Hair, good for avoiding dates, exercise

Hair has been used as an excuse to avoid bad dates, but it's also been used to avoid exercise, according to Surgeon General, Dr. Regna Benjamin, and that doesn't bode well for American women. It's the topic of one of her latest crusades, to encourage women to exercise, in spite of their hair.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Apparently, it's a common excuse. In a recent interview, she explained, "Oftentimes 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." 

Contemporary American culture makes much of appearances, and women put a lot of effort into their hair. Benjamin noted that the excuse is particularly common amongst African American women like herself. Since straight hair is popular, many spend a lot of time, energy, and money to keep their hair straight. Motion and moisture however, will undo all that work. The result is in an effort to preserve their appearance, women forgo exercise and are less healthy.

EXCLUSIVE: STOP MAKING EXCUSES! MyPHRchart.

Of course, hair isn't the only excuse women use, or men for that matter. Busy schedules, kids, and other obligations are used as excuses. As many people claim they don't have time to exercise and maintain their health, they are at risk of experiencing a self-fulfilling prophesy. Common knowledge and the entire cannon of research proves that people who don't exercise don't live as long or with the same quality of life as those who do. 

Dr. Benjamin is using the hair excuse as an avenue to reach people, especially African Americans. She noted that her mother was a hair stylist and that studies have shown that many people really do listen to their hair-stylists and barbers. By recently addressing the Bronner Bros. International Hair Show, in Atlanta, she explained that they can use their rapport and trust with their clients to encourage them to exercise, and to see their doctors. Furthermore, she urged them to promote alternatives that would require less maintenance and could withstand exercise. 

And it wasn't just all about African American women either. Dr. Benjamin also noted that elderly Caucasian women were among those identified as using their hair as a common excuse to avoid exercise. 

In any case, it is essential for good health, that any barriers to exercise should be removed for all people.

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