Moderate physical activity and healthy eating habits among older African American women with diabetes and hypertension: a qualitative study of barriers and facilitators

ABSTRACT

Objective

African American women have a high prevalence of atherosclerotic risk factors. Many of these atherosclerotic risk factors can be modified through increased physical activity and a healthy diet.

Design

We conducted a phenomenological qualitative study on perceptions of physical activity and healthy eating among 26 African American women, 55 years and older. Interviews were conducted and coded for emerging themes on barriers and facilitators of physical activity and dietary behaviors.

Results

Perceived barriers were pain and motivation to be active, limited definition of physical activity, time, preparation, cost of healthy meals, and daily decisions on food choice and preference. Facilitators were a routine of regular physical activity, awareness of healthy food choices, and influence of family.

Conclusions

Overall, participants had a general perception about the importance of physical activity and healthy eating; however, their motivation to engage in these behaviors depends on their definition, personal motivation, and food preference.

KEYWORDS:

• Chronic disease
• health behavior
• nutrition
• physical activity
• women’s health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical standards and informed consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute /Diversity supplement award) (Grant No. 3R01HL098909-04S1, PI: T. Collins, Awardee: M. Redmond). Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K01HL135472 (PI: M. Redmond). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.