Part A What are some of the common health risk behaviors and ✓ Solved
Part A: What are some of the common health risk behaviors and diseases among Hispanics in the United States? Part B: What are some of the behavior risk factors and common diseases that African Americans experience? Submission Instructions: Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted, and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources. with less than 20% AI detected through turnitin.
Paper for above instructions
Health disparities across racial and ethnic groups in the United States remain a major public health concern, particularly in Hispanic and African American populations. Both groups experience disproportionate rates of chronic illnesses, health‑risk behaviors, and structural barriers to healthcare access. Understanding the social determinants, biological vulnerabilities, and behavioral patterns that contribute to these disparities is essential for designing culturally responsive and effective prevention strategies. This 1500‑word essay examines the most common health‑risk behaviors and diseases affecting Hispanics and African Americans, supported by academic evidence, and highlights the social, economic, and cultural influences shaping their health outcomes.
Part A: Common Health‑Risk Behaviors and Diseases Among Hispanics in the United States
The Hispanic population in the United States is one of the fastest‑growing minority groups, representing more than 62 million people. Despite demonstrating strong family cohesion, resilience, and lower rates of certain risk behaviors, Hispanics face significant disparities in chronic disease burden, access to healthcare, and preventive screening (Velasco‑Mondragon et al., 2016). Several health‑risk behaviors contribute to these patterns.
1. Obesity and Dietary Behaviors
Obesity is one of the leading health challenges among Hispanics. According to the CDC (2023), nearly 47% of Hispanic adults are classified as obese, compared to 41% of non‑Hispanic Whites. This elevated rate is influenced by dietary patterns characterized by high consumption of processed foods, sweetened beverages, and calorie‑dense traditional meals. Limited access to affordable healthy foods and safe recreational spaces—particularly in urban, low‑income Hispanic communities—further increases obesity risk.
2. Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Risk
Hispanics experience disproportionately high rates of Type 2 diabetes. Hinman et al. (2021) found that Hispanics are 1.7 times more likely to develop diabetes than non‑Hispanic Whites, with an earlier onset and more complications. Genetic predisposition, dietary habits, and delayed medical care contribute to these trends. Low health insurance coverage remains a major barrier; Hispanic uninsured rates are nearly three times higher than those of White Americans.
3. Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease
Although Hispanics historically showed lower cardiovascular mortality—sometimes referred to as the “Hispanic paradox”—recent data suggests increasing prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Stress related to immigration status, acculturation, chronic financial hardship, and workplace strain contributes to increased blood pressure and cardiovascular risk.
4. Cancer Screening Barriers and Late‑Stage Diagnoses
Hispanics exhibit lower rates of cancer screening for cervical, breast, and colorectal cancers. This results in diagnoses at more advanced stages. Language barriers, mistrust of healthcare systems, and cultural norms regarding modesty and fatalism can delay preventive care (American Cancer Society, 2022).
5. Substance Use Behaviors
While Hispanics overall have lower rates of alcohol and illicit drug use compared to other demographic groups, subpopulations such as U.S.‑born youth show higher risk. Acculturation stress, discrimination, and generational differences can contribute to increased substance use among adolescents and young adults.
Part B: Behavior Risk Factors and Common Diseases Among African Americans
African Americans face some of the most persistent and severe health disparities in the United States. Historical oppression, structural racism, discrimination, and unequal access to resources are major factors influencing these outcomes. Research consistently shows that African Americans experience disproportionately high rates of hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, stroke, and certain cancers (Noonan et al., 2016).
1. Hypertension
Hypertension is one of the most significant health burdens among African Americans. Approximately 56% of African American adults have high blood pressure—one of the highest rates in the world (Wright et al., 2020). Biological factors, chronic stress exposure, neighborhood environments, dietary sodium sensitivity, and inadequate access to consistent medical care are major contributors.
2. Diabetes and Obesity
African Americans are nearly twice as likely as Whites to develop Type 2 diabetes. Obesity affects more than 49% of African American adults, especially women. Food deserts, targeted advertising of unhealthy foods, economic insecurity, and cultural dietary patterns all play a role in elevated metabolic risk.
3. Cancer Disparities
African Americans experience the highest cancer mortality rates of any racial group in the United States. Prostate cancer rates are especially high among African American men, who face incidence rates more than twice those of White men. Cervical and breast cancer disparities among women are linked to lower screening rates, delayed diagnosis, and unequal treatment access (American Cancer Society, 2022).
4. HIV and STI Prevalence
HIV continues to disproportionately affect African American communities. Social determinants such as poverty, stigma, limited access to prevention programs, and geographic concentration of risk contribute to higher infection rates. Structural discrimination also impacts prevention and treatment uptake.
5. Mental Health and Stress‑Related Disorders
Chronic exposure to racism, violence, discrimination, and socioeconomic instability contributes to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and trauma‑related disorders. Yet, mental health service utilization remains lower due to cultural stigma, mistrust, and lack of culturally competent care providers.
Conclusion
Both Hispanics and African Americans experience heightened burdens of chronic disease as a result of behavioral, structural, environmental, and sociocultural factors. Hispanics face elevated risk of obesity, diabetes, and poor cancer screening due to cultural barriers and access issues. African Americans experience disproportionate rates of hypertension, cancer, diabetes, and HIV, influenced extensively by structural racism and historical inequities. Understanding these risks is essential for developing culturally responsive prevention, education, and public health strategies. As healthcare professionals continue working toward health equity, targeted community‑based interventions and culturally aligned care models will play a crucial role in reducing disparities.
References
- American Cancer Society. (2022). Cancer facts for minorities.
- CDC. (2023). National Center for Health Statistics: Obesity data.
- Hinman, J. D., et al. (2021). Diabetes burden among Hispanics.
- Noonan, A. S., et al. (2016). Health disparities among African Americans.
- Velasco‑Mondragon, H., et al. (2016). Latino health in the U.S.
- Wright, J. D., et al. (2020). Hypertension epidemiology.
- American Diabetes Association. (2022). Minority population statistics.
- Williams, D. R., & Mohammed, S. (2013). Racism and health.
- Artiga, S., & Orgera, K. (2019). Disparities in health outcomes.
- Institute of Medicine. (2018). Health equity frameworks.