Compared with their white counterparts, black women with depression are less likely to receive treatment for it (39.7 percent vs. 54 %), the research said.
And among those who seek treatment, blacks are less likely than whites to receive care that matches clinical practice guidelines, Steinberg noted. Moreover,
depression is 3 times more common for all those with incomes below the federal poverty level, based on the study.
Weight problems are also more serious among black women in accordance with other racial/ethnic groups, which can lead to a higher prevalence of obesity-
related chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, the research said.
Various research indicates that black women think it is more difficult to shed weight compared to other groups; it's unclear why that disparity exists, based
on the study.
Steinberg said the disparity may be partially affected by differences in sociocultural norms associated with weight, diet and exercise or socioeconomic
stressors and other barriers regarding access to treatment.
"These higher occurrences may also have an impact on psychosocial outcomes such as depression," she said. "So interventions that concentrate on behavioral
weight control may present a good opportunity to address both obesity and depression."
From 2009-2012, researchers conducted a randomized trial comparing a 12-month digital health weight-gain prevention intervention to usual primary care
treatment at five community health centers in central New york operated by Piedmont Health Inc. The Shape Program's "Maintain, Don't Gain" intervention
didn't focus on mood or depression.
The research involved 185 black women ages 25-44, each with a bmi (BMI) of 25 to 35. BMI is really a measure of body fat according to weight and height.
These women were at high-risk for health problems when they continued to gain weight.