Food Attitudes Affect Obesity Risk in Middle-Aged Women

A small study of middle-aged women finds that “guilt-ridden dieters,” impulsive eaters and those too busy to focus on food are the most likely to show signs of obesity. One half of women fit into two other categories, the study says, and were found to be the least likely to be leaning toward fat. Both types of women in those groups are concerned about nutrition and like to eat healthy.

“The basic attitude that people have about food is related to the likelihood that they’re at risk for obesity and weight gain,” says researcher Dennis Degeneffe, a study coauthor.

The study, which appears in Health Education & Behavior, placed 200 women into five groups based on their attitudes about food. The women had an average age of 46, were well-educated (two thirds had a four-year degree or higher) and 86% were white.

The researchers then compared the groups of women by measurements such as percentage of body fat, waist size, and body mass index (BMI).

Those deemed to be “concerned about nutrition” (determined to eat well) and “creative cooks” (focused on food for their families) scored the lowest in the weight categories. “Impulsive eaters” and “guilt-ridden dieters” scored the highest, with “busy cooking avoiders” in the middle.

“Women in the middle group tend to lead busy lifestyles and are often preoccupied with other activities and responsibilities, with eating generally taking a back seat,” says Degeneffe, a research fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Food Industry Center.

Treating these kinds of women can be tough, says Lona Sandon, MEd, RD, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern and national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “Health and nutrition may be important to them, but convenience often wins,” she says. “It is very challenging to come up with solutions to help these women lose weight if they are not willing or able to give up something else in their life.”

Source: Health Behavior News Service