Dietary Consumption Practices and Cancer Risk in African Americans in the Rural South

Abstract

This study describes the dietary consumption practices of a sample of African Americans in the rural South. A qualitative research design involving a cross-sectional food diary was utilized. Complete datasets were collected from 114 participants, 66% female, between the ages of 19 and 79 years. The consumption of a variety of fruits, non-starchy vegetables and unprocessed cereals in daily meals was low in this sample. Frequent consumption of fried foods; fast foods; sugary, carbonated beverages; processed, high-fat and high-sodium foods; and low fruit and non-starchy vegetable intake were evident. The findings are crucial to the development for culturally-specific nutrition education intervention programs for African Americans in the rural South targeted at the modification of not only diet, but food preparation methods to reduce cancer risk.

Race and BMI modify associations of calcium and vitamin D intake with prostate cancer

“…Low-income individuals are less likely to meet dietary guidelines, and adherence to dietary recommendations is lower in AAs [38]. Studies also show that AAs prefer different foods than EAs [39], and dairy consumption is lower in AAs than other ethnic groups [40, 41]. Along with low dietary supplement usage, these factors partly contributed to lower calcium and vitamin D intake in our study participants.…”

Diet, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behaviors as Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity: An Urban and Rural Comparison

“…2,3 Recent studies suggest that obesity is also more prevalent in rural children and adolescents than their urban counterparts. [4][5][6] Davis et al reported that in the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition examination survey (NHANes) the prevalence of obesity in 2-to 18-year-olds was about 5% higher in rural compared to urban children (21.8% vs. 16.9%). 6 if residing in rural areas is associated with a greater risk of obesity in children, then a better understanding of why children are more likely to become obese in rural areas is warranted.…”

“…in addition, their intake of fruits and nonstarchy vegetables is low. 16 Disproportionately more rural adults are physically inactive compared to their urban peers (62.8% vs. 59.3%). 2 A solid body of research demonstrates that risky behaviors such as sexual activity, weapon carrying, and tobacco, alcohol, and substance use, 17 increase during adolescence, and rural adolescents are at greater risk than urban adolescents.…”

Factors influencing dietary fat intake among black emerging adults

“…Most of the research regarding dietary fat intake, which included Black participants, has been descriptive and focused on the quantity of dietary fat consumed, dietary patterns, and some demographic variables (Bovell-Benjamin, Dawkins, Pace, & Shikany, 2010;Brown et al, 2010;Bruening, Gilbride, Passannante, & McClowry, 1999;Coates et al, 1995;Deshmuk-Taskar, Nicklas, Yang, & Berenson, 2007;DeshmukhTaskar et al, 2009;Fitzgibbon et al, 2005;Fitzgibbon et al, 2008;Gans et al, 2009;James, 2009;Laroche, Wallace, Snetselaar, Hillis, & Steffen, 2012;Lewis et al, 2003;Nicklas, Farris, Myers, & Berenson, 1995;Nicklas, Myers, Reger, Beech, & Berenson, 1998;Sharma et al, 2009;Sijtsma et al, 2012;Winkleby, Robinson, Sundquist, & Kraemer, 1999). Researchers have also examined dietary fat intake in relation to other health problems (e.g., diabetes, cancer, and obesity) (Bortsov et al, 2011;Crump et al, 2006;Lagou et al, 2011).…”