Weathering refers to the hypothesis that chronic exposure to social, economic, and political exclusion, including racism, accelerates biological aging and worsens health outcomes in marginalized groups, especially Black people. This concept involves allostatic load, or the body’s ‘wear and tear’ from chronic stress, often manifesting in higher cortisol levels and associated with ‘fight-or-flight’ responses. This chronic stress can lead to a range of health issues, such as depression, migraines, hypertension, and heart disease.
Weathering
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© Chidiebere Ibe, 2022, obtained from https://www.illustratechange.com.

© Chidiebere Ibe, 2022, obtained from https://www.illustratechange.com.