Nutrition knowledge is associated with greater weight loss in obese and overweight low-income mothers.
OBJECTIVE
To examine if greater nutrition knowledge vs gains in knowledge promote more successful weight loss in low-income, overweight and obese mothers with young children.


METHODS
A convenience sample of mothers and their children were measured for height and weight; mothers completed demographic and nutrition knowledge questionnaires pre- and post-intervention.


METHODS
Participants (N=141) were recruited from government and public health clinics and elementary schools. Inclusion criteria for mothers were: family income <200% federal poverty level; overweight/obese; and Hispanic, African-American, or white race/ethnicity.


METHODS
Eight weekly weight-loss classes emphasizing diet, physical activity, and behavior modification based on Social Cognitive Theory were administered to mothers.


METHODS
Improvements in maternal nutrition knowledge and weight loss.


METHODS
Paired-samples t tests, repeated measures analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, Pearson correlations, and chi(2) statistics.


RESULTS
Nutrition knowledge of mothers increased in all areas. Participants with weight loss > or =2.27 kg (responders) had greater knowledge than those who did not; however, the actual net gain was similar for those who lost and did not lose weight. Weight gainers only improved in two areas on the test, whereas weight-loss responders increased knowledge in all six. Responders appeared more cognizant of diet, weight loss, and health information.


CONCLUSIONS
Weight-management programs should include a strong component of nutrition education to alleviate knowledge inequalities and promote more effective weight control. In low-income mothers, greater initial knowledge may be more predictive of weight loss than gains in knowledge during an intervention.
Klohe-Lehman
Deborah M
DM
Division of Nutritional Sciences, 1 University Station, A2700, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Freeland-Graves
Jeanne
J
Anderson
Edward R
ER
McDowell
Todd
T
Clarke
Kristine K
KK
Hanss-Nuss
Henry
H
Cai
Guowen
G
Puri
Divya
D
Milani
Tracey J
TJ
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015930:Diet Records; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011203:Poverty; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss