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Social determinants of health holding back Black Americans

June 22, 2020

Black People Are Often Unfairly Blamed For Health Disparities—Which Ignores Everything We Know About Being Well

When most people think about health and wellness, especially when they want to improve it, their thoughts tend to turn to lifestyle: things like food, exercise, and self-care practices. But the reality is that these lifestyle practices are deeply linked to access and have a significant impact on health outcomes. Historically, conversations about health—especially when talking about health in Black communities—have overlooked what’s known as social determinants of health.

Social determinants of health are generally recognized as conditions in the environments where people live, work, study and play. They include variables like socioeconomic status, employment, access to safe and affordable housing, health care, and access to affordable nutritious food. These variables directly impact and influence health outcomes, disease rates, and illness.

Maya Feller

Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN is the founder and lead dietitian at Maya Feller Nutrition. In her practice, her team provides medical nutrition therapy and nutrition coaching for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mood disorders, developmental disabilities, disordered eating, and more. Maya believes in providing inclusive nutrition education from an anti-bias patient-centered, culturally humble approach to help people make informed food choices. Maya shares her approachable, food-based solutions with millions of people through regular speaking engagements, writing, her social platforms, and as a national nutrition expert on Good Morning America, is a Healthline Medical Advisor, and on the advisory board for SHAPE and Parents, as well as appearing on TODAY Show, Tamron Hall, and in The New York Times, mindbodygreen, Well+Good, Food Network, Martha Stewart, Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, Cooking Light, Eating Well, Prevention, Glamour, SELF, and more. She is the author of The Southern Comfort Food Diabetes Cookbook: Over 100 Recipes for a Healthy Life and Eating from Our Roots: 80+ Healthy Home-Cooked Favorites from Cultures Around the World (goop Press, January 24, 2023).

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