| Summary: | The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 has increased from 5.0% to 18.1 % as reported by the CDC in 2008. The prevalence of obesity is increasing faster among African American and Hispanic children than Caucasian children. African American females ages 12 to 19 had the highest prevalence of overweight compared to Caucasian females. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between dietary patterns, physical activity, self-perception, and health-related quality of life in normal weight and overweight African American females living in Southwest Louisiana, and to determine how well dietary patterns, physical activity, self-perception, and selected demographic data (socioeconomic status and family structure) predict health-related quality of life among these adolescents. An adaptation of Bem's Self Perception Theory and Ferrans, et al. Conceptual Model of Health-related Quality of Life was the framework for this study. A convenience sample of 60 normal weight and 60 overweight African American females ages 11 to 15 were recruited to participate in this predictive correlational study. The Eating Habits Questionnaire, Benefits and Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire, The Body Rating Scale, Harter Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, PedsQOL, and a demographic instrument were used to obtain data on the study variables. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. The relationships between the study's variables were examined using the Person's Product-moment correlation. Spearman Rho was calculated to examine relationships between demographic variables, dietary patterns, physical activity, self-perception, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).This research suggests that there was a relationship between Body Rating Scale and HRQOL in overweight African American female adolescents. There was a relationship between barriers of physical activity and HRQOL in both normal weight and overweight African American female adolescents living in southwest Louisiana. Finally, a relationship was found between benefits of physical activity and HRQOL in normal weight African American female adolescents living in southwest Louisiana.
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