Age of First Diet Impacts Weight Management Decisions and Strategies among African American Women

Background:  African American women have the highest rate of obesity in the US.

Objective:  This study sought to determine how the age of first diet affected weight management decisions and weight loss strategies among African American Women. 

Methods:  A self-administered survey was completed by 413 African American women.  Body mass indices (BMI) were calculated from measured weights and heights.

Results: The mean age was 35.63±14.72, the mean BMI was 29.60±7.50, and the mean age of first diet was 25.05±11.10.  BMI category varied by age (P<.01).  Post-hoc comparisons indicated that younger women significantly more likely to have BMI in the normal category (19.61±7.58) than those in the overweight (26.46±12.83) and obese categories (26.15±10.61).  Women who started dieting at a younger age were more likely than older women to overeat because they were depressed (20.67±8.48 vs. 26.62±11.53, P<.0001) and overwhelmed (22.19±8.37 vs. 25.85±11.67, P=.04).  They also were more likely to exercise more to lose weight (23.67±9.00 vs. 26.51±11.98, while those who started at an older age were significantly more likely to reduce sweets (25.86±10.48 vs. 23.29±10.19, P=.04) and fried foods to lose weight (26.74±11.01 vs. 21.42±8.42, P=.000).  Women who started dieting at a younger age were also more likely to say they would consider cosmetic surgery (21.24±8.90 vs. 26.04±11.35, P<.01). 

Discussion/Conclusion: Weight loss messages and programs for African American women may need to be tailored based on age.  Furthermore, health professionals should ask women about their emotional/mental health state as overeating may serve as a coping strategy for everyday life stressors.