Chicago - Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin warns too many women -- especially African-American women -- choose good hair over better health.

Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina interviewed 103 black women and found one-third exercised less because they were concerned it would jeopardize their hair. The women are reluctant to mess up their hair, because they spend so much time and money on it.

It can take hours to get hair straightened, and styled, and the process of getting, and keeping curly hair straight is reversed with sweat and water.

The Surgeon General, who is African-American herself, said it is an excuse from women who are at the highest risk of obesity related illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. Government figures show 50 percent of black women over the age of 20 are overweight, compared to 43 percent of Hispanic women and 33 percent of white women.