title: Influences on diet and physical activity among middle-class African American 8- to 10-year-old girls at risk of becoming obese.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand diet, physical activity, and inactivity influences among preadolescent African American girls at risk of becoming obese.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews and group qualitative discussions (i.e., mixed qualitative research method) were conducted separately with 8- to 10-year-old African American girls and their parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Greater Houston, Texas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight- to 10-year-old African American girls above the 50th percentile body mass index with a home computer (n = 82) and a parent (n = 74).
  
  
  METHODS
  Influences on dietary practices and physical activity/inactivity among preadolescent African American girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Discussions were audiotaped, manually recorded, transcribed, and coded. The primary coder analyzed the transcribed notes. The secondary coder reviewed and critiqued the initial coding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents and girls were concerned about overweight and viewed physical activity as a weight control practice. Mothers facilitated daughters' physical activity, while fathers and siblings were coparticipants. Girls had access to physical activity equipment and facilities. Snack food items and carbonated beverages were often limited by the parents, and water consumption was encouraged. Discrepancies were apparent between girls' and parents' responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parental convenience and girls' food preferences influenced dietary intake. Obesity prevention programs should capitalize on parental motivation for their child's health and provide practical strategies to facilitate healthful eating and physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. vjt@bcm.tmc.eu
authors.forename: Victoria J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baranowski
authors.forename: Karen W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: Latroy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rittenberry
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baranowski
authors.forename: Wendell C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nicklas
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010290:Parents