Exploring Rural, Black Women's Lived Experiences With Physical Activity and Nutrition: A Photo-Elicitation Study.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Eastern North Carolina (ENC) residents exhibit higher type 2 diabetes rates and lower life expectancy compared to the rest of North Carolina.
• Black individuals in ENC face health disparities linked to systemic barriers affecting physical activity (PA) and nutritious diets.
• Overweight and obesity are prevalent, necessitating targeted health promotion strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of rural Black women in ENC with overweight/obesity regarding PA and healthful diet promotion.
• To identify barriers and facilitators influencing PA and nutrition behaviors in this demographic.
• To inform the development of culturally relevant health promotion programs.

Main Methods:

• Photo-elicitation methodology used to gather participant experiences.
• Focus groups conducted with participants (N=14) aged 43.5 ± 8.7 years, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 34.6 ± 5.9 kg/m².
• Content analysis of submitted photos and focus group discussions to identify overarching themes.

Main Results:

• Key themes identified: (a) Reframing the Mindset, (b) Accountability, and (c) Cultural Relativity.
• Participants expressed a desire for health promotion programs that are culturally relevant.
• Focus on healthy lifestyles, rather than solely weight loss, was emphasized.

Conclusions:

• Culturally tailored physical activity and nutrition programming is crucial for Black women in rural ENC.
• Future interventions should be designed by and for Black women to effectively promote healthy lifestyles.
• Further research should examine the impact of such programs on PA, diet quality, and quality of life.