Presented by Jaime Slaughter-Acey, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health

Extant research suggests maternal weight is an important determinant of pregnancy health, both maternal and fetal, including pregnancy induced hypertension, risk of cesarean delivery, and preterm delivery. Prepregnancy weight status also has important implications for gestational weight gain and future cardiovascular health. While research highlighting the increased prevalence of overweight or obesity among women in the US and associated racial disparities is ample, this work fails to recognize the complexity for race classification and thus, its intersection with other aspects of social identity (e.g., gender, skin color). Using a sample of African American women, the current study examines prepregnancy weight status in relation to skin tone, skin tone bias, and racial identity (the importance of racial/group membership).

All faculty, staff, and students welcome! Light refreshments will be served.