How Is Discrimination Related to Obesity and Diabetes?

When one feels like a misfit in a crowd, like a wrong piece in a jigsaw puzzle or a poetry book misplaced in the prose shelf, this hurt internalizes and can set off a whole chain of unhealthy effects. The sense of superiority of a certain race in a social structure gives birth to racial differences. The powerful social group develops a demeaning mindset towards the other social group and misuses its power to deprive the latter of equal social status and opportunities. This approach of discrimination passes from generation to generation. Thus, the other social group gets conditioned to mistreatment, and they compromise on their social status for the sake of their survival, and this directly and indirectly affects their health.

The discrimination experienced in childhood can affect our mental and physical health in adulthood.

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How does discrimination affect health?

Discrimination is a slow poison that hollows its victims from inside and makes them suffer in the worst form. The unwelcomed stress and depression overtake the energetic, healthy people, and unwanted medical diseases start to rear their ugly head. This outcome from discrimination is disappointing but not unexpected. This is how the human brain works. Hostile surroundings such as discrimination could transfer negative vibes to positive people at an early age. By the time they are adults, it manifests, and they may struggle with obesity, depression, anxiety, heart disease, and even diabetes. Oddly enough, who knew the trigger for heart disease or diabetes could be discrimination? With the onset of stress and depression, many other diseases come in and deteriorate the physical health of people by activating certain genes. It is evident from the research in youth and adolescence that individuals who witness discrimination around them feel drained emotionally and undergo emotional exhaustion, and worsening stress can lead to diseases. Therefore, direct or indirect experiences of discrimination we now know have adverse effects on not just the social impact of a person but also the health of their body. Their diabetes and obesity could be from the discrimination they experienced in childhood.

What is the research behind discrimination and health?

Much research has been done to investigate the impact of discrimination on health. In teenagers, exposure to racial discrimination leads to social withdrawal, anxiety, and negative emotions on a long-term basis all because of the discrimination they experienced in elementary school. The intensity and persistency of this stress impact the learning and memory of the individuals and thus, it obstructs their growth to become strong and successful adults. These studies have shown that darker skin does not equate to thicker skin and the health impacts of discrimination are real. We know now the emotional and physical invalidation of a specific social group not only affects their social well-being, but their psychological health and their physical health.

What can be done?

The gravity of racial discrimination is acknowledged on all levels in this 21st century. The prudent solution to this crucial issue is that the next generation of scientists, scholars, and practitioners should be provided with the education and training so they can collaborate to eradicate racial health disparities at the grassroots level. Racism and health scholars should be trained to share their work on public platforms using their communication skills effectively. The schools should implement strict policies regarding peer discrimination and deal with these issues on high priority. It is the need of the hour to foster supportive school cultures where mutual respect and equal opportunities are ensured to prevent future chronic medical diseases as an adult. But before we can implement change, just having the awareness and acknowledging that research shows that medical diseases can be a direct result of discrimination is a good first step.

Togetherness, a sense of community, and love are the best medicine to treat diseases caused by discrimination.

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