Low-income African-American adults share weight status, food-related psychosocial factors and behaviours with their children.
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ABSTRACT: Objective
This study aims to examine the extent to which low-income African-American children's weight status, psychosocial characteristics and food-related behaviours are associated with that of their adult caregivers.Methods
Cross-sectional data from baseline evaluation of B'More Healthy Communities for Kids obesity prevention trial were used. Outcomes of interest were children's overweight and/or obesity status, food-related self-efficacy, knowledge, intentions and healthier/less healthy food acquisition scores. The primary exposures were adult caregiver's overweight and/or obesity status, their psychosocial factors and food acquisition scores. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations.Results
Children had higher odds of overweight or obesity if they had an overweight/obese caregiver (odds ratio [OR] 4.04, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.59-10.28) or an obese caregiver (OR 2.50, 95%CI 1.39-4.51). Having a caregiver in the highest quartile of self-efficacy, food intentions and healthy food acquisition patterns was associated with higher odds of their child also having a higher score on these factors (self-efficacy: OR 3.77 [95%CI 1.76-8.04]; food intentions: OR 1.13 [95%CI 1.01-1.27]; and healthy food acquisition: OR 2.19 [95%CI 1.05-4.54]).Conclusions
Child and adult caregiver weight status and psychosocial characteristics were positively associated in this low-income, urban population. These findings may help inform obesity treatment or prevention programmes and interventions aimed at parents and families.
SUBMITTER: Han E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5064723 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BACKGROUND:Psychosocial factors are important determinants of health behaviors and diet-related outcomes, yet relatively little work has explored their relation to food-purchasing and preparation behaviors in low-income populations. AIM:To evaluate the psychosocial factors associated with food-related behaviors. METHODS:Cross-sectional data collected from 465 low-income African American adult caregivers in the baseline evaluation of the B'more Healthy Communities for Kids obesity prevention trial. Questionnaires were used to assess household sociodemographic characteristics, food sources frequently used, and food preparation and food acquisition behaviors. Multiple linear regression models explored the associations between caregiver psychosocial variables and food-related behaviors, controlling for caregivers' age, sex, household income, household size, and food assistance participation. RESULTS:Caregivers purchased prepared food at carry-outs on average 3.8 times (standard deviation [ SD] = 4.6) within 30 days. Less healthy foods were acquired 2 times more frequently than healthier foods ( p < .001). Higher food-related behavioral intention and self-efficacy scores were positively associated with healthier food acquisition (? = 0.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.09, 1.4]; ? = 0.04; 95% CI [0.02, 0.06]) and negatively associated with frequency of purchasing at prepared food sources (? = -0.4; 95% CI [-0.6, -0.2]; ? = -0.5; 95% CI [-0.7, -0.3]), respectively. Higher nutrition knowledge was associated with lower frequency of purchasing food at prepared food venues (? = -0.7; 95% CI: [-1.2, -0.2]). DISCUSSION:Our findings indicate a positive association between psychosocial determinants and healthier food acquisition and food preparation behaviors. CONCLUSION:Interventions that affect psychosocial factors (i.e., food-related behavioral intentions and self-efficacy) may have the potential to increase healthier food preparation and food-purchasing practices among low-income African American families.
| S-EPMC6119507 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundCurrent dietary guidelines recommend that dietary fat should comprise 20-35% percent of total energy intake, with less than 10% of energy from saturated fat. However, many Americans exceed these goals and data suggest that African Americans tend to consume a higher percentage of energy from dietary fat than Whites. Because diets low in dietary fat, particularly saturated fat, are associated with lower risk for many chronic illnesses, it is important to identify strategies to reduce high fat intakes. This study examined associations of psychosocial factors with dietary fat intake in African American adults 18 to 70 years.MethodsData are self-reported from a cross-sectional survey of African Americans (n = 658) using an 11-page questionnaire, collected from June to October 2003. Associations of psychosocial (predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling) factors based on the PRECEDE framework, dietary fat-related behaviors, and participant characteristics (e.g., age, sex, education, BMI) with total and saturated fat consumption are described using linear regression and analysis of variance.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 43.9 years, 57% were female, 37% were college graduates, and 76% were overweight/obese. Respondents with lower fat intakes were female, older, had high education and very good/excellent perceived health. Among the psychosocial factors, the strongest (inverse) associations with fat intake were with two predisposing factors: belief in the importance of a low-fat diet (both genders) and high self-efficacy (women only). Fat intake was also significantly lower among participants who could count on those close for encouragement to eat healthy foods (a reinforcing factor) and among men who needed more information about preparing healthy foods (an enabling factor).ConclusionDietary interventions to decrease fat intake in African American adults may benefit from incorporating predisposing factors, such as personal beliefs and self-efficacy, in their design and implementation.
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Project description:OBJECTIVE:To examine associations between food insecurity, excess body weight, psychosocial factors and food behaviours among low-income African-American families. DESIGN:Cross-sectional survey of participants in the baseline evaluation of the B'More Healthy Communities for Kids (BHCK) obesity prevention trial. We collected data on socio-economic factors, food source destinations, acquiring food, preparation methods, psychosocial factors, beliefs and attitudes, participation in food assistance programmes, anthropometry and food security. We used principal component analysis to identify patterns of food source destinations and logistic regression to examine associations. SETTING:Fourteen low-income, predominantly African-American neighbourhoods in Baltimore City, MD, USA. SUBJECTS:Two hundred and ninety-eight adult caregiver-child (10-14 years old) dyads. RESULTS:Of households, 41·6 % had some level of food insecurity and 12·4 % experienced some level of hunger. Food-insecure participants with hunger were significantly more likely to be unemployed and to have lower incomes. We found high rates of excess body weight (overweight and obesity) among adults and children (82·8 % and 37·9 % among food insecure without hunger, 89·2 % and 45·9 % among food insecure with hunger, respectively), although there were no significant differences by food security status. Food source usage patterns, food acquisition, preparation, knowledge, self-efficacy and intentions did not differ by food security. Food security was associated with perceptions that healthy foods are affordable and convenient. Greater caregiver body satisfaction was associated with food insecurity and excess body weight. CONCLUSIONS:In this setting, obesity and food insecurity are major problems. For many food-insecure families, perceptions of healthy foods may serve as additional barriers to their purchase and consumption.
| S-EPMC4823174 | biostudies-literature
Project description:One in seven US households with children are food insecure. The health effects of household food insecurity (HFI) are well documented, but its association with childhood weight status remains unclear. We aimed to assess this association and to describe correlates of HFI in children. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 3019 low-income children aged 2 to 17 years. Data were extracted via chart review. HFI was assessed using the hunger vital sign screener. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from documented clinical measurements. We used adjusted linear and logistic regression to assess the association of HFI with BMI z-score (BMIz) and weight status. We used logistic regression to examine correlates of HFI including age, race/ethnicity, tobacco exposure, number of parents and siblings living at home, weight status, and census-tract poverty rate and food access. Of participants whose HFI status was documented, 91% were food secure and 9% were food insecure. The mean (SD) BMIz was 0.81 (1.11). Fifty five percentage of children were healthy weight, 18% overweight, and 26% obese. In adjusted analyses, HFI was not associated with BMIz but was associated with decreased odds of obesity (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.36-0.87). Tobacco exposure (1.63; 1.10-2.44), additional siblings (1.16; 1.04-1.30), and residence census tract with high poverty rate (1.02; 1.01-1.03) were all associated with HFI. We concluded that food-insecure children were less likely to have obesity and had differences in household makeup, exposures, and residential location compared to food-secure children. Clinicians should understand these relationships when counselling families about weight status and food insecurity.
| S-EPMC8405045 | biostudies-literature
Project description:We examined the association between socioeconomic status (SES) discrimination and C-reactive protein (CRP) in a biracial cohort of middle-aged adults using an intersectionality framework.Participants were 401 African-American and White adults from a population-based cohort in the Southeastern United States. SES discrimination was self-reported with a modified Experiences of Discrimination Scale, and CRP levels were assayed from blood samples. Linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations among SES discrimination, race, education, and CRP after controlling for age, gender, racial and gender discrimination, financial and general stress, body mass index, smoking, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms. Intersectional effects were tested using race×SES discrimination, education×SES discrimination and race×education×SES discrimination interactions.Adjusting for sociodemographics, racial discrimination, gender discrimination, and all relevant two-way interaction terms, we observed a significant race×education×SES discrimination interaction (p=0.019). In adjusted models stratified by race and education, SES discrimination was associated with elevated CRP among higher educated African-Americans (?=0.29, p=0.018), but not lower educated African-Americans (?=-0.13, p=0.32); or lower educated (?=-0.02, p=0.92) or higher educated (?=-0.01, p=0.90) Whites.Findings support the relevance of SES discrimination as an important discriminatory stressor for CRP specifically among higher educated African-Americans.
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Project description:ObjectiveChildren with low self-control who grow up in poverty are at elevated risk for living in poverty when they are adults. The purpose of this study was to further understanding of the intergenerational continuity of poverty by (a) examining the likelihood that children with low levels of self-control at age 11 earn less employment income and are more likely to live in poverty 14 years later, at age 25; and (b) determining, via a preventive intervention, whether enhancing supportive parenting during childhood will ameliorate these associations.MethodsParents and their 11-year-old children from 381 families participated in the Strong African American Families (SAAF) program or a control condition. Teachers assessed children's self-control at 11 years; parents reported their use of supportive parenting when children were 11 and 13 years; emerging adults provided data on cognitive and emotional self-control at 19, 20, and 21 years; and young adults indicated their employment income at 25 years.ResultsSignificant two-way interactions were detected between children's self-control and prevention condition for employment income (b = -183.18, 95% CI [-363.82, -2.53], p < .05) and poverty status (b = 0.257, 95% CI [0.018, 0.497], p < .05). Low self-control at age 11 forecast less employment income and a greater likelihood of living in poverty among children in the control condition, but not among low self-control SAAF participants. Mediated moderation analyses confirmed that enhanced supportive parenting accounted for SAAF's effects on employment income (indirect effect = 63.057, 95% BCA [19.385, 124.748]) and poverty status (indirect effect = -0.071, 95% BCA [-0.165, -0.016]).ConclusionsThis study is unique in using a randomized controlled trial to show that preventive interventions designed to enhance parenting and strengthen families can buffer the long-term economic consequences of low self-control.
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Project description:BackgroundLimited research has examined the association of life-course socioeconomic status (SES) with hypertension prevalence and incidence in a large cohort of African Americans.MethodsAmong 4,761 participants from the Jackson Heart Study (JHS), we examined the association of SES indicators with prevalent and incident hypertension. We used multivariable Poisson regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PR, 95% confidence interval-CI) of baseline (2000-2004) hypertension by adult (education, income, occupation, wealth) and childhood (mother's education) SES. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR, 95% CI) of incident hypertension by adult and childhood SES (2005-2013; 7.21 median years of follow-up). We also examined the association of childhood-to-adult SES mobility (parent-to-adult education) with prevalent and incident hypertension. Model 1 adjusted for age and sex. Model 2 added waist circumference, behaviors (smoking, alcohol, physical activity, diet), and diabetes prevalence.ResultsHigh (vs. low) adult SES measures were associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension, with the exception of having a college degree and upper-middle income (PR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.07; PR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.09, respectively). Higher childhood SES was associated with a lower prevalence and risk of hypertension (PR: 0.83, 95%: CI 0.75, 0.91; HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.65, 0.89, respectively). Upward mobility and consistent high SES (vs. consistent low SES) from childhood to adulthood was associated with a greater prevalence, but lower incidence of hypertension.ConclusionEfforts to prevent hypertension among African Americans should consider childhood and current SES status.
| S-EPMC6931894 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Emerging evidence indicates that noncoding RNAs play important regulatory roles during aging and the development of chronic disease. The functional roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in physiology and disease are under intense examination. However, little is known about lncRNAs in the context of human aging and socio-environmental conditions. Microarray profiling of lncRNAs and mRNAs in young and old white and African American (AA) males living above or below poverty revealed robust changes in both lncRNAs and mRNAs with age and poverty status in white males, but not in AA males. We validated the changes in lncRNAs in an expanded cohort; CDT-3247F14.2, GAS5, H19, TERC and MEG3 changed significantly with age, whereas AK022914, GAS5, KB-1047C11.2, MEG3 and XLOC_003262 changed significantly with poverty. Pathway analysis revealed that mitochondrial function and response to DNA damage and stress were enriched in younger individuals. Pathways of response to stress, viral infection, and immune signals were enriched in individuals living above poverty. These data show that both human age and a marker of social adversity influence lncRNA expression patterns. These data may provide insight into the molecular pathways underlying aging and social factors that affect disparities in aging and disease.
2019-03-19 | GSE123499 | GEO
Project description:BackgroundLittle is known about health care and service utilization patterns among low-income African-American women, particularly those who report intimate partner violence (IPV).Objectives(1) Identify utilization patterns among low-income African-American women. (2) Demonstrate utilization differences by IPV status.ParticipantsOne hundred and fifty-three African-American women from medical care clinics at a large inner-city public hospital.DesignCase-control study. Predictor variable IPV assessed by the Index of Spouse Abuse. Outcome variables, health care, and service utilization, determined using the Adult Service Utilization Form.ResultsOf the 153 participants, 68 reported high IPV levels. The mean age was 32 years, majority were poor and unemployed, and 15.7% were homeless. The overall utilization rates were low. When controlled for homelessness and relationship status, high IPV levels were associated with greater psychiatric outpatient utilization. We found differences in the use of other medical or community services by IPV group.ConclusionsWomen reporting high IPV levels are more likely to receive mental health services than women reporting low IPV levels, but may not have access to other needed services. Primary care providers should assess the mental health, legal, and social service needs of abused women, which will facilitate receipt of services.
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