Differences in Eating Pattern Labels between Maintainers and Nonmaintainers in the Women's Health Initiative

Abstract

Objective

To describe how a sample of women in the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial (WHIDM) labeled a healthy eating pattern and to compare these labels to their dietary maintenance.

Design

Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire and were divided into two maintenance groups, based on the percentage of energy derived from fat in their diets. Individual, semistructured interviews with the same subjects elicited information on labels they use to describe a healthy eating pattern.

Subjects/Settings

Subjects were 100 postmenopausal women, 50 to 79 years of age, free of breast and colorectal cancer, and participating in a dietary intervention that consisted of 20% or less energy from fat.

Main Outcome Measures

Percentage of energy from fat in the diet and labels used to define a healthy eating pattern.

Statistical Analyses Performed

Multivariate analysis.

Results

The label “consistent/patterned” was a predictor of dietary nonmaintenance (p < .05).

Implications

Future studies should use this information to re-educate nonmaintainers on compliance issues.