Structural Racism and Obesity-Related Cancer Inequities in the United States: Challenges and Research Priorities
Catherine M Pichardo1, Adaora Ezeani1, Laura A Dwyer2
1Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
Summary
Structural racism drives health disparities, particularly obesity and cancer, through neighborhood segregation and limited resources. Addressing these requires community-engaged research focusing on social determinants of health.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Disparities Research
- Social Epidemiology
Background:
- Structural racism is a root cause of health disparities in the United States.
- Neighborhood segregation, poverty, and disinvestment contribute to obesity and cancer disparities.
- Obesogenic conditions in segregated communities, like poor food access, exacerbate these disparities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how structural factors influence obesity and cancer disparities.
- To identify research challenges and strategies for addressing these disparities.
- To outline National Cancer Institute priorities for tackling multilevel factors in cancer disparities.
Main Methods:
- Discussion and expansion of themes from a National Cancer Institute webinar.
- Analysis of structural factors, including neighborhood segregation and obesogenic conditions.
- Application of a social determinants of health framework and community-engaged approaches.
Main Results:
- Structural racism significantly impacts health outcomes, especially obesity and cancer, in disadvantaged communities.
- Research challenges include understanding the complex interplay of multilevel and intersecting factors.
- Community-engaged approaches guided by a structural racism lens are crucial.
Conclusions:
- Further research is essential to understand the full impact of residential segregation and obesogenic conditions on cancer prevention and control.
- Moving beyond individual-level interventions requires addressing social determinants of health and structural racism.
- Prioritizing community-engaged research is key to reducing obesity and cancer disparities.
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