Predictors of low-income, obese mothers' use of healthful weight management behaviors.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the influence of personal and environmental factors on healthful weight management behaviors mediated through self-efficacy among low-income obese mothers.


METHODS
Cross-sectional design.


METHODS
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in Wisconsin.


METHODS
Two hundred eighty-four obese mothers aged 18-34 years.


METHODS
Personal factors (eg, eating low-fat/low-calorie food for weight management), environmental factors, self-efficacy, and weight management behaviors. Data were collected via self-administered written questionnaires.


METHODS
Latent class cluster analysis and structural logistic regression.


RESULTS
Women who perceived more importance of eating low-fat/low-calorie food for weight management were more likely to practice multiple behavioral strategies to manage their weight (odds ratio = 0.37) than women who perceived less importance of eating low-fat/low-calorie food for weight management. Women who reported higher positive mood self-efficacy were more likely (odds ratio = 1.63) to practice multiple strategies to manage their weight than women who reported lower positive mood self-efficacy. Environmental factors did not predict use of multiple healthful weight management behaviors. No mediation effect was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Stressing the importance of food choices and reinforcing learners' self-confidence to make healthful choices at parties and celebrations may be helpful ways to address common barriers to healthful weight management.
Chang
Mei-Wei
MW
College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. changme@msu.edu
Nitzke
Susan
S
Brown
Roger
R
Baumann
Linda
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009035:Mothers; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011203:Poverty; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011632:Public Assistance; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult