Close to home: Women's perspectives on African American men's eating and physical activity

African American men 40 and older experience higher morbidity and mortality than White men from a range of diseases that are associated with and exacerbated by poor dietary quality and limited physical activity. Men who have women in their lives tend to be healthier and live longer than other men. In the cultural and social context of African Americans, women, particularly spouses, play a critical role in men's eating habits and other health behaviors. Thus, women's roles in African American men's health and their perspectives on the factors that may hinder or promote healthy lifestyles are important to consider if we are to successfully modify and sustain healthy eating and physical activity in African American men. This presentation describes data from 5 exploratory focus groups conducted with 50 urban African American women in Flint, Michigan, about the eating and physical activity of African American men in their lives. Women identified specific barriers and facilitating factors for healthy eating and physical activity for African American men; however, commonly identified and research-validated barriers such as cost, location, and neighborhood availability of resources were not highlighted as the most important factors impeding men's healthier eating and physical activity. Instead, life stage, family support, and women's own health habits and behaviors were identified as critical factors influencing men's eating and physical activity. This presentation will highlight women's perspectives on African American men's health behaviors and the implications of their support for an intervention to improve African American men's dietary quality and physical activity.