Structural Barriers to Healthy Food and High-Sugar Consumption in Black Young Adult Women: The Mediating Role of Internal Health Locus of Control

BACKGROUND: Consistent overconsumption of high-sugar food and beverages (HSFB)-defined as consuming more than 25 g of added sugars per day [1]-is a health risk factor for Black young adult women in the United States. A diet high in added sugar can increase women's likelihood of developing chronic conditions, like obesity, for which they are already at a high risk. Research often focuses on individual-level contributors to this eating behavior; however, studies infrequently consider how structural barriers may affect individuals' eating habits. PURPOSE: The current study examines whether experiencing more structural barriers to accessing perceived healthy food is associated with amount of consumption of HSFB and if this association is mediated by one individual-level factor - internal health locus of control. METHODS: = 24.7, 98.4% cisgender) who completed questionnaires via an online survey. RESULTS: Experiencing more structural barriers to accessing perceived healthy food was associated with more consumption of HSFBs (β = 0.05, p = .013, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.09). Specifically, the availability of fast food near where women lived, difficulties accessing transportation to purchase healthy foods, and the cost of food or grocery delivery are associated with more HSFB consumption. Internal health locus of control did not mediate the association between barriers and consumption (95% CI = -0.01, 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: More research is needed to assess the mechanisms linking structural barriers and HSFB consumption. Addressing contextual factors, like structural barriers, may be a critical step to equitably improve eating behaviors for Black young adult women.