Variables Associated With Obesity Among African-American Women in Omaha

Abstract

Obesity is a health disparity related to environmental, social, and physical health issues, including ethnicity, education, and gender. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among obesity, age, education, and socioeconomic status and the relationship between obesity and depression among African-American women living in Omaha, Nebraska. A convenience sample of 378 African-American women completed the African-American Female Health Survey, which included the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Body mass index (BMI) was used to measure obesity. Results indicated that 87% of the women were overweight; mean BMI was 32.78 with high cardiovascular disease risks. There was a statistically significant and positive relationship between depression and BMI (r = .201, p < .01). Occupational therapists may provide primary, secondary, and tertiary intervention through culturally relevant and meaningful health education programs.

Depressive Symptoms and Obesity/Weight Gain Factors Among Black and Hispanic Pregnant Women

“…Depressive symptoms in our study were positively correlated with prepregnancy BMI. This positive relationship was also found in previous studies that included either adult nonpregnant women (Blanchard, 2009;Keddie, 2011;Pan et al, 2012), postpartum women (LaCoursiere et al, 2010), or pregnant women (Bodnar et al, 2009). One previous study, however, did not find such a relationship when prepregnancy BMI was collected 4 months after delivery (Carter et al, 2000).…”

Menopause, Rurality, And Obesity in Rural African American Women

“…Studies exploring the nutritional values for foods consumed by AAW focus on either excessive or insufficient nutrient intake, such as calcium found in dairy foods, minerals, and vitamins from fruits and vegetables, and carbohydrates and saturated fats that disproportionately influence disease outcomes among AAW (Blanchard, 2009;Kannan et al, 2010;Sharma et al, 2009). Lacking are studies to determine where, what and how AAW spend funds for food allocation.…”

“…Consequently, many AAW omit calcium rich dairy foods, resulting in dietary calcium levels lower than the current RDA of 1,000 to 1,200 milligram (mg) daily for adults 19 years and older (USDA, 2005;. Such a diet reduces the potential benefits gained from consuming three to four daily servings of the low-fat dairy foods (Blanchard, 2009;Kannan et al, 2010;Teegarden, 2003;Wooten & Price, 2004) that have been found to reduce chronic diseases (i.e., obesity, hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and osteoporosis) affecting AAW, promote weight loss in obese persons (Blanchard, 2009;Wooten & Price, 2004) and increase the long-term risk for lower BMD levels at midlife. In addition, Houston et al (2005) reported that among a group of AA and EA women, dairy, fruit, and vegetable intakes were inversely associated with lower extremities limitation and impaired ADL, among AAW.…”

“…Lactose intolerance has been reported as a factor that leads to low consumption of calcium rich dairy foods that are also high in vitamin D (necessary for those who spend little time in the sun) (Blanchard, 2009;Kannan et al, 2010). Consequently, many AAW omit calcium rich dairy foods, resulting in dietary calcium levels lower than the current RDA of 1,000 to 1,200 milligram (mg) daily for adults 19 years and older (USDA, 2005;.…”

“…Research findings in a number of dietary studies that included micronutrient intake suggest that AAW consume less calcium than EA women (Blanchard, 2009;Kannan et al, 2010;Teegarden, 2003;Wooten & Price, 2004) and a prevailing perception by many AAW that they are lactose intolerant influences their consumption of low calcium dairy products (Blanchard, 2009;Dore et al, 2001;Kannan, et al, 2010).…”