Building healthy lifestyles are vital to the Black community
March is National Nutrition Month — an initiative to educate individuals about healthy eating and physical activity choices. This month is an opportunity for us to reflect on how we can improve the overall wellbeing and health of the African American community, especially in the Hampton Roads area. With significant health disparities within the African American community, it is vital that we continue to work with our community to build healthy lifestyles to promote overall longevity and happiness, as well as encourage the presence of Black health and wellness spaces to create a welcoming environment and work to help lessen these disparities.
More than 30% of the Hampton Roads community is Black/ African American, and health and wellness for this community is particularly relevant. As an African American man living in Chesapeake, I recognize the challenges many individuals like me may face when it comes to health and wellness firsthand. It is especially significant for African American members of our community to feel welcomed and accepted while working together to build better bodies, minds and habits, and to be knowledgeable on ways that they can accomplish these health and wellness goals.
The health disparities between the African American community and other groups are alarming. African American individuals are at greater risk for many health issues than others. This includes cardiovascular disease, of which African Americans are at higher risk than other groups. In fact, almost half of all African American individuals have cardiovascular disease, such as stroke and heart disease. High blood pressure is another noteworthy issue, with approximately 2 out of 5 African American adults having it.
There are many ways to address these issues, including education about building a healthy diet, and of course, encouraging regular exercise. It is vital for our community to have a well-rounded understanding of the role that wellness plays in living a life of longevity and productivity.
In addition to being knowledgeable on these issues, it is also imperative for there to be a presence of welcoming spaces for the African American community. The classes at HopeFit VA strive to welcome all individuals, but we want to share the message that our space is a welcoming space for our African American neighbors. I love to see the local community come to our classes and check out our Instagram Reels for workout encouragement and motivation. We showcase clips of our workout classes on Reels to demonstrate how they can be achievable for any skill level, as well as make light of working with our clients to bring a sense of humor and “real” experiences to make them feel more comfortable trying new things. I know that many people have found us through Instagram alone, and we have reached hundreds of people across the platform. This is especially important considering the impact of the last three years.
We also encourage the community to seek out and discover other Black spaces in the area as well, where they can feel welcomed and heard.
This month and beyond, we must continue to consider the health disparities African American individuals face and how we can address these; recognize the importance of welcoming spaces; and empower African American individuals to receive necessary health education and wellness opportunities, the rest of this month and beyond.