Discuss any racial/ethnic variables that may impact physiological functioning.

In a variety of ways, racial and ethnic factors can have measurable effects on physiological function. To start, certain genetic/biological predispositions may be more common among members of different racial/ethnic groups—which can increase their risk for developing a number of health conditions (e.g., sickle cell anemia in African Americans or type 2 diabetes in Hispanics). A disparity in access to high-quality healthcare can affect health outcomes due to differences between cultures or lack insurance.

In studies, it has been found that language barriers and poverty issues such as food insecurity are factors that prevent minority groups from receiving timely or appropriate treatment. Other reasons include higher chronic illness rates like obesity or hypertension, which requires long-term management. They all lead to reduced physical performance by affecting the physiological process (via nutrition, for example) or decreasing effectiveness of treatment (due in part to inadequate medical plans).

Overall then it’s important acknowledge how race/ethnicity shapes various aspects of health from not only the social side but physiological one as well—and take steps towards addressing these inequities so that everyone has access to quality healthcare regardless of background.