Abstract

Objective:To investigate psychosocial determinants of obesity risk reduction behaviors and sub-group analyses based on gender, age, and country of origin in Chinese Americans residing in the New York metropolitan area. Methods:The obesity epidemic is widely recognized as a salient health issue in the United States, affecting all races, ethnic and age groups including Chinese Americans. An increased risk for obesity-related diseases at lower body mass indexes magnify the urgency of investigating obesity related issues in this population. This cross-sectional study evaluated a convenience sample of 443 U.S.-born and foreign-born men and women aged 18 to 60 years who completed a self-administered questionnaire. Participants were recruited from academic, religious and cultural institutions, representing a span of educational backgrounds and socioeconomic status. Nineteen obesity risk reduction behaviors were measured along with psychosocial constructs derived from the Theory of Planned Behavior. Participants reported food behaviors over the previous month related to weight management, portion size control, consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods, physical activity, and stress management. Results:The mean age of the entire sample was 35.6 years, with 65% females and 40% U.S.-born individuals. Regression analysis of an index of 19 obesity risk reduction behaviors indicated 27.1% of the variance in behavior was accounted chiefly by intention, attitude, and perceived behavioral control. For male respondents, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control emerged as salient factors, while attitude was significant for female participants alone. When age was regressed on the behavioral index corresponding to different age categories, subjective norm contributed most to the regression model for the 18 to 40 years old category. Attitude and perceived behavioral control were salient predictors for older individuals (aged 41 to 60). Conclusions:Nutrition professionals working with Chinese Americans need to promote the fostering of positive attitudes and guidance for adopting dietary measures and physical activity to combat weight gain in middle-aged adults. Social normative influences in adopting food-related behaviors need to be highlighted in males and younger adults.

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