Mary L. Greaney, PhD¹, Donna L. Richter, EdD², Sara Wilcox, PhD³, Lisa R. Yanek, MPH⁴, Diane M. Becker, ScD, MPH, RN⁴, Roger Sargent, PhD⁵, and Belinda M. Reininger, DrPH⁶. (1) The SENIOR Project, University of Rhode Island, 2 Chafee Road, Kingston, RI 02881, 401-874-7546, mgreaney@etal.uri.edu, (2) Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Health Sciences Building, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, (3) Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, 1300 Wheat Street, Columbia, SC 29208, (4) Center for Health Promotion, Johns Hopkins University, 1830 E. Monument St, Baltimore, MD 21205, (5) University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Health Sciences Building, Columbia, SC 29208, (6) Regional Campus at Brownsville, University of Texas- Houston School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler Drive, Houston, TX 77030

This study examined the association between older, African American women's body size perception and demographic factors, health status, health behaviors, and general well-being. Participants were 529 African American women between 40 -70 years of age (Mean=53.0 years, SD=9.2) who participated in a faith-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction intervention. Body size perception was measured using the Reese silhouettes, which were designed for use with African American women. Three body size perception measures were used: current body size perception, body size perception discrepancy scores, and age specific discrepancy. The associations between body size perception measures and demographic factors (age, education, employment status, marital status), health status (arthritis status, CVD status, and diabetes status), health behaviors (5+ servings of fruits and vegetables per day, 30% or more of calories consumed per day from fat, and smoking status), and general well-being were tested. Correlational and bivariate analyses revealed that participants' current body size perception was associated with both health status and diet-related health behaviors. Women who chose a larger sized silhouette to represent current size were more likely to have arthritis, diabetes, CVD, and a higher body mass index; less likely to eat 5+ servings of fruits and vegetables/day; and more likely to consume ³30% calories/day from fat than women who picked a smaller silhouette. Similar results were found for body size perception discrepancy, and age specific body size perception discrepancy. These finding suggest that among the participating African American women that body size perception is associated with health behaviors and health status,

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participant will be able (
• to discuss the relationship between African American women and body size perceptions; (
• to identify research methodologies to conduct research in this area; and (
• to describe health implications of body size perception.

Keywords: Women's Health, African American

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.