Commentary: Dr. Rashmi Shetgiri and Dr. Roberto Vargas on the 2023 LACHS Survey( continued)
“ There are social determinants that people who are marginalized or are facing persistent racism that also affects their body’ s ability to metabolize, in a way that might predispose them to obesity. There are multiple levels there. There are cultural factors that might just be related to what African Americans may prefer or have historically used as the basis of their diets. All of those factors must be considered. But it’ s not enough to just say that Black people don’ t eat well or eat too much without really considering the community contextual and environmental factors that affect health both directly in terms of metabolism, as well as what food options and opposite options for lifestyle changes that would allow them to burn more calories considerably,” he said.
What about the correlation between food insecurity and housing burden? Is family size the third variable in that assessment, or is the issue strongly tied to poverty?“ With the likelihood that a family structure that does not have a lot of income in a very expensive city like Los Angeles, you’ re going to find people who are multiple families living in smaller housing space. And they’ re going to also live in communities for which the rent is going to be cheaper. And those communities for which the rent is going to be cheaper, are going to have less options for the healthy food and for the exercise capacity,” he added. happen. Is it easier to change your behavior when you’ re more financially secure? Is it easier to make that change when the healthy food options are in your neighborhood versus having to drive? Is it easier to make those changes, when you don’ t have other negative factors and stressors, like violence in your community?
“ You know, overall anxiety and stress is combined with the increased pervasiveness of overt racism, and those things matter. They’ re not easy fixes. But these are things that we can collectively as leaders and advocates push to change.“ If we give people information and share it with them, telling them so in a less paternalistic fashion, educate about the things that give them better options, without assisting those who are currently not in financial or geographic situations to make those changes independently, we will not get the results that we want for our community. They need to be done in concert,” he said.
Dr. Vargas collaborated with CDU faculty member Dr. Cynthia Gonzalez on a recent survey conducted by the Watts Rising Youth Ethnography group. These young people have been conducting community surveys for the past 10 years. In this instance, they asked community members where they shop. Many residents shop at Food 4 Less.“ I’ ve been in Food 4 Less,” Dr. Vargas said.“ There are healthy foods there, and fruits and vegetables are available for less. It’ s not as bad as some of the communities around the country where the only options are dollar stores, where all the foods are canned and processed. There is an opportunity for education and providing resources to have people to have access to Food 4 Less, as opposed to going to some of these other food opportunities.”
Point taken. But there are instances where people go on diets; they stop smoking and drinking, they qualify for health insurance, and perhaps they move to better living conditions. Realistically, is there such a thing as an“ easy” fix for any of these challenging circumstances described in the LACHS survey? Dr. Vargas pondered the query.
LACHS Survey- Dr. Roberto Vargas
“ What we’ ve found is that when we’ ve provided families the opportunity to live in more affluent communities, their health profiles do improve. Is this a question that those of us as public health professionals need to really assess? Are there things that can be done? Yes. Now, are they easy? Well, that depends on what resources you provide people to make behavioral changes to actually have these things
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 22