{"id":131832,"date":"2023-08-07T00:04:34","date_gmt":"2023-08-07T04:04:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=131832"},"modified":"2023-08-06T12:03:21","modified_gmt":"2023-08-06T16:03:21","slug":"emory-researchers-blame-structural-racism-for-type-2-diabetes-in-black-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/emory-researchers-blame-structural-racism-for-type-2-diabetes-in-black-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Emory researchers blame \u2018structural racism\u2019 for Type 2 diabetes in black people"},"content":{"rendered":"

Critic of the paper says ‘health literacy is an even bigger problem’<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

“Structural racism” contributes to higher Type 2 diabetes rates in black Americans, according to a new paper from Emory University researchers.<\/p>\n

The researchers used a framework that \u201cconsider[s] the domains of health behaviours and social norms, structural racism, access to high-quality care, economic development, and public awareness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStructural racism play[s] a prominent role at all levels,\u201d of these domains, the scholars wrote<\/a> in The Lancet<\/em>.<\/p>\n

They list practices such as redlining and predatory lending from decades ago as part of their hypothesis of why black people today have higher rates of Type 2 diabetes than white citizens.<\/p>\n

\u201cPast policies, laws, and economies contribute to where people live, their access to sufficient and healthy food, and their access to health-care services,\u201d the research team wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese factors, stemming largely from structural racism and discrimination, play an important role in driving racial and ethnic inequities in diabetes and diabetes-related complications,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n

The College Fix<\/em> reached out twice via email to multiple researchers on the paper. After two weeks and a reminder, Dr. Saria Hassan responded on July 30 and said to \u201c[p]lease discuss this request with our communications manager \u2013 Myra Patrick — who is copied on this email. In general an emailed list of questions is not the best way to communicate information.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patrick has yet to respond to that email.<\/p>\n

The Fix<\/em> asked for further information about how the team defined structural racism, how discriminatory practices of the 1950s and 1960s contribute to diabetes today, and how proposed \u201chealth equity plans\u201d would help, if structural racism and historical factors are the cause of the disparities.<\/p>\n

The Fix<\/em> also asked why the paper used a study from 2006 to 2016, when developments such as the Affordable Care Act in those years might have made health care more accessible.<\/p>\n

MORE:<\/strong> Pitt seeks professor of ‘structural racism’ and ‘oppression’<\/a><\/p>\n

The academic paper called on healthcare professionals and policy makers to \u201crecognize their role in health disparities both based on historical policy decisions as well as current ones to make necessary policy changes to reduce disparities [in diabetes].\u201d<\/p>\n

The former associate dean of the University of Pennsylvania\u2019s medical school and a nephrologist by training criticized the claims of the paper.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no question that the biggest cause of diabetes is obesity, and there is no question that a major component of obesity is diet,\u201d Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, chairman of Do No Harm, told The Fix<\/em> in a media statement. \u201cIf children are fed high sugar-containing foods, leading to childhood obesity, they are most likely to have adult obesity and develop diabetes, hypertension, and other medical issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

But, \u201ca major problem in so-called food deserts is customer demand,\u201d Goldfarb told The Fix<\/em>, referencing a CNBC report<\/a>. \u201cThat is to say that in low-income communities, there is no great demand for fresh produce and other foods that might help combat obesity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMoreover, when stores like Trader Joe\u2019s open in black neighborhoods, there is concern that this is a step towards gentrification and, in some instances, have been forced to close because of protests,\u201d he told The Fix<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lancet<\/em> paper is just full of references that have nothing to do with the claims made in the paper,\u201d he also said. \u201cMoreover, the confusion of food insecurity with food deserts seems absurd. Either there\u2019s too much food, or there isn\u2019t enough food, but there can\u2019t be both at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said while \u201chealthcare access is a problem\u2026health literacy is an even bigger problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>‘Structural racism’ study pays black diabetics money to get healthier<\/a><\/p>\n

IMAGE: Hush Naidoo\/Unsplash<\/p>\n

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