With a high incidence of diet-related disease within the Black American population, notably obesity and hypertension, it is essential to examine dietary patterns within a cultural context. Analysis of traditional fare consumption and its correlation to body mass index (BMI) reveals current cultural practices and health implications between generations. Black American premenopausal women aged 19-35 years (n=105) and postmenopausal women aged 62-89 (n=87) from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, and Kansas City and Topeka, Kansas, voluntarily completed the 1998 Block Food Frequency Questionnaire. Plastic food models and pictures of serving sizes were provided as visual aids for portion size estimation. Additionally, women were measured for height, weight, four site skinfolds, and upper mid arm and waist and hip circumferences. The older women had significantly higher BMI, biceps and subscapular skinfolds, and waist-hip ratios. No significant differences were found between the groups for caloric and macronutrients intakes; however, iron, vitamins A and C, and folate intakes varied. The elderly women reported fewer activities and increased television viewing and this appears to contribute to larger BMIs, waist-hip ratios, and skinfolds, despite consuming diets of similar amounts of calories. Types of foods consumed also appear to differ between the younger and older women. The elderly women consumed more sweets, fats and oils based on the food pyramid and more traditional foods such as, collard greens, sweet potatoes, pork neckbones, and chitlins (though these were reported as foods for special occasions) than did the younger women.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: 1. identify differences in nutritional status between young and old Black American women. 2. articulate the prevalence of traditional food usage by Black American women
Keywords: Dietary Assessment,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.