OPREVENT (Obesity Prevention and Evaluation of InterVention Effectiveness in NaTive North Americans): Design of a Multilevel, Multicomponent Obesity Intervention for Native American Adults and Households.

Obesity prevalence is high in Native American (NA) adults, and there is a critical need to establish and implement evidence-based social, behavioral, and policy interventions that are theoretically informed. The use of multilevel, multicomponent (MLMC) interventions has been shown to be an effective strategy for comprehensive health behavior change; however, there is little guidance available in the literature to facilitate implementation in this underserved and understudied population. To decrease obesity and related comorbidities in NA adults, an MLMC intervention called OPREVENT (Obesity Prevention and Evaluation of InterVention Effectiveness in NaTive North Americans) was implemented in 5 rural NA communities to modify the food-purchasing environment, improve diet, and increase physical activity (PA).

Work, worksites, and wellbeing among North American Indian women: a qualitative study.

The purpose of this study was to understand what factors influenced work-family balance and related health behaviors among a sample of rural North American Indian women. We interviewed 89 women through both in-depth interviews and focus groups across four tribal communities in the American Southwest and Upper Midwest between July 2010 and August 2011. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed for emerging themes related to work- family demands placed on women and resources available to cope with those demands.

Self-Reported Physical Activity Among American Indian Adults From Two Diverse Regions.

Purpose: Physical activity may be a protective factor against the disproportionate rates of chronic diseases faced by American Indians. Nevertheless, few studies report any cultural adoptions made to capture physical activity behaviors among this hard-to-reach population. Existing studies reporting the prevalence of physical activity among American Indians are often aggregated and tend to obscure regional, local, and tribal-level variations.

Food and Nutrient Intake in African American Children and Adolescents Aged 5 to 16 Years in Baltimore City.

Objective: This study aimed to describe food and nutrient intake for low-income, urban African American children and adolescents, to highlight the need for further nutrition intervention programs and appropriate tools to address overweight and obesity.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using interviewer-administered single 24-hour dietary recalls. Participants were low-income African American boys and girls aged 5-16 years or their caregivers in Baltimore City.

"We're Changing Our Ways": Women's Coping Strategies for Obesity Risk-reducing Behaviors in American Indian Households.

This article reveals women caregivers' perceptions and coping strategies to improve households' food and physical activity habits. Results emerged from the pre-intervention formative research phase of a multi-site, multi-level obesity prevention pilot intervention on American Indian (AI) reservations. Using purposive sampling, 250 adults and children participated in qualitative research.

Environmental factors that impact the eating behaviors of low-income African American adolescents in Baltimore City.

Objective: To understand environmental factors influencing the food-related habits of low-income urban African American adolescents.

Design: Qualitative research was conducted between February and April, 2010, using in-depth interviews, focus groups, and direct observation.

Setting: The study was conducted in low-income, predominantly African American neighborhoods of Baltimore City.

Development and implementation of Baltimore Healthy Eating Zones: a youth-targeted intervention to improve the urban food environment.

Poor accessibility to affordable healthy foods is associated with higher rates of obesity and diet-related chronic diseases. We present our process evaluation of a youth-targeted environmental intervention (Baltimore Healthy Eating Zones) that aimed to increase the availability of healthy foods and promote these foods through signage, taste tests and other interactive activities in low-income Baltimore City. Trained peer educators reinforced program messages.

Healthier home food preparation methods and youth and caregiver psychosocial factors are associated with lower BMI in African American youth.

Obesity disproportionately affects African American (AA) children and adolescents and leads to an increased risk of adult chronic diseases. Eating few meals at home has been implicated as a cause of obesity among youth, but to our knowledge, previous studies have not specifically investigated this relationship in AA adolescents or looked at both the healthfulness and frequency of home meals in AA households. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between home food preparation and adolescent BMI in a sample of 240 AA adolescents aged 10-15 y and their caregivers.

Food expenditures and food purchasing among low-income, urban, African-American youth.

Background: Low-income, urban African-American youth are at higher risk for obesity and less likely to meet dietary recommendations than white, higher-income youth. Patterns of food purchasing among youth likely contribute to these disparities, but little published information is available.

Purpose: To investigate food purchasing behaviors of low-income, urban African-American youth.

Healthy food purchasing among African American youth: associations with child gender, adult caregiver characteristics and the home food environment.

Objective: To examine how factors related to the home food environment and individual characteristics are associated with healthy food purchasing among low-income African American (AA) youth.

Subjects: A total of 206 AA youth (ninety-one boys and 115 girls), aged 10-14 years, and their primary adult caregivers.

Setting: Fourteen Baltimore recreation centres in low-income neighbourhoods.