Black Health Empowerment Project: An opportunity for collaboration and advocacy in addressing obesity in African American communities

Over the last century, obesity has been increasing in the U.S. Obesity is an important risk factor for a number of diseases, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and respiratory diseases. While rates of obesity and overweight are elevated among different groups, they differ significantly by race/ethnicity, with African Americans displaying higher rates of prevalence than their peers. In response to the rise in obesity, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF), a public policy, research and educational institute, has developed and implemented the Black Health Empowerment Project (BHEP). The project is an education and health promotion initiative designed to educate African American communities nationwide about the relationship between obesity and the chronic health conditions that disproportionately affect them. The main component of BHEP is a free, one-day event co-hosted by a Congressional Black Caucus member in his or her district that includes a healthy living forum and health-focused exhibits, demonstrations and screenings provided by local organizations. Critical to the success of each BHEP event is the active support of the Caucus member in whose district the event is being held, and CBCF works to engage Caucus members in co-hosting and promoting BHEP events in the communities they serve. Community health educators, service providers, and other local resources can also contribute vitally to efforts to address obesity and overweight at the local level in collaboration with national legislators, and, in the process, can help to inform legislation and policymaking around obesity prevention.