Behavioral Predictors of Low Fat Intake Among Economically Disadvantaged African-American Adolescents

Purpose. To determine whether five behaviors shown to predict low fat intake in adults predicted low fat intake among economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents. Design. Cross-sectional. Subjects and Measures. Recruited through youth services agencies serving low-income communities in New York and New Jersey, Participants were 265 African-American adolescents aged 10 to 14 years. Participants completed the Block Fat Screener and scales for measuring the following behaviors: avoiding fat as a seasoning, modifying meat to make it lower in fat, substituting high-fat foods with manufactured low-fat equivalents, replacing high-fat foods with fruits and vegetables, and replacing high-fat foods with low-fat foods other than fruits and vegetables. Analysis. The reliability and construct validity of the scales were assessed using internal consistency reliability and correlation analyses. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine behavioral predictors of low fat intake. Results. Scale coefficient alphas ranged from 60 to 80 Fat avoidance, substitution, and replacement with fruits and vegetables were significantly associated with fat intake. The regression equation containing these behaviors accounted for 12% of the variance in intake. All three behaviors were significant predictors of low fat intake. Conclusions. Fewer behaviors have salience for predicting low fat intake among economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents than among adults. Interventions to lower youths' intake should emphasize fat avoidance, substitution, and replacement with fruits and vegetables. (Am J Health Promot 2010; 24[4]:284-287.)