Browse Publications: Health
A Place for Healthier Living: Improving Access to Physical Activity and Healthy Foods
Good diet and physical activity are vital pathways to lifelong health, from promoting healthy growth and development in children through maintaining well-being and an optimal quality of life in seniors. Unfortunately, poor diet and inadequate physical activity have become the second leading actual cause of death in the United States1 and are linked to a signifi cant portion of preventable chronic illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, some cancers and type 2 diabetes. There are significant, persistent disparities in the prevalence and consequences of these chronic illnesses: disparities of race, ethnicity, and income that are linked not just to nutrition and physical activity directly, but also to the social, economic and community-level conditions in which people live. These conditions largely shape people's capacity to maintain a good diet and a life that includes healthful physical activity. While individual behavior and access to quality health services are key, these disparities will not be eliminated without addressing community conditions.
Building Stronger Communities for Better Health
The problem of health disparities specifically, the higher incidence of certain diseases and health conditions among communities of color—fi rst emerged on the national policy agenda in 1998. Community leaders, public health officials, and an array of state and national organizations seized on the issue, seeking to educate policymakers and the public and advocating for an expansion of policy initiatives across the country. Such efforts have focused most often on expanding access to health care and improving individuals’ experiences within the health care system.
Factors Affecting the Health of Men of Color in the United States: An Overview
Men of color face many challenges in achieving and maintaining good health. Their social circumstances and cultural norms, as well as the larger society's discriminatory treatment of them, often engender in these men unhealthful responses. When social circumstances include poverty, limited education, and scarce employment opportunities, the impact on health can be especially harmful.