Health Belief Model: Weight Management with African-American Women

The health belief model (HBM) is based upon the concept of changing a subjects beliefs to motivate change in his or her behavior. Critical components of the model include perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, and cues to action (Martinez et al., 2016, p.3). For example, when healthcare providers convince patients that a behavior such as overeating and subsequent weight gain can have a severe impact upon health and when patients understand their susceptibility to these health consequences, patients are more apt to view losing weight as desirable. When patients view barriers to achieving health improvement as surmountable and the benefits seem great, they are more apt to take action, especially if they view their own self-efficacy and ability to take such actions as significant.

Perceived Benefits and Perceived Barriers

African Americans have a 1.4 times greater likelihood of being obese compared with non-Hispanic Caucasians, a factor linked to being also 33% more likely to suffer from fatal heart disease, and 22% from terminal cancer (Martinez et al., 2016). While there are many economic and environmental factors that may contribute to obesity beyond the subjects control, it is still important for individuals to take what actions are possible and necessary to reduce their risk.

In one study using the HBM to facilitate self-efficacy to reduce weight and improve the health of African American residents in rural areas, participants identified their family history, age, and cultural factors (such as being taught in childhood to eat everything on their plates because food was scarce) as perceived barriers to improving health (Martinez et al., 2016). They also cited difficulty in altering their sedentary lifestyles after so many years, a lack of time to cook because of their busy schedules, and dependency upon fast food as a source of quick and easy meals that were filling (Martinez et al., 2016). Learning to cook relatively calorie-dense foods had been a critical component of many of the participants upbringings.

However, although the participants...

…construct that may be useful to add to the HBM is the need for community support beyond the relationship of healthcare provider and individual patient. In one study by Martinez (et al., 2016), weight loss education and collective efforts in the context of faith-based communities were found to be helpful in sustaining change, as well as educating participants in the risks of being overweight and some ways to enhance healthy eating and exercise habits in a useful and realistic fashion.

Conclusion

The HBM can be a useful way of identifying perceived barriers to health-related goals such as weight loss. It is important to note that not all patients may view weight loss as equally necessary, particularly considering cultural attitudes that may disproportionately affect certain groups, such as African American women. Adding cultural and community dimensions to the HBM model can enhance self-efficacy and more clearly identify barriers to understanding the full impact of health-related decisions. Health-related decisions, such as dietary choices, do not take place in a cultural vacuum, even…