Relationship of physical activity, self-esteem levels, and selected nutrient intake with obesity in EFNEP women

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the relationship of physical activity, self-esteem, and dietary intake (kilocalories, fiber, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E with obesity in 65 low-income EFNEP women. Participants were assigned to either non-obese or obese group based on 8MI calculation with 28 in the non-obese group and 37 in the obese group. A family record, three-repeat random 24-hour food recalls, a 24-hour physical activity and a self-esteem questionnaire were collected from each participant. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and MANOVA and simple t-tests were calculated (P < 0.05). Results suggest that non-obese and obese low-income women consume similar amounts of kilocalories and inadequate intakes of the same nutrients (fiber, calcium and vitamin E) and have very similar levels of self-esteem. They also have similar energy expenditure with very little planned or deliberate exercise, except that the obese group had significantly more energy expenditure in the inactive leisure-time category (P = 0.016). Calories consumed and energy expenditures were similar for obese women, but the non-obese women had significantly higher energy expenditure than caloric intake (P = 0.012).