Differences in fat-related dietary patterns between black, Hispanic and white women: results from the Women's Health Trial Feasibility Study in Minority Populations

Abstract

Objective: This report examines how sources of fat and patterns of fat-related dietary habits differed between black, Hispanic and white women participating in a randomized trial of a low-fat diet intervention. Design: The intervention consisted of group sessions, which met weekly for 6 weeks, biweekly for 6 weeks and monthly for 9 months, and included didactic nutrition education and activities to provide motivation for sustained dietary change. Outcomes included total fat and fat from nine food groups from a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and a summary scale and five subscales that measure fat-related dietary habits. Setting/subjects: Data are from 1702 post-menopausal women, recruited from clinical centres in Atlanta, Birmingham and Miami, with dietary assessments at baseline and 6 months post-randomization. Results: Total fat intake was similar across race/ethnic groups at baseline, yet there were many differences in sources of fat and fat-related dietary habits. For example, blacks consumed less fat from dairy foods and more fat from meats than whites. Effects of the intervention on total fat intake or the summary fatrelated dietary habits scale did not differ across race/ethnicity groups. There were, however, many differences in how the intervention affected sources of fat and fatrelated dietary habits. For example, the intervention effect for added fats (e.g. butter and salad dressings) was −8.9 g for blacks and −12.0 g for whites (P Ͻ 0.05). The intervention effect for adopting low-fat meat purchasing and preparation methods was larger for blacks than whites, and the intervention effect for replacing high-fat foods with fruits and vegetables was larger for Hispanics than whites. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that, if properly designed, a single nutrition intervention programme can work well even in groups with culturally diverse dietary patterns.

Dietary fat intake among urban, African American adolescents

“…Prior research has shown that in African American and other minority populations, dairy food consumption is particularly low (Fulgoni III et al, 2007;Jarvis & Miller, 2002). Moreover, youths' preferences for higher-fat fried poultry, desserts, and snacks were similar to the high-fat food preferences found in African American adults (Kayrooz, Moy, Yanek, & Becker, 1998;Kristal, Shattuck, & Patterson, 1999;Popkin, Siega-Riz, Haines, & Jahns, 2001). …”

“…Compared with White women, African American women consume less fat from dairy foods, mixed dishes, and vegetables or salads and more fat from red meat, poultry, and fish (Kristal, Shattuck, & Patterson, 1999). Urban, African American women are frequent consumers of such high-fat foods as breakfast and luncheon meats, desserts and ice cream, and chips, fries, and crackers (Kayrooz, Moy, Yanek, & Becker, 1988).…”

Current health behaviors and readiness to pursue life-style changes among men and women diagnosed with early stage prostate and breast carcinomas

“…The Eating Patterns Questionnaire by Kristal et al was selected based on its excellent psychometric properties and ease of self-administration. 20,21 Given the need to contain survey length, a truncated version was used with 2-3 key items that correlated highly with full scale measures selected from each subscale (12 items in total compared with the traditional 18-item scale) (unpublished data). Scores from this instrument were used to categorize respondents into those who were maintaining a low fat life-style (Ͻ 30% of total energy as fat) versus those who were not.…”

Results From an Intervention to Improve Rural Home Food and Physical Activity Environments

“…Healthy meal preparation methods were assessed using 17 items (α = 0.82 at baseline). 27,28 Participants were asked how often, in the past month, they served healthier food options or prepared foods using healthy cooking methods.…”