ABSTRACT
This chapter describes some of the available research data on minority women’s health, and specific strategies for improving exercise and nutrition. It focuses on research related to obesity because of its widespread prevalence and its potential for preventing or improving the management of diabetes and hypertension, as well as hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension start with the eating and exercise patterns of childhood and early adulthood. Prevention of problems associated with obesity may be improved by helping women with low education and income improves their exercise and nutrition. The role of stress in eating disorders, particularly with regard to obesity, has been of interest to researchers of minority women’s health. Rates of suicide are highest in the oldest old, and often occur when depression has gone unrecognized or untreated, despite visits to health care professionals very close to the time of suicide.
