Africa is Suffering from an Obesity Problem

Urban Chameleon news

The "index of affluence and power is linked to one's size." In other words, bigger is better, even if its unhealthy.

Women, especially in black populations, think being overweight is "something that is beautiful and attractive."
full article at Newsweek

Interesting topic considering people are re-thinking the current BMI levels as the standard to measure obesity. Now if they would only make this adjustment to SAT's (not that I'm condoning people being unhealthily overweight)

BMI is used to determine weight categories: 18.5 and below is considered underweight; 18.6 to 24.9 healthy; 25 to 29 overweight; and 30-plus obese. “This scale was created years ago and is based on Caucasian men and women,” says Dr. Molly Bray, associate professor of pediatrics and nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. “It doesn’t take into account differences in body composition between genders, race/ethnicity groups, and across the lifespan.”

Strictly for the Uninsured Hustler... Guidance on Healthcare

by today's Urban Chameleon contributor , courtesy of $ave Money Honey

Being that pressure is coming down on Obama's health care plan we must get creative with our alternatives. Let's start here:

Teeth. They are such an integral part of our overall health and well-being. If there's a problem in the grill, it affects the way we eat, the way we laugh, the way we kiss...not to mention the physical damage bad teeth can impose on the rest of the body. Living in a society where almost all toothpastes are infused with "whitening" (what the hell is whitening, anyway??), where photoshop-happy photo editors artificially brighten celebrity smiles and where coined terms such as "meth mouth" exist - there is a lot of pressure to keep them pearlies white.

Our teeth aren't frozen in time while we await the outcome of healthcare reform in the US. How many out there by a show of hands do not have full dental health coverage?



Join the Masses, Take a Dental Vacation!
Crowns, root canals, fillings, veneers...that stuff can really add up if you're forced to come out of pocket. Do the math, with root canals averaging $800 and crowns going as high as $3100 a pop...why not make the most of your spending by taking a dental vacation? Believe it or not, there are countries out there whose governments actually care about the well-being of humanity and exhibit this concern by providing free or very affordable healthcare.

Some friends of mine just came back from a trip to Thailand...with brighter smiles. It's not a new concept, there's a whole industry surrounding this phenomenon.
Check out some of these options:
dental-offer.com
healthcaretrip.org
medcentrek.com
healthmedicaltourism.org
overseastreatments.com

And if you haven't already, check out Michael Moore's film SickO. It highlights Americans who travel everywhere from Canada to France to Cuba in search of affordable (or FREE) healthcare - and it sheds light on the shortcomings of the existing health insurance providers stateside. And what a sad state we are in. Just sad.

But keep smiling! We could all use a vacation anyway.

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Urban Chameleons and Their Dogs

by today’s Urban Chameleon contributor

Black Urban Chameleon’s and their dogs are no joke. Like most pet owners they have a powerful bond with their doggies but don’t play when it comes to cleanliness. I know my mom would wipe her own dog down with alcohol wipes before letting her back into the house. My white friends not so much, they will have a full out game of touch football in the mud with their doggies and then allow them all up in the bed. Uhhhm not Black folks and don’t even get me started on Caribbean’s- most of them don’t even understand how the animal can actually be living inside the house with the people. This was definitely a compromise my Jamaican dad made for my American mom.

I was recently out to dinner with a friend of mine and her husband having a great time catching up on life. The night was coming to an end and they had to excuse them selves to hurry home and wash their puppy, Precious. They had just picked her up from the puppy sitter upon their return from Hawaii. My friend told me she was very concerned about Precious as she was cuddled up by a corner when they went to pick her up and was worried that she had been violated. “Why is she so tired?” She had asked the pup sitter who just shrugged. Still concerned that Precious had been tampered with they were off to give her a bath and re-boost her chi.

Now, they don’t play when it comes to cleaning their Precious. She ran down the routine they were about to embark on which included soaking Precious down with a lavender scrub then conditioned her with a rose shampoo that was to sits on her for 5 to (probably in this case) 10minutes

and then combing and blow drying Precious like the Dominican’s at the hair salon.

Her feeling was if Precious was going to be back in the house with them she needed to not be funky and get fly.

Work it out Ms. Precious! Fierceness

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My Crazy Ghetto Cousin

by today's Urban Chameleon contributor

Every now and again my crazy, ghetto, cousin who has cancer might I add, will call me up to thank me for the pictures of our new born daughter. Although she is a bit ghetto and crazy she appreciates our gestures of trying to stay connected as a family since we live in different states and don't see each other often. 

However, my cousin never fails to catch me of guard. One minute we’ll be talking about the importance of family, love, support, faith but the next minute she’s be telling me how some bitch tried to play her. 

"Denise" she says to me. 
"Don't you know this bitch tried to cut in front of me at the mothaf*cking fax machine line today!" 


And I'll usually respond with something to make her feel supported like, "Oh no they didn’t.” 
"I had to tell that bitch, BITCH did you not see me standing here waiting to motherf*ckin facsimile bitch?" "Bitch gonna tell me that she didn't realize I was waiting and that she sorry." "I said Bitch how you going stand there and lie like a mothaf*ckin rug telling me you didn't realize, I was standing right there holding the motherf*ckin cover sheet. Bitch is like-" 


Finally interrupting her I say, "Deyon this can't be good for the cancer I think you should try and relax." 


"You right, I can't be letting these bitches get the best of me." 


"Did you get the Jasmine tea I sent you? That really helps to calm the spirit, why don't you make yourself a pot?" 


"Can't, no kettle." 


"What happened to your kettle?" 


"I had to beat this other bitch's ass wit it last week who might I add TRIED TO PLAY ME."

There is nothing like having ghetto cousin.

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