Black Community College Students and Opinions and Beliefs on Weight in the Community: A Focus Group Study

Janna Stephens,Antoinette Perkins

doi:10.4236/health.2019.111007

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to better understand black community college students’ beliefs on obesity in their community. Methods: Participants were 18 - 21 years old and African American/Hispanic Black. Focus group sessions were conducted with a discussion guide. Thematic analysis was used to analyze results. Results: Five focus groups were conducted. Four major themes emerged: My Culture Matters, The Effects of Slavery are Still Present, Meet Me Where I Want to Be, Not Where Society Wants Me, and If They Have Been Fat, They Get Me. It is clear that weight programs need to be sensitive to cultural preferences. Conclusion: Our results present unique factors related to overweight/obesity in the Black community.

Highlights

Overweight and obesity represent a large public health concern in the United States and can lead to adverse health outcomes, including diabetes, sleep apnea, some forms of cancer, and heart disease [1] [2] [3] [4]
All participants identified as African American or Black and were community college students
There were four major themes that emerged from the focus group sessions and the results are organized by theme

Summary

Introduction

Overweight and obesity represent a large public health concern in the United States and can lead to adverse health outcomes, including diabetes, sleep apnea, some forms of cancer, and heart disease [1] [2] [3] [4]. Young adults (all races) have high overweight and obesity rates, with 60.3% having a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 [4]. Rates of overweight and obesity in African American and Hispanic (Black and White) young adults are higher than the national average with 71.9% and 71.7% being overweight or obese respectively [4]. Young adults may experience significant weight gain during the transition years into college, where adolescents become independent young adults who are developing unhealthy.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion