Determinants of low-fat eating behaviors among midlife African American women

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore midlife African American women's low-fat eating habits in the context of health attitudes, social support, and food preferences.

Design: A cross-sectional design was used.

Settings: One Midwestern and 1 national African American women's organization were targeted for data collection.

Participants: African American women between the ages of 45 and 64.

Main outcome measures: Health Attitudes Scale, Social Support Scale, Eating Behaviors subscale, and Low-Fat Eating subscale.

Analysis: A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed.

Results: Highly educated women did not engage in better eating habits than women with less education. Family members provided more criticism and friends provided more encouragement for healthful eating. However, only family encouragement and criticism for healthful eating and food preferences remained predictive of low-fat eating habits in midlife African American women in the final regression model.

Conclusions and implications: Changing attitudes may not influence changes in behaviors. Women experience family support as a significant influence to eating habits. Future nutrition interventions should be inclusive of women at every educational level and have a multidimensional focus that targets family involvement and changing behaviors.