Predictors of fat intake behavior differ between normal-weight and obese WIC mothers.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether predictors of fat intake behavior were the same for normal-weight and obese WIC mothers when applying the PRECEDE-PROCEED model and to identify predictors for each group.


METHODS
Proportional stratified convenience sampling.


METHODS
Five hundred eighty-one nonpregnant, black and white normal-weight (n = 180) or obese (n = 401) women.


METHODS
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children in six counties in southern Wisconsin.


METHODS
The independent variables were predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors. Predisposing factors included beliefs in diet and health, beliefs in diet and body shape, health concerns in food choice, health concerns in nutrition, and eating habits. Enabling factors were cost of food, availability of time to prepare food, and accessibility to purchase food. Reinforcing factors were weight control intentions, sensory appeal, and mood. The dependent variable was fat intake behavior. Structural equation modeling was performed.


RESULTS
When controlling for covariates, certain factors affectingfat intake behavior differed between the normal-weight and the obese groups. For the normal-weight group, only reinforcing factors were positively associated with fat intake behavior For the obese group, reinforcing and enabling, but not predisposing, factors were positively associated with fat intake behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions to modify low-income women's fat intake behavior might benefit from targeting behavioral predictors that differ with body size. Messages that emphasize weight control intentions, sensory appeal, and mood are likely to affect both normalweight and obese women. Information about cost of food, availability of time to prepare food, and accessibility to purchase food is likely to be more effective with obese women.
Chang
Mei-Wei
MW
Michigan State University-East Lansing College of Nursing, A130 Life Sciences Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Baumann
Linda C
LC
Nitzke
Susan
S
Brown
Roger L
RL
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004045:Dietary Services; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D009765:Obesity; D011203:Poverty; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014922:Wisconsin
D004041:Dietary Fats