TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceived Barriers to Exercise and Healthy Eating Among Women from Disadvantaged Neighborhoods
T2 - Results from a Focus Groups Assessment
AU - Baruth, Meghan
AU - Sharpe, Patricia A.
AU - Parra-Medina, Deborah
AU - Wilcox, Sara
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by Grant Number R01DK074666 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
PY - 2014/5
Y1 - 2014/5
N2 - This study explored perceptions and experiences with barriers to exercise and healthy eating among women from predominately African American, disadvantaged neighborhoods. Four focus groups (n = 28) were conducted between April and May 2008 with overweight or obese women (93% African American; 34.3 ± 8.9 years; body mass index [BMI] 40.4 ± 8.5). Individual, social, and environmental factors were frequently mentioned as barriers to exercise and healthy eating. Insults from strangers about their body size (e.g., from children or people at the gym), and feelings of intimidation and embarrassment about not being able to complete exercises due to their body size were described as barriers to exercise. Lack of support and pressure from family, friends, and co-workers were barriers to healthy eating; participants experienced pressure from family and friends to eat more and were told they did not need to lose weight. Participants discussed the importance of not losing their curves; this concern needs to be considered when developing weight control programs for African American women. The findings of this qualitative study guided the development of a weight loss intervention for women from disadvantaged neighborhoods.
AB - This study explored perceptions and experiences with barriers to exercise and healthy eating among women from predominately African American, disadvantaged neighborhoods. Four focus groups (n = 28) were conducted between April and May 2008 with overweight or obese women (93% African American; 34.3 ± 8.9 years; body mass index [BMI] 40.4 ± 8.5). Individual, social, and environmental factors were frequently mentioned as barriers to exercise and healthy eating. Insults from strangers about their body size (e.g., from children or people at the gym), and feelings of intimidation and embarrassment about not being able to complete exercises due to their body size were described as barriers to exercise. Lack of support and pressure from family, friends, and co-workers were barriers to healthy eating; participants experienced pressure from family and friends to eat more and were told they did not need to lose weight. Participants discussed the importance of not losing their curves; this concern needs to be considered when developing weight control programs for African American women. The findings of this qualitative study guided the development of a weight loss intervention for women from disadvantaged neighborhoods.
KW - African American women
KW - barriers
KW - healthy eating
KW - low income
KW - physical activity
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U2 - 10.1080/03630242.2014.896443
DO - 10.1080/03630242.2014.896443
M3 - Article
C2 - 24617795
AN - SCOPUS:84900849657
VL - 54
SP - 336
EP - 353
JO - Women and Health
JF - Women and Health
SN - 0363-0242
IS - 4
ER -