AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND WHITE DIFFERENCES IN NUTRITIONAL-STATUS AMONG LOW-INCOME WOMEN ATTENDING PUBLIC-HEALTH CLINICS

Information concerning nutritional status and factors influencing diet ary intakes among underserved populations is scarce. To obtain this in formation, data on nutritional status in a group of 726 white and Afri can American women of low education and low income who were inner-city dwellers were analyzed. Dietary habits in all subjects were character ized by high intakes of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt and low intakes of fiber and folate. A comparison of dietary intake patter ns of low-income white and African American women showed a trend towar d poorer dietary habits among the white women. It is suggested that di fferences between African Americans and whites in most nutrient intake s were due to factors such as low levels of education and income rathe r than racial background alone. Results imply that disease prevention and health promotion programs should include efforts to increase aware ness and practice of healthy diet habits among all low-income women.