Predictors of Early Adolescent African American Girls' Eating Behaviors

African American girls have higher rates of obesity than either their Hispanic or White counterparts. Low-income African American girls have a higher burden of this disparity, due to living in communities with fewer resources to eat healthy. Using Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior this study explored predictors (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention) of early adolescent African American girls’ eating behaviors. A cross sectional design was used to determine predictors of eating behavior. Self-reported survey data from a convenience sample of 97 preadolescent African American girls aged 9-13 years old provided information about attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, behavioral intentions, and eating behaviors. As predicted, intentions to eat healthily predicted healthy eating behaviors. However, in this sample intentions did not mediate the effects of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on eating behavior. Attitudes and subjective norms were found to be significant predictors of intentions to eat healthily in this sample and hence, are promising intervention targets. Low-income early adolescent African American girls may require special considerations when planning and implementing healthy eating interventions due to their intersectionality of age, race, gender, and poverty.