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Studies of the association between religious attendance and body mass have yielded mixed results. In this paper, we consider intersectional variations by race and gender to advance our understanding of these inconsistencies. We use data from the 2006-2008 Health and Retirement Study to examine the association between religious attendance and three indicators of body mass: overall body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio (n = 11,457). For White women, attendance is either protective or unrelated to body mass. For Black women, attendance is consistently associated with increased body mass. We find that religious attendance is not associated with body mass among the men.

This qualitative study examines how the “Strong Black Woman” (SBW) label can have potentially negative health effects for African American/Black women that contribute to eating disorders. This study addresses the gap in literature on racial disparities that are present in understanding eating disorders that contribute to obesity and obesityrelated issues. Through semi-structured individual interviews conducted with ( N = 11) Black female higher education students, participants were able to discuss how disorganized overeating patterns were associated with the emotional stress of being labeled a Strong Black Woman. Findings provide implications to clinicians, educators, and researchers by identifying stress inducing factors heightened by racist and sexist microaggressions that contribute to the mental and physical health of Black women. This study also adds to the limited literature on the intersection of racism and sexism that contribute to poor health outcomes in Black women.