Maggie Hicken’s research links the chronic stress of cultural and structural racism to obesity among black Americans, and particularly among black women. She says it’s important to understand how systematic discriminatory treatment of black Americans leads to health inequalities: “This is not about something that Black Americans are doing, this is about something that society is doing to Black Americans, and to other racialized groups as well.”

More about Hicken’s work links racism, chronic stress, and obesity >