Dietary Habits of African-Americans Are Similar, Diabetes or Not

Dietary Habits of African-Americans Are Similar, Diabetes or Not: African Americans are 1.8 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes and 1.4 times more likely to be obese than are non-Hispanic whites. Researchers looking for differences in the eating habits of African Americans based on whether or not they had Type 2 diabetes uncovered an unexpected result: no matter what the blood sugar level was, the dietary intakes were pretty much the same. According to the study, the average diet of African-American adults is higher in carbohydrates and fat and lower in beneficial minerals and nutrients than are federally recommended for daily consumption. The researchers take that as a sign that culturally relevant nutrition education could benefit all black citizens because of their higher risk for diabetes and would be especially prudent for those already diagnosed with the disease. Ethnicity & Disease, August 2010