Predictors of Low-income, Obese Mothers' Use of Healthful Weight Management Behaviors

Objective: To examine the influence of personal and environmental factors on healthful weight management behaviors mediated through self-efficacy among low-income obese mothers. Design: Cross-sectional design. Setting: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in Wisconsin. Participants: Two hundred eighty-four obese mothers aged 18-34 years. Main Outcome Measures: Personal factors (eg, eating low-fat/low-calorie food for weight management), environmental factors, self-efficacy, and weight management behaviors. Data were collected via self-administered written questionnaires. Analysis: Latent class cluster analysis and structural logistic regression. Results: Women who perceived more importance of eating low-fat/low-calorie food for weight management were more likely to practice multiple behavioral strategies to manage their weight (odds ratio = 0.37) than women who perceived less importance of eating low-fat/low-calorie food for weight management. Women who reported higher positive mood self-efficacy were more likely (odds ratio = 1.63) to practice multiple strategies to manage their weight than women who reported lower positive mood self-efficacy. Environmental factors did not predict use of multiple healthful weight management behaviors. No mediation effect was found. Conclusions and Implications: Stressing the importance of food choices and reinforcing learners' self-confidence to make healthful choices at parties and celebrations may be helpful ways to address common barriers to healthful weight management.