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Weight loss plans are less effective for many black women because those that exist often do not meet their unique needs

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The popularity of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro continues to reflect Americans’ desire to shed pounds. While these recent drugs provide an answer for people scuffling with obesity, many eligible patients – especially Black adults – cannot afford the high price.

These medications are also not the one solution to improving your health, as maintaining a healthy diet and exercising commonly are also key to losing a few pounds. However, current lifestyle change-based weight loss interventions largely fail to handle the needs of Black women.

As a community health researcherswe wondered why scientists had did not develop a lifestyle-based weight loss solution that worked for black women.

That’s why we reviewed 10 years of research on lifestyle-based weight loss interventions. We found that only just a few studies focused on black women, and those that did often resulted in only slight weight loss and were not consistent in their approach to weight loss. Why is that this so?

There is a missing mark for black women

Obesity increases the danger developing weight-related conditions comparable to type 2 diabetes, heart disease and a few sorts of cancer. Nearly 60% of black women within the US are obese, which puts them at greater risk of developing these conditions.

Lifestyle interventions specializing in a healthy food regimen and increased physical activity have been proven to often help most individuals shed pounds leading to a weight reduction of 5% to 10%. which also reduces the danger of chronic diseases. However, these lifestyle interventions often only end in: 2% to three% weight loss for black women.

Our review shows that amongst black women, lifestyle-based weight loss is hindered because: are often not included on this study. Because these studies did not have in mind their lived experiences, these interventions may not meet their specific needs. Of the 138 studies we evaluated, black women made up at the very least half of the participants in just eight studies.

There is an absence of research on why lifestyle interventions are often less effective for Black women. However, some studies highlight the impact of race and gender on their every day lives as potential aspects.

A “strong” black woman is forced to disregard her physical and emotional needs in an effort to care for others.
PixelsEffect/E+ via Getty Images

The role of a superwoman

Black women exposed to the constant stress of on a regular basis racism and sexism face a further burden of what researchers call the role of a superwoman. Black women not only should face their own experiences of racial and gender inequality, but additionally they should do it expect insensitive, hyper-dependent, and suppress their emotions to seem strong in family and community. Many minimize their weak points and overload their capabilities to satisfy the overwhelming responsibility of caring for other people.

Many famous names have spoken out concerning the effects of being a robust superwoman. Actress Taraji P. Henson identified how the necessity to point out strength can result in the physical and emotional needs of Black women being ignored.

Knocker Megan Thee Stallion spoke concerning the emotional toll of being a superwoman after she was shot by rapper Tory Lanez. “As a black woman… people expect me to take punches, take beatings, take beatings, and handle it gracefully. But I’m human.”

The role of superwoman places a high tax on Black women, leaving little room to prioritize their health. To deal with stress, some people engage in such activities emotional eating or binge eating. The constant demands of playing multiple caregiver roles can as well interfere with physical activity.

Naturally, these challenges make it difficult to adopt healthier eating habits and a consistent exercise program. Even in the event that they are working on losing a few pounds, some black women proceed to realize weight.

Improving weight loss for black women

Lifestyle interventions that fully consider Black women’s experiences in treatment could be the key to improving weight loss. We argue that Black feminism and womanhoodthat give attention to the experiences of women of color can assist researchers rebuild and redefine weight loss interventions to be more effective for Black women.

Black feminism and womanhood are approaches that lead Black women and girls to survive and thrive, particularly by continually considering the role that gender and race play on various issues. This framework focuses on multiple areas of health and well-being, including physical, mental and emotional health, arguing that self-care and well-being practices are acts of social change.

Focusing on the complete context of Black women’s lives can result in improvements in overall health. Obesity particularly is influenced by many aspects, and obesity treatment requires a give attention to these holistic health and well-being. This includes meeting the economic needs of Black women, incorporating faith practices central to Black lives, nurturing emotional and mental health, and constructing an environment where obtaining healthy foods and exercising every day are easy selections.

Three people walk along a tree-lined path, smiling at each other
Lifestyle changes are easier to make in the event that they fit into your every day life.
FG Trade/E+ via Getty Images

Current weight loss interventions vary greatly in the weather of Black women’s lives they give attention to. Some people emphasize, for example spiritualitywhile others give attention to emotional health. Approaches to weight loss that reply to individual needs and moving away from one-size-fits-all solutions can be crucial in addressing the varied points of Black women’s lives that impact their well-being.

If health care providers and researchers begin to take heed to and work with Black women to revamp weight loss interventions, they’ll likely find that their efforts to combat obesity amongst Black women are more effective.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Lifestyle

Why Denzel Washington quit drinking at 60

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Denzel Washington, alcohol use, sobriety, drug abuse, Gladiator II, Denzel Washington retiring, theGrio.com

Denzel Washington has been sober for nearly a decade, but he had one particular vice: wine.(*60*)

In a brand new profile, the 69-year-old actor talks about his history with wine, drugs like LSD and growing up in New York within the Seventies. Esquire magazine..(*60*)

“Wine is very difficult,” he warned. “It’s very slow… It’s not like boom.”(*60*)

He explained that, unlike harder substances, he had “the perfect idea for wine tasting and so on – and that’s how it was in the beginning.”(*60*)

“And this is a very subtle thing,” he added.(*60*)

Washington said his habit really took off in 1999, when he built a house with a ten-thousand-bottle wine cellar and “learned to drink the best of it.”(*60*)

He added: “My passion was wine, and now I was pouring $4,000 bottles just because it was left.”(*60*)

The “Gladiator II” star eventually developed an intake management system; he frequently ordered the 2 best bottles of wine available at his favorite liquor store.(*60*)

“And my wife says, ‘Why do you only order two?’ I said, “Because if I order more, I’ll drink more.” So I limited it to 2 bottles and drank each in the course of the day,” he told the publication.(*60*)

Even though she drinks wine day by day, the “Equalizer 3” star said she never drank alcohol while working or preparing for a task, even while filming “Flight,” which tells the story of an alcoholic pilot.(*60*)

“I would clean up and go back to work – I could do both,” he said. “Regardless of the months of shooting, bang, it is time to wrap up. And then boom. Three months of wine and time to get back to work.(*60*)

The actor admitted that when he was younger, it was easier to take care of this pattern.(*60*)

“Two months off and we’re going. But the drinking was a fifteen-year pattern. And truth be told, it didn’t start in 1999. It began earlier,” he explained.(*60*)

Washington, who was born and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, described what it was like growing up there within the late Seventies. Spending time on projects with individuals who exposed him to heroin, cocaine, hard alcohol and more, he admits that he experimented but personally “never got hooked on it.” (*60*)

In fact, much of those formative years experiences were passed on to a few of Washington’s best and most complex figures. Still, he said, “I am unable to consider a single role where I said, ‘Man, that is me.’ Completely me? No, no.(*60*)

Since he quit drinking, he appears like “everything is opening up to him.”(*60*)

Will one of Denzel Washington's last films be

“It’s like you’re seventy,” he said. “This is real. And it’s okay. This is the last chapter – if I get one other thirty, what do I would like to do? My mother lived to be ninety-seven.(*60*)

The husband and father of 4 also pays more attention to fitness today, due to Lenny Kravitz, who introduced him to his trainer.(*60*)

“I’m doing everything I can,” he said.(*60*)

As he noted in the course of the “Gladiator II” press session, he’s also enthusiastic about upcoming projects which will become his last – and yes, they include two more “Equalizer” movies.(*60*)

“People love these daggone ‘Equalizers,'” he said. (*60*)

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Steph Curry is using the NBA Tunnel to showcase Black and Brown designers this season

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Steph Curry, Rakuten, Steph Curry Rakuten, Steph Curry Jason Bolden, Steph Curry NBA tunnel, Jason Bolden Rakuten, NBA tunnel, NBA tunnel fashion, NBA tunnel style, Steph Curry fashion, NBA fashion, Jason Bolden, theGrio.com

This NBA season, Steph Curry is bringing latest talent to his team with the help of a friend and stylist, Jason Bolden. As a part of the duo’s ongoing collaboration with Rakuten, Bolden styles the Golden State Warriors point guard and two-time league MVP in an array of black and brown designers for his walks through the NBA tunnels during the 2024-25 season.

“My mission at every opportunity I have is to upskill people who deserve it and spread awareness of very talented individuals, especially in the fashion industry where Black and brown communities don’t necessarily have the same resources and opportunities,” Curry explained , per Women’s on a regular basis clothing. “Using our tunnel walks, which have become a really big part of the NBA experience with cameras everywhere behind the scenes, you have that moment when you walk in, and it’s a great opportunity to express yourself through the clothes you wear.”

In recent years, the NBA tunnel has change into something of a runway for menswear designers, as the league’s most trendy players use their entrances and exits to showcase their personal style, drawing attention that sometimes rivals the games themselves.

“In my rookie season in 2009, there was one camera following me from the car to the locker room – our Golden State Warriors PR team,” Curry recalls. “How all of it became almost a runway show, because you get out of the automobile, the bus, and go into the locker room – the funny thing is that we dress, whether you are at home or in a hotel, and you are probably wearing outfit from half-hour to an hour, depending on how long the trip is. Then you go to the locker room, take it off and put it back on after the match, but that moment is special because you wish to look good,” he added.

While Curry typically opts for traditional styles, he admits his fashion sense has evolved “dramatically” over the course of his profession. According to WWD, this season his wardrobe will feature creations by each established and emerging designers, including Áwet and Saif Ud Deen, co-founder of Pharrell Williams Billionaire Boys Club.

“My goal is not to try to stand out too much… I never dress loudly just to dress loudly, and I think I have a very classic, modern, casual style,” Curry explained, later adding: “Any brand we wear , has a unique way of coping with or attacking this problem and it can be nice to see diversity inside the different outfits I wear.”

Fans who like Curry’s look can shop online at stores like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Mr. Porter while also receiving money back through Rakuten.

“The saying ‘look good, feel good and have fun’ is true,” Curry said. “Have fun with what you wear in the tunnel and during the game – it helps you be present in the moment.”


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Lifestyle

An AI discrimination class action lawsuit has finally been settled

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AI racial discrimination lawsuit settled, theGrio.com

Mary Louis’ excitement about moving right into a Massachusetts apartment within the spring of 2021 turned to dismay when Louis, a Black woman, received an email informing her that a “third-party service” had denied her a lease.

This third-party service included an algorithm designed to judge rental applicants, which became the topic of a class-action lawsuit led by Louis that alleged the algorithm discriminated on the premise of race and income.

On Wednesday, a federal judge approved a settlement in that lawsuit, certainly one of the primary of its kind. The company behind the algorithm has agreed to pay greater than $2.2 million and to recall some parts of its monitoring products that the lawsuit said were discriminatory.

The settlement doesn’t include an admission of wrongdoing by SafeRent Solutions, which said in a press release that while it “continues to believe that SRS Scores complies with all applicable laws, litigation is time-consuming and expensive.”

While such lawsuits could also be relatively latest, using algorithms or artificial intelligence programs to screen and rate Americans is just not. For years, artificial intelligence has been secretly helping make essential decisions for US residents.

When an individual applies for a job, applies for a house loan, and even seeks specific medical care, there may be a risk that a man-made intelligence system or algorithm will judge or evaluate them as Louis did. These AI systems, nonetheless, are largely unregulated, although some have been found to cause discrimination.

“Management companies and property owners need to know that they have been warned that systems they believe are reliable and good will face challenges,” said Todd Kaplan, certainly one of Louis’ attorneys.

The lawsuit alleged that SafeRent’s algorithm didn’t bear in mind housing voucher advantages, which it said were a very important detail affecting a tenant’s ability to pay monthly bills, and due to this fact discriminated against low-income applicants who qualified for assistance.

The lawsuit also accused the SafeRent algorithm of over-reliance on credit information. They argued that it doesn’t provide an entire picture of an applicant’s ability to pay rent on time and unfairly awards housing voucher applicants to Black and Latino applicants, partly because they’ve lower average credit scores, which will be attributed to historical inequalities.

Christine Webber, certainly one of the plaintiff’s lawyers, argued that simply because the algorithm or artificial intelligence is just not programmed to discriminate, the info the algorithm uses or weights can have “the same effect as if you told it to intentionally discriminate.”

When Louis’ application was rejected, she tried to appeal the choice by sending two landlords references confirming that she had paid her rent early or on time for 16 years, despite the fact that she didn’t have a robust credit history.

Louis, who had a housing voucher, was floundering, having already notified her previous owner that she was moving out, and was facing custody charges against her granddaughter.

The response from a management company that used SafeRent’s tenant screening service was: “We do not accept appeals and cannot overrule a tenant screening result.”

Louis felt defeated; the algorithm didn’t know her, she said.

“It’s all about numbers. You can’t get individual empathy from them,” Louis said. “You can’t beat the system. The system will always beat us.”

While state lawmakers have proposed aggressive regulation of a majority of these AI systems, these proposals have largely modified them did not obtain sufficient support. This implies that lawsuits like Louis’ are beginning to lay the groundwork for AI liability.

SafeRent’s attorneys argued within the motion to dismiss that the corporate shouldn’t be chargeable for discrimination because SafeRent didn’t make the ultimate decision on whether to simply accept or deny a tenant. This service would screen applicants, evaluate them and supply a report, but leave it to the landlords or management firms to come to a decision whether to simply accept or reject the tenant.

Louis’ lawyers, together with the U.S. Department of Justice, which filed a press release of interest within the case, argued that the SafeRent algorithm could possibly be held liable since it still plays a job in housing access. The judge denied SafeRent’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit on these grounds.

The settlement stipulates that SafeRent cannot include its rating in tenant screening reports in certain cases, including if an applicant is on a housing voucher. It also requires that if SafeRent develops a distinct audit result that it plans to make use of, it have to be validated by a 3rd party, to which the plaintiffs agree.

Louis’ son found her an inexpensive apartment on Facebook Marketplace, which she moved into, even though it was $200 dearer and in a less desirable neighborhood.

“I’m not optimistic that I’ll be able to take a break, but I have to continue playing and that’s it,” Louis said. “I have too many people depending on me.”

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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