Body mass index and obesity-related behaviors in African American church-based networks: A social network analysis.

ABSTRACT: A growing body of research suggests that obesity can be understood as a complex and biobehavioral condition influenced by social relationships ─social networks. Social network analysis allows us to examine how an individual's network characteristics (e.g., popularity) are associated with obesity and obesity-related behaviors. The objectives of the study were to (a) examine whether network members in African American churches are similar in body mass index (BMI) and obesity-related behaviors (physical activity, eating, alcohol consumption) and (b) examine whether an individual's network characteristics, such as popularity (i.e., receiving nominations from peers) and expansiveness (i.e., sending nominations to peers) are associated with BMI and obesity-related behaviors. We used a cross-sect

SUBMITTER: Nam S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10010537 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature