The Final Call

I’m not fat, just big boned?

What's your opinion on this article?

Well if your family is anything like mine, you fully understand the reply folks give in relaying their weight or physique to you. They say, “I’m not fat, just big boned.” I know, I know. Don’t laugh. I, myself have been guilty of spouting the same foolishness.

Going through some old Polaroid pictures from high school and college,  I recently thumbed through faded pictures of my track meets, cheerleading kicks, dance performances and volleyball games. I am reminded of the size I used to be, but you know what they say, used to bees don’t make honey. So instead of waiting for a New Year’s resolution to start to slim down, I’m starting today! I’m going to stop telling people that I’m still carrying baby weight, after all my baby is 5 years old now (Smile). I am resolving to stop blaming the so-called “thick” women in my family for my being a little overweight and accept the fact that it’s just poor eating habits.

As we are approaching the end of the year, the holiday festivities just keep coming. The Black experience includes family gatherings surrounded by large tables of food, pies, cakes, and a variety of beverages, which will ultimately lead to us kicking ourselves in the days and weeks after for pigging out. We actually forgo eating the entire day, so we can have room in our bellies for that X-mas dinner of fried chicken, sweet potatoes, baked mac and cheese, dressing or stuffing, cornbread muffins, and collard greens.

We know all the food that we eat isn’t good for us but food we were forced to eat during slavery to sustain us. A resourceful people, we took the scrapings of the pig, the worst vegetables, and corn meal—which  are only suitable for animals—and fed our families. Back then we had no choice, it was about survival. Fast forward more than 4 generations after slavery, we are still consuming the same junk. Something has got to change.

Yes ladies, I know we come up in a culture where big-boned, big hipped, voluptuous women are the bee’s knees, and if God has blessed us with such beautiful physiques then All praise is due to him, but I’m talking about maintaining a healthy weight, not having a pretty figure. I’m asking that we stop lying to ourselves as if we are okay with being “Southern-bred” and “cornbread fed” thick women. Say no to the second helping of dessert, or momma’s famous banana pudding. What sense does it make to eat all night long until our hearts content, then wake up in the morning feeling sorry for ourselves?

I know you’re recovering from the effects of your Thanksgiving dinner, but how much time is there to work off those added pounds before the upcoming holiday parties, or X-mas dinners? It’s easy to put the weight on, not so easy to get it off, right? Obesity is on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Over the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States and rates remain high. More than one-third of  U.S. adults (35.7 percent) and approximately 17 percent (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese.

Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death.

The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion in 2008; the medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.

Non-Hispanic Blacks have the highest age-adjusted rates of obesity (49.5 percent) compared with Mexican Americans (40.4 percent), all Hispanics (39.1 percent) and non-Hispanic Whites (34.3 percent).

Among non-Hispanic Black and Mexican-American men, those with higher incomes are more likely to be obese than those with low income.

Higher income women are less likely to be obese than low-income women.

There is no significant relationship between obesity and education among men. Among women, however, there is a trend—those with college degrees are less likely to be obese compared with less educated women.

Higher prevalence of adult obesity was found in the Midwest (29.5 percent) and the South (29.4 percent). Lower prevalence was observed in the Northeast (25.3 percent) and the West (25.1 percent).

An article titled, “The War Against Obesity (Fat), Part Five,” by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan published in October 1990, said “Master Fard Muhammad, the Great Mahdi, to Whom Praise is Due Forever, warned us (the Sisters, in particular) about the effects of weighing other than ourselves in regards to living the life and weighing properly. Being overweight is devastating to the proper functioning of the life organism that we call the human body.”

“So, you go home, Beloved, and get that long mirror as I told you to do in Part I of this series. When you are alone, take your clothes off and look at yourself. Make up your mind you are going to cast off the unwanted burden of excess fat. Do not take any crash diet. That is madness. The excess fat did not arrive in a crash diet. Losing weight is a slow, painful process. Select the right foods to eat and discipline yourself. Say, ‘I am not going to eat between my meals. I am not going to do it.’

“Beloved, there is nothing more powerful than a made-up mind. Don’t say, ‘I’ll do it tomorrow.’ Don’t tell me about ‘tomorrow.’ Don’t tell me about tomorrow, because you know nothing about tomorrow. All that you have is this moment in time. Make up your mind, now! No more swill, junk or filth in the House of     Allah (God).”

I’m pleading with you to let go of our illusions, understand that our health is more important than how the world perceives our physical beauty, and that we are the only one who has the power to change our lives. All it takes is a proper understanding of food, exercise, and healthier alternatives to change it all around. Whatever your reasons may be for being overweight be it by a few or not so few pounds, you can do something today to change it for life. For me, I think I will dust off my Tae Bo DVD and turn it up! May God bless you with success in your endeavors to do His Will for the benefit of yourself, your family and your Nation. Send your before and after pictures to me at the Final Call so we can share your success!

(Laila Muhammad is a Chicago-based writer and videographer. She is also a Final Call production assistant.)