A new study suggests that African Americans who attend historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) might have a lower risk for health problems later in life than those who attend predominantly white institutions (PWIs), BET reported.
Dr. Cynthia ColenThe study — published in the American Journal of Epidemiology — showed that Black people enrolled in HBCUs had a 35% lower chance of developing metabolic syndrome, “which is defined as three of the five factors which increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke,” BET reported.
“This study really points to a strength of HBCUs that people don’t normally think about: Not only can they be health-protective, but they can be health-protective for years to come, not just while people are in school,” said Dr. Cynthia Colen, lead author of the study and a sociology professor at The Ohio State University.
Health data from 727 Black respondents – 273 attended PWIs and 46 attended HBCUs – showed that 31% of PWIs attendees and 23% of HBCU attendees had developed metabolic syndrome by midlife. Data also showed that “going to an HBCU was linked to a 35% reduction of the possibility of metabolic syndrome among college-educated Blacks.”
It remains unclear why this disparity exists, but Colen theorizes it may have to do with better personal help and less racial discrimination at HBCUs.
