Diabetes and heart disease disproportionately burden African Americans, who tend to have worse nutritional intake than Whites. Many Black churches are influential institutions in the Black community, with potential to assist with promotion of healthy eating behaviors. The purpose of the current study was to use the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to examine intention to eat a healthy diet and dietary behaviors among church-affiliated African Americans. It was hypothesized that TPB constructs would positively predict intention to eat a healthy diet and that intention to eat a healthy diet would be a predictor of fat and fruit and vegetable intake. It was also hypothesized that control beliefs would predict reduced fat intake and increased fruit and vegetable intake. Path analyses indicated behavioral, normative, and control beliefs were predictive of intention to eat a healthy diet. Intention to eat healthy was a significant predictor of dietary intake behaviors. These findings provide support for the use of the TPB in examining diet among church-affiliated African Americans. This study represents an opportunity to inform dietary interventions for the African American faith community.

中文翻译：

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教会附属非裔美国人的膳食摄入量：意图和信仰的作用

糖尿病和心脏病给非裔美国人带来了不成比例的负担，他们的营养摄入量往往比白人差。许多黑人教会是黑人社区中具有影响力的机构，具有协助促进健康饮食行为的潜力。当前研究的目的是使用计划行为理论 (TPB) 来检查与教会有关的非裔美国人的健康饮食意愿和饮食行为。假设 TPB 结构会积极预测健康饮食的意图，而健康饮食的意图将是脂肪和水果和蔬菜摄入量的预测因子。还假设控制信念会预测脂肪摄入量减少和水果和蔬菜摄入量增加。路径分析表明行为、规范、和控制信念可以预测健康饮食的意图。健康饮食的意图是饮食摄入行为的重要预测因素。这些发现支持使用 TPB 来检查与教会有关的非裔美国人的饮食。这项研究代表了一个机会，可以为非裔美国人信仰社区提供饮食干预信息。