Dietary behaviors and portion sizes of Black women who enrolled in SisterTalk and variation by demographic characteristics

Abstract Objective To describe the dietary behaviors of black women who enrolled in the SisterTalk weight control study. Design Baseline data collected via telephone survey and in-person screening. Setting Boston, Massachusetts and surrounding areas. Participants 461 black women completed the baseline assessments. Main Outcome Measures Measured height and weight; self-reported demographics, risk factors, and dietary variables including fat-related eating behaviors, food portion size, and fruit, vegetable, and beverage intake. Analysis Analysis of variance (ANOVA) models with food habits questionnaire (FHQ) scores as the dependent variable and demographic categories as the independent variables; ANOVA models with individual FHQ item scores as the dependent variable and ethnic identification as the independent variable. Results More than 60% reported eating Conclusions and Implications The findings support the need for culturally appropriate interventions to improve the dietary intake of black Americans. Further studies should examine the dietary habits, food preparation methods, and portion sizes of diverse groups of black women.