African American Women's Eating, Physical Activity Practices and Attitudes about the Body They Are In

Black women's experiences with healthy eating and physical activity in Broward County, FL were examined using a mixed-methods study comprising focus groups and surveys. Forty women 18 to 45 years participated in the study. The mean body mass index was 29.6--defined as overweight. The mean intake of fruit was 2.0 per day and the mean intake of vegetables was 1.9 per day. The majority of the women failed to meet the recommended moderate physical activity levels.

Facilitators of healthy eating were the knowledge of the benefits of healthy eating, the ability to preplan, family influences, and serving as a role model. Barriers of healthy eating were cultural practices of food preparation, poor taste and cost of healthy foods, and a lack of credible information of healthy eating that specifically targets women. Facilitators of physical activity were knowledge of the benefits of physical activity, motivation and commitment, and serving as a role model. Barriers to physical activity were family influences, competing priorities, and lack of physical activity information that women can relate to.

Women's overall perception about appearance and weight were also explored. Although the majority of the women were overweight or obese, they were less likely to perceive themselves as overweight. On the other hand, the majority of the women also expressed that they were “not happy” with their weight and were actively working to make a change. Developing programs addressing barriers and facilitators presented is paramount to improve outcomes.