Regina Benjamin, surgeon general, has announced that she believes many black women do not exercise because they don’t want to mess up their hair.
In attempt to make a point about why African American women have higher rates of obesity than other demographic groups, Benjamin made her announcement at the Bronner Brothers International Hair Show earlier in the month.
"Often times you get women saying, ‘I can't exercise today because I don't want to sweat my hair back or get my hair wet.' When you're starting to exercise, you look for reasons not to, and sometimes the hair is one of those reasons," said Benjamin, as quoted by Jezebel.
The main issue, according to Benjamin, is that many women spend a lot of money on hair products to straighten their unruly hair. Exercising involves fast movement and sweat, both of which can easily undo chemical hair treatments.
Benjamin’s claim has stirred up some controversy about whether this particular issue should have been brought up.
"The role of the surgeon general is traditionally, and appropriately, to take on big issues,” said Jeff Stier, a senior fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research, as quoted by Jezebel. “I don't know whether the surgeon general's role is to engage in smaller issues like this. It strikes me as bizarre."
