Confronting Misconceptions About Race, Weight, and Body Image

Yesterday, we discussed a new study that predicts 42 percent of American adults will be obese by 2030.  We’re continuing that conversation today, with a look at race, weight, and commonly held misconceptions.
For example, it’s widely believed that in America, Asians are rarely overweight, and more likely to be healthy as a result of that.  It’s also widely believed that black people are more likely than other groups to have a positive body image regardless of their size.  In fact, the picture is much more complicated.
Dr.  William Hsu  is the co-director of the Asian American Diabetes Initiative at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Massachusetts.  And Dr.  Denise Wilfley  is the director of the Weight Management and Eating Disorders Program Washington University in St. Louis.