemic socioeconomic forces cause obesity-related health

inequities.

 Call to action for addressing structural social forces to promote health equity and reduce

health disparities.

 Addressing systematic racism via policy and community actions to enhance food and

physical environments in underprivileged areas.

 Holding the food company responsible for obesogenic conditions.

 Promoting healthy eating and exercise as cultural standards.

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 Community and individual therapies for stress and depression.

 Promoting health equality across public health policy and practice.

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References

Alzahrani, S. H., Saeedi, A. A., Baamer, M. K., Shalabi, A. F., & Alzahrani, A. M. (2020).

Eating habits among medical students at king abdulaziz university, Jeddah, Saudi

Arabia. International journal of general medicine, 77-88.

Biener, A., Cawley, J., & Meyerhoefer, C. (2018). The impact of obesity on medical care costs

and labor market outcomes in the US. Clinical chemistry, 64(1), 108-117.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (N.d). Defining Adult Overweight & Obesity.

Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/basics/adult-defining.html#:~:text=If

%20your%20BMI%20is%2018.5,falls%20within%20the%20obesity%20range.

Crear-Perry, J., Correa-de-Araujo, R., Lewis Johnson, T., McLemore, M. R., Neilson, E., &

Wallace, M. (2021). Social and structural determinants of health inequities in maternal

health. Journal of Women's Health, 30(2), 230-235.

Farberman, R., & Bright, W. (2022). State of Obesity 2022: Better Policies for a Healthier

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https://www.tfah.org/report-details/state-of-obesity-2022/#:~:text=Nationally%2C

%2041.9%20percent%20of%20adults,obesity%20rate%20of%2016.1%20percent.

Jones, N. L., Gilman, S. E., Cheng, T. L., Drury, S. S., Hill, C. V., & Geronimus, A. T. (2019).

Life course approaches to the causes of health disparities. American journal of public

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State of childhood obesity. (2022). Explore Data by Demographic: Explore childhood obesity-

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%20highest%2Dincome%20group.

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T. S. (2021). Promoting adherence to physical activity among individuals with

cardiovascular disease using behavioral counseling: A theory and research-based primer

for health care professionals. Progress in cardiovascular diseases, 64, 41-54.

Yang, C. S., Wang, H., & Sheridan, Z. P. (2018). Studies on prevention of obesity, metabolic

syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer by tea. journal of food and drug

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