The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3163.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - Board 6

Abstract #44496

Factors that predict fat intake behaviors in low-income women

Mei-Wei Chang, MS, RN1, Linda C. Baumann, PhD, RN, FAAN1, Susan Nitzke, PhD, RD2, and Roger Brown, PhD3. (1) University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Nursing, K6/380 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, 608-263-5315, MEIWEICHANG@students.wisc.edu, (2) University of Wisconsin-Madison, Nutritional Sciences, 1415 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1571, (3) University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing, K6/283 Clinical Science Center 600 Higland Ave, Madison, WI 53792-5332

Excessive dietary fat intake is associated with cardiovascular disease and obesity especially among low-income women. The purpose of the study was to examine predictors of fat intake behaviors among low-income women using the PRECEDE model to examine three modifiable determinants of fat intake behaviors: predisposing (beliefs, health concerns, weight control), enabling (convenience and cost), and reinforcing (sensory appeal, mood, and eating habits) factors. Non-pregnant Black and White women (N=211), age 18 or older and enrolled in either a county Head Start or Women, Infants, and Children program, were recruited. Mean age of the sample was 27.1 (SD=6.5), 66.8% were White; 65.5% had monthly household income less than $1250; 37.8% were obese based on body mass index. Structure equation modeling was applied to test a model describing the relationship among predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors and fat intake behaviors. The model provided a good fit to the data, revealing that there were strong and statistically significant associations between predisposing factors and the fat intake behaviors. Additionally, reinforcing factors had significantly negative indirect effect on fat intake behaviors traversing predisposing factors. However, the associations between fat intake behaviors and enabling or reinforcing factors were not significant. This study demonstrates that nutrition education with emphasis on both predisposing and reinforcing factors may encourage low-income women to reduce dietary fat intake.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Low-Income, Behavioral Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.

Determinants and Barriers to Health Behavior Change

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA