Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104333

Uchenna Agbim, BA¹, Cayla R. Teal, PhD², Deanna M. Hoelscher, PhD, RD, LD, CNS³, Lu Ann Aday, PhD⁴, Danielle Baham, MS, RD, LD¹, and Lovell A. Jones, PhD¹. (1) Center for Research on Minority Health, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd- Box 639, Houston, TX 77030, 713-256-9199, uchenna@alumni.rice.edu, (2) Houston Center for Quality of Care and Utilization Studies, VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, 2002 Holcombe Blvd. (152), Houston, TX 77030, (3) Human Nutrition Center, Univ. of Texas-Houston School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler, RAS W920, Houston, TX 77030, (4) Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, P.O. Box 20186, Houston, TX 77225

African American women disproportionately suffer from cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and obesity, which can be prevented by behavior modification, particularly engaging in physical activity and practicing healthy eating habits. Thus, energy balance is an important component for prevention of these chronic diseases. However, the current literature reveals that African American women's physical activity and dietary habits do not meet the recommended levels. Although the literature emphasizing both physical activity and proper nutrition is growing, little is known about individual's perceptions of the relationship between physical activity and good nutrition. As part of a larger study, focus groups were conducted with thirty-nine urban pre-menopausal African American women and explored their perceptions regarding “being healthy,” specifically the interplay of physical activity and nutrition as they pertain to the development of illness. Using the iterative review process of the constant comparative method, trained independent reviewers analyzed focus group transcripts for emerging themes. The focus group transcripts were also analyzed using QSR N6. Participants cited conflicting roles of theoretical factors. Some factors seemed to facilitate physical activity, while the same factors served as barriers to healthy eating. These results have important implications and will help guide the development of preventive interventions targeted specifically to African American women.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe African American women's perceptions about the relationship between physical activity, nutrition, and beliefs about what it means to be “healthy”.
• 2. Identify African American women's perceptions of common factors that facilitate or hinder physical activity and eating nutritiously.
• 3. Identify African American women's perceptions of facilitators and barriers that are unique to physical activity or eating nutritiously.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.