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Problematic eating behaviors such as overeating and loss of control over consumption can lead to obesity. Problematic eating behaviors among women of differing body mass indexes were explored through focus group methodology, the Palatable Eating Motives Scale (PEMS), and a taste test in a sample of low-income African American women (n = 45). Women who were overweight or obese (W-O/O) reported more problematic eating behaviors including eating in the absence of hunger, frequent overeating, and increased food thoughts than women who were lean or normal weight (W-L/N). The W-O/O appear to possess more problematic eating behaviors than W-L/N.

This project investigated influences (environmental, personal, and behavioral) on body mass index (BMI) and acculturation of Hmong children born in the United States (US) using the social cognitive theory as the theoretical framework. Using formative information from 12 child focus groups (n = 68) and a review of the literature, a quantitative survey was developed and administered to Hmong children (n = 300) ≥ 9 ≤ 18 years-old. Heights, weights, and acculturation level were measured. B-US(1) were raised in the US and 9-13 years-old (n = 144) and B-US(2) were raised in the US and 14-18 years-old (n = 156). Approximately 50 % of children were classified as overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 85th percentile). Across age and gender sub-groups, questions from the environmental construct appeared to be the most predictive of variances in BMI percentiles (50-60 %). In contrast, acculturation scores were equally predicted by environmental, behavioral, and personal constructs for age and gender sub-groups. Sum acculturation score was significantly higher for B-US(2) compared to B-US(1), with B-US(2) being more acculturated in language use and thought, overall dietary acculturation, and foods eaten at lunch. The high prevalence of obesity in Hmong children suggests that future studies investigate factors influencing obesity to identify the most effective method to reduce/prevent this problem. In particular, acculturation level of the child should be assessed to determine changed dietary behavior and possible risk for obesity.

Purpose: To explore differences and similarities in environmental, personal, and behavioral factors influencing eating behavior among low-income women of varying weight status., Design: Focus groups (n = 16) were used to collect qualitative data. Quantitative data collected included demographic, lifestyle, and anthropometric (heights and weights)., Setting: Community centers, libraries, and homeless shelters in low-income neighborhoods., Participants: Of the 83 participants, 58% were African-American, 28% were white, and the remainder were American Indian, Hispanic, or mixed race. A total of 35% of participants were lean/normal (body mass index <25 kg/m(2)) and 65% were overweight/obese (body mass index >25 kg/m(2))., Method: Focus group methodology was used to collect data on 83 participants. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) provided the theoretical basis. Transcripts were analyzed using the open-coding method and comments between lean/normal and overweight/obese women were systematically compared., Results: Focus group themes were food environment, aberrant eating behavior, health values, and beliefs. Differences in personal and behavioral factors were apparent between overweight/obese and lean/normal women, with the former group frequently discussing emotional eating, overeating, and stashing food, and the latter group communicating greater nutrition knowledge and describing regular physical activity. Both groups similarly expressed experiences with food insecurity and lived in low-income environments., Conclusion: For low-income women, personal and behavioral factors may modify the influence of their obesogenic food environment. Further research within the context of SCT should examine differences between lean/normal and overweight/obese women living in the same environment.

The higher rate of obesity among low-income women has widely been attributed to environmental barriers; however, many low-income women are still able to maintain a healthy weight despite obesogenic environments. To better understand personal and behavioral attributes related to food choice and weight, overweight/obese women and lean/normal weight women living in similar low-income environments, participated in focus groups, and taste testing sessions to investigate food liking (n=83). During focus groups, lean/normal weight participants reported that health was influential in food choice, while overweight/obese participants expressed cost as being more of a factor. Both BMI (kg/m(2)) groups reported that taste was of greatest importance. Personal factors, like emotional eating, and overeating were also discussed with differences noted between BMI (kg/m(2)) groups. Quantitative data also showed cost to be more important for overweight/obese women. Taste testing results revealed that overweight/obese participants had a higher overall liking for both healthy and less healthy foods, as well as other food categories. Additionally, these women had a higher liking of fat in the context of spreadable fats. Our results show that a variety of complex factors interact to influence eating behavior and present weight status of women living in similarly impoverished environments. However, findings from this exploratory study should be confirmed through further research., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study evaluated environmental, personal, and behavioral correlates of BMI-for-age percentiles, dietary intake (kilocalories, carbohydrates, protein, fat, and Food Guide Pyramid food groups), and physical activity variables among homeless children., Methods: A 74-item survey, using social cognitive theory as the theoretical framework, height, weight, and one 24-hour recall were collected from homeless children aged 9-13 (n=159) at two shelters in Minneapolis, MN. Principal component analysis was performed on the subsections of the survey. Independent t-tests, Fisher exact tests, and chi-squared statistics evaluated sociodemographic and BMI percentile variables. Nonparametric tests evaluated dietary data. Stepwise regression models evaluated correlates of BMI percentiles, physical activity, and dietary intake variables., Results: Approximately 45% were overweight or obese (≥85(th) percentile). Dietary data represented intake on a given day, with children consuming a median 1.2 servings from the fruits and vegetables food group, 17.3 servings from the fats and sweets food group (one serving=grams in 1 Tbsp. fat/1 tsp. sugar), and the percent of calories from fat varying significantly between shelter 1 (S1) versus shelter 2 (S2) boys (37.1% vs. 31.7%, p<0.001). Factors identified from survey items and sociodemographic variables accounted for between 6% and 14% of the variance in energy intake and other dietary and physical activity variables (p range, 0.008 to <0.001)., Conclusions: Parental role modeling of eating behaviors and getting enough food were associated with less favorable food choices among homeless children. Policy interventions and program initiatives in the homeless environment could promote healthier food choices among children.

Objective: The Hmong are a growing population of South-East Asian immigrants with increasing rates of obesity and diabetes, yet little is known about their dietary consumption patterns. The present study aimed to investigate the dietary intake of Hmong children and whether acculturation and/or time lived in the USA influences dietary intake, BMI and nutritional status., Design: Two 24 h dietary recalls were collected on non-consecutive days using the multiple-pass interviewing method and were averaged. Heights and weights were measured, from which BMI was calculated. An acculturation score was computed., Setting: Schools, churches, Hmong organizations, and community centres., Subjects: Three hundred and thirty-five Hmong children aged 9-18 years from Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA., Results: Approximately half of our participants were either overweight or obese. US-born children were significantly heavier, taller, had a higher BMI, and in general consumed more energy, saturated fat and Na than those who were born in Thailand/Laos and were living in the USA for <5 years. Children who were more acculturated to US norms including language use, social connections and dietary habits had higher BMI-for-age and consumed significantly more saturated fat, trans fatty acids, Na and Ca compared with their less acculturated counterparts., Conclusions: Diets of most Hmong children appear below the recommendations for fibre, vitamins A, D and E, Ca, P, Mg and K, and are higher in fats, sugars and Na. Living in an obesogenic US environment is a probable reason for poor dietary quality of Hmong and may be a contributing factor to the rising rates of obesity and diabetes in this population.

Purpose: To examine racial/ethnic differences in relationships between food-related environmental, behavioral and personal factors and low-income women's weight status using Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) as a framework., Design: Cross-sectional survey., Setting: Community sites and low-income housing developments in the Twin Cities metropolitan area., Subjects: Low-income African-American, American Indian, and Caucasian women ≥18 years old (n  =  367)., Measures: Participants completed a survey including demographic, food security, and theoretically based questions. Heights and weights were measured to determine body mass index (BMI)., Analysis: Data were split by race/ethnicity and reduced by examining Pearson coefficients for SCT survey questions significantly correlated with BMI (p < .05). Separate environmental, behavioral, and personal multiple linear regression models for each racial/ethnic group were run to explore the proportion of variance in BMI explained by each SCT construct and which questions were significant predictors., Results: All regression models were statistically significant, although the personal regression models predicted the greatest proportion of the variance in BMI for African-American (15% of the variance), American Indian (22% of the variance), and Caucasian women (37% of the variance)., Conclusion: Effective nutrition education and intervention efforts to control the obesity epidemic among urban, low-income women may call for a tailored approach with noted consideration of their racial/ethnic identity. Although broader changes to the food environment are necessary, the importance of addressing personal factors such as nutrition knowledge, self-efficacy, and emotional coping responses to stress, in the context of income constraints, food insecurity, and health beliefs, is also implicated.

Observance of the hunger-obesity paradox in urban Minnesota has ignited interest in the quality of low-income households' food purchases. This cross-sectional study investigated low-income, urban Minnesotan women's past-month food purchases and their associations with race, homelessness, and aspects of the food system, including food shelf (ie, food pantry) and food store usage, factors believed to influence food choice and grocery shopping behavior. The survey included demographics, the US Department of Agriculture's 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module, and grocery shopping questions related to food purchases and food stores visited in the past month. Participants were a convenience sample of 448 low-income, urban Minnesotan women, and data were collected from February through May 2008. The sample was 44% African American, 35% American Indian, 10% white, and 11% other/mixed race; 37% were homeless. Rates of "less healthy" food group purchases were higher compared to "healthy" food group purchases. Significant racial differences were found with respect to purchasing healthy protein food groups (P<0.05 to P<0.01) but not fruits, vegetables, or whole grains. Homelessness reduced the odds of purchasing most food groups, regardless of nutrient density (P<0.05 to P<0.001). Food shelf and food store usage mainly increased the odds of purchasing "less healthy" food groups (P<0.05 to P<0.01). These findings may help registered dietitians strategize with low-income, urban women how to make best use of food resources within their local food system., (Copyright 2010 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Amidst a hunger-obesity paradox, the purpose of the present study was to examine the grocery shopping behaviour and food stamp usage of low-income women with children to identify factors influencing their food choices on a limited budget., Design: Focus groups, which included questions based on Social Cognitive Theory constructs, examined food choice in the context of personal, behavioural and environmental factors. A quantitative grocery shopping activity required participants to prioritize food purchases from a 177-item list on a budget of $US 50 for a one-week period, an amount chosen based on the average household food stamp allotment in 2005., Subjects: Ninety-two low-income women, with at least one child aged 9-13 years in their household, residing in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA., Results: Participants' mean age was 37 years, and 76% were overweight or obese (BMI> or =25.0 kg/m2). Key findings suggest that their food choices and grocery shopping behaviour were shaped by not only individual and family preferences, but also their economic and environmental situation. Transportation and store accessibility were major determinants of shopping frequency, and they used various strategies to make their food dollars stretch (e.g. shopping based on prices, in-store specials). Generally, meat was the most important food group for purchase and consumption, according to both the qualitative and quantitative data., Conclusions: Efforts to improve food budgeting skills, increase nutrition knowledge, and develop meal preparation strategies involving less meat and more fruits and vegetables, could be valuable in helping low-income families nutritionally make the best use of their food dollars.

This study evaluated the appropriateness of the Kid's Block Food Frequency Questionnaire (Kid's Block FFQ) for use in a group of urban Native American youth by comparing it to a self-reported 24-hr recall. Subjects were 61 urban Native American youth, aged 9-13 years. Researchers assessed dietary intake using the two methods in random order on the same day. Analyses of diets revealed no significant difference between estimated total energy, protein, fat, and saturated fat between the two methods. Significant differences in estimations for the two tools occurred for carbohydrates and some micronutrients. Results suggest that the Kid's Block FFQ may be less appropriate than 24-hr recall in measuring the dietary intake of Native American youth. A high prevalence of obesity in this population necessitates more accurate dietary assessment tools for this population.

This study investigated correlations among physical fitness, dietary intakes, activity levels, and body mass index (BMI) for 155 urban Native American youth, ages 5 to 18 years. Heights, weights, skinfold measurements, activity level, balance times, and dietary intakes were assessed. Presidential Physical Fitness (PPF) testing was completed with 82 youth. Age groups were examined for differences in energy and macronutrient intake, sedentary activities, activity level, and PPF achievement. Pearson and Spearman rho correlations were examined among dietary intakes, fitness, balance, and activity levels. The majority of youth (63%) were at risk for overweight or already overweight, and 59% were sedentary. BMI was correlated with age and PPF achievement for all youth, and with physical activity and frequency of television viewing for youth ages 9 to 18 years. No correlation was found between dietary intake and activity level. Culturally appropriate interventions for obesity should start early, focusing on decreasing sedentary activity and increasing opportunities for fitness.

Although obesity is a growing problem with Native American youth living on reservations, little research has been conducted examining the prevalence of obesity and correlations between age, body composition, dietary intake, and blood pressures (BP) for urban Native youth. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of these variables in urban Native American youth. Height and weight were measured for 155 Native American youth, age 5-18 years, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated and classified into percentile categories. Skinfold thicknesses at the biceps, triceps, suprailiac, and subscapular sites, arm and waist circumferences, and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures were also measured. There was a high proportion of obesity (>95 percentile) for youth in all age groups. The prevalence was 38% for the 5-10-year-olds and 45% for the 11-18-year-olds youth. There were no significant correlations between SBP and DBP and dietary variables. Mean SBP and DBP increased with increasing BMI percentiles. Stepwise regression analyses showed that waist circumference, age, and BMI were strong predictors for SBP, while waist circumference and age were predictors for DBP in the total sample. The findings suggest that overweight/obesity is very prevalent among urban Native American youth and the increased adiposity is associated with increased SBP and DBP., (Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)