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How Your Passion for Health Can Fuel Community Change

You care about health. Maybe it’s the way you look out for friends, share wellness tips, or follow new treatments before they hit mainstream news. Whatever sparks your interest, there’s power in turning that personal passion into public purpose. This isn’t about having credentials — it’s about showing up, speaking up, and knowing where your voice fits. Health advocacy isn’t reserved for experts; it’s for anyone who’s ever said, “This should be better.” And it can start right where you are. Start with What You See The easiest entry into advocacy? Pay attention to what frustrates or inspires you — then speak from it. Are parents in your neighborhood struggling with asthma triggers? Does your town lack safe places to walk or access to fresh food? Issues like these don’t need giant campaigns — they need grounded voices. As you raise yours, you might find your role mirrors the evolving roles and responsibilities of community health advocates who conne...
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CULTURAL BEAUTY: The fattening room!

In many countries, the term "fat" is used as a derogatory term. It is also stereotyped to mean "unattractive" and "lazy." However, not every culture is the same. In some African societies being heavier is a symbol of wealth, status, beauty and power. In countries such as Nigeria and Uganda, many young brides are taken into "fat houses" or "huts" in order to prepare their bodies to be bigger before they marry. During this time frame, the woman is generally required to eat until their bodies are at an acceptable heavier weight. The women are shut off from society and are only allowed minimal movement. This can take several months.They are also taught how to be a wife which includes cooking, cleaning and caring for a future family. It is not until the woman is at an acceptable weight that she is taken back out into society and ready to wed. 

This practice is ancient among tribes such as the Annang, Efik and Hima. Currently, this ancient practice has been condemned by some because of the impact on health. Despite all of the health risks that may occur with gaining an excessive amount of weight, many of these tribes believe that being overweight is beautiful. In fact, those who are not as heavy are not respected as much and the husbands can be seen as not caring for his family properly. Being called skinny is believed to be mean and disrespectful.

One woman commented "When you are fat, it makes you look healthy. People respect you. People honor you. Whenever you go, they say, your husband feed you fine. If you go to a village, people can come to look at you because you are healthy." (BBC News, 2012)

The "fattening room"


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Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. — Romans 4:8 (KJV)
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