Weight-loss practices, nutrition beliefs, and weight-loss program preferences of urban American Indian women.

OBJECTIVE: To describe health beliefs, weight concern, dieting practices, and weight-loss program preferences of American Indian women residing in an urban setting. DESIGN: Face-to-face interviews using a semistructured questionnaire were conducted and height and weight were measured. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Subjects were 203 American Indian adult women in an urban community setting. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Frequency distributions and chi 2 analysis were performed using the Statistical Analysis System software. RESULTS: About two-thirds of the subjects were overweight. Most women were concerned about obesity and reported attempting to manage their weight. Healthful weight-loss practices (e.g., eating more fruits and vegetables, increasing physical activity) were used most frequently. However, unhealthful practices, such as skipping meals/fasting, using laxatives/diuretics, and self-induced vomiting were also mentioned. Regular bingeing was reported by 10% of respondents. APPLICATIONS: Weight-management intervention efforts should focus on helping clients modify their diet and physical activity patterns. Low-cost programs offered in convenient locations would attract more participants, as would the provision of child care. Education about the dangers and ineffectiveness of unhealthful weight-loss practices will be necessary, given the high rates of such behaviors in this population.

Duke Scholars

Author Mary T Story Family Medicine and Community Health