Obesity and Related Chronic Health Conditions as Predictors of Motivation to Engage in Healthy Eating Behaviors Among Black Adults

Abstract

Blacks in the USA have a high prevalence of obesity and therefore suffer disproportionately from obesity-related chronic health conditions. Eating a poor diet is a major contributor to obesity and obesity-related chronic health conditions (e.g., heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes) in Blacks. Having medical concerns has been identified in earlier research to be a motivator to eat a healthy diet among Blacks. The purpose of this study was to examine body mass index (BMI) as a predictor of motivation to eat healthy due to medical concerns and to determine whether this relationship is mediated by reported number of chronic health conditions. A cross-sectional sample of 207 Black adults (45.9 % males; age: M = 38, SD = 14.12; BMI: M = 27.56, SD = 6.55) in Bronx, New York, completed questionnaires (i.e., the Motivators of and Barriers to Health-Smart Behaviors Inventory and a Demographic and Health Information Data Questionnaire) at a variety of community-based sites in this city, including hospitals, laundry mats, and street locations. A mediation model was tested using Preacher and Hayes’ simple mediation macro for SPSS. BMI was not a significant direct predictor of motivation to eat healthy; however, BMI significantly predicted motivation to eat healthy indirectly through reported number of chronic health conditions. Interventions developed by health promotion and health disparities researchers to increase motivation to eat healthy should consider increasing awareness/knowledge of health risks associated with obesity and related chronic health conditions and promoting routine health care visits to facilitate early diagnoses of chronic health conditions as integral intervention components.