scholarly journals Body Size Perceptions among Overweight and Obese African American Women

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan Baruth ◽  
Patricia A Sharpe ◽  
Gayenell Magwood ◽  
Sara Wilcox ◽  
Rebecca A Schlaff
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
African American ◽  
Body Size ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
White Women ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
American Women

<p class="Pa7"><strong>Objectives: </strong>Understanding body size percep­tions and discrepancies among African Ameri­can women may have implications for effec­tive weight-loss interventions. The purpose of this study is to examine body size perceptions of economically disadvantaged, overweight and obese African American women.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Design: </strong>Cross-sectional using baseline data from a randomized controlled trial.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Setting: </strong>18 census tracts in a central South Carolina city where ≥25% of residents were below poverty income.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Participants: </strong>147 economically disad­vantaged, overweight and obese African American women.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Main Outcome Measures: </strong>Using Pulvers’ figure rating scale, participants chose the figure: 1) closest to their current figure; 2) they would be satisfied with; and 3) with a body weight that would be a health problem for the average person. Mean body mass indices corresponding to each figure were compared with those in a large sample of White women.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Results: </strong>Most participants wanted to be smaller (mean=2.6 figures smaller) than their current size. A majority (67%) chose the largest figure as representing a body size that could lead to a health problem, and most (60%) chose a current figure smaller than the figure they believed would be associated with health problems. The mean body mass index for women selecting any given figure as their current size was significantly larger (5.2-10.8 kg/m2 larger, <em>P</em>&lt;.0001) than those established in the sample of White women.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although women desired a smaller body size, there nonetheless were misperceptions of body size and the as­sociated health consequences. Body size misperceptions and/or satisfaction may pose barriers for effective weight-loss. <em>Ethn Dis</em>. 2015;25(4):391-398; doi:10.18865/ ed.25.4.391</p>

scholarly journals Perception of others’ body size influences weight loss and regain for European American but not African American women.

2009 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 414-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula C. Chandler-Laney ◽  
Gary R. Hunter ◽  
Jamy D. Ard ◽  
Jane L. Roy ◽  
David W. Brock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
African American ◽  
Body Size ◽  
African American Women ◽  
European American ◽  
American Women

Perceptions and Beliefs About Body Size, Weight, and Weight Loss Among Obese African American Women: A Qualitative Inquiry

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 410-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christie A. Befort ◽  
Janet L. Thomas ◽  
Christine M. Daley ◽  
Paula C. Rhode ◽  
Jasjit S. Ahluwalia
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
African American ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Lifestyle Modification ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
American Women

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore perceptions and beliefs about body size, weight, and weight loss among obese African American women in order to form a design of weight loss intervention with this target population. Six focus groups were conducted at a community health clinic. Participants were predominantly middle-aged with a mean Body Mass Index of 40.3 ± 9.2 kg/m2. Findings suggest that participants (a) believe that people can be attractive and healthy at larger sizes; (b) still feel dissatisfied with their weight and self-conscious about their bodies; (c) emphasize eating behavior as the primary cause for weight gain; (d) view pregnancy, motherhood, and caregiving as major precursors to weight gain; (e) view health as the most important reason to lose weight; (f) have mixed experiences and expectations for social support for weight loss; and (g) prefer treatments that incorporate long-term lifestyle modification rather than fad diets or medication.

scholarly journals Associations between fiber intake and Body Mass Index (BMI) among African-American women participating in a randomized weight loss and maintenance trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 48-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Buscemi ◽  
Oksana Pugach ◽  
Sparkle Springfield ◽  
Jiyeong Jang ◽  
Lisa Tussing-Humphreys ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Fiber Intake ◽  
American Women

scholarly journals African American Women and Domestic Violence: Addressing their Voice of Silence

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernice Kennedy ◽  
Chalice Rhodes (Former Jenkins)
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
African American ◽  
Black Women ◽  
African American Women ◽  
White Women ◽  
The United States ◽  
Slave Owner ◽  
American Women ◽  
Strong Black Women

Abstract Historically, during slavery, the international slave trade promoted normalization of violence against African American women. During slavery, African American women endured inhuman conditions because of the majority race views of them as being over-sexualized, physically strong, and immoral. This perception of the African American women as being highly sexual and more sexual than white women results in slave owner justifying their sexual violation and degrading of the African American women. The stereotypical representations of African American women as strong, controlling, dangerous, fearless, and invulnerable may interfere with the African American women receiving the needed services for domestic violence in the community. The Strong Black Women Archetype has been dated back to slavery describing their coping mechanism in dealing with oppression by developing a strong, less traditionally female role. The authors developed a model: The Multidimensional Perspectives of Factors Contributing to Domestic Violence of African American Women in the United States. This model depicts historically, the factors contributing to domestic violence of African American women in the United States. Also, this model addressed the African American women subscribing to the Strong Black Women Archetype to cope with domestic violence. Despite the increase in domestic violence in African American women, they focused more on the issue of racism instead of sexism in America. African American women have experienced the two obstacles of racism and sexism in America. However, African American women and men believe racism is more critical than sexism. Therefore, domestic violence in the African American population may remain silent because of cultural loyalty. However, the voice of silence of African American females is gradually changing with the upcoming generations.

scholarly journals Meaning of Pregnancy Terms Among African-American Women

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Solomon ◽  
Sandra Suther ◽  
Ivette Lopez ◽  
Alicestine Ashford ◽  
Linda Amankwaa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
White Women ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
American Women ◽  
Planning Policy ◽  
Pregnancy Intendedness ◽  
Women's Lives ◽  
Recurrent Patterns ◽  
Descriptive Method

The concept of pregnancy intendedness is complex and may not bear the same meaning to all women. Moreover, researcher definition and women’s meaning were thought to be different. Some researchers have indicated that it is unclear how well women understand and relate to questions used by the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) and how the classifications relate to women’s lives. The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of terms such as planned and/or intended pregnancy among African-American women of childbearing age using a qualitative exploratory descriptive method. Although African-American women want children, they are three times as likely to experience an unintended pregnancy as white women. Data extracted from transcripts were coded and analyzed for recurrent patterns and themes. For this study, the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980) was employed to frame interview questions and to interpret data. Findings suggest participants and partners often did not have the same perceptions or meanings of pregnancy planning or intentions. These findings have implications for research and family planning policy.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document