title: Environmental influences on small eating behavior change to promote weight loss among Black and Hispanic populations.
abstract: Small eating behavior changes are proposed as more feasible to achieve and maintain than larger changes used in traditional behavioral weight loss studies. However, it is unclear whether overweight Black and Hispanic adults in a low-income urban setting experience small changes as feasible and what might influence feasibility. Participants' experiences in a 12-week pilot weight loss intervention were explored qualitatively to determine the feasibility of making small eating behavior changes in this population. After the intervention (69% retention), semi-structured interviews with 46 men and women (mean age 51, 50% Non-Hispanic Black, 43% Hispanic) revealed that making small eating changes was a process shaped by participants' intrapersonal and interpersonal eating environments. Participants responded to intrapersonal and interpersonal eating environmental challenges by adapting small change strategies, navigating eating environments, and negotiating household eating practices. Findings highlight how even small eating behavior changes called for adaptation, navigation, and negotiation of complex eating environments in daily life. These findings were used to improve the trial that followed and underline the importance of feasibility studies to inform community trials. Findings also add to understanding of contextual challenges and the skills needed to implement small changes in a low income, ethnic minority population.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Savage Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. Electronic address: jdc295@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Johanna D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Eldridge
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Savage Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. Electronic address: cmd10@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Carol M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Devine
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development, College of Human Ecology, Martha Van Rensselaer Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. Electronic address: ew20@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wethington
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Savage Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. Electronic address: lia5@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Luz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aceves
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluative Sciences Research, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 338 East 66th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: erp2001@med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Phillips-Caesar
authors.affiliation: Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Warren Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. Electronic address: wansink@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wansink
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluative Sciences Research, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 338 East 66th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: mecharl@med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Charlson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: African American or Black; Hispanic or Latino; Obesity; Qualitative; Small change; Weight loss intervention