Confronting Misconceptions About Race, Weight, and Body Image

The Takeaway

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.

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!