Ethnic Differences in Correlates of Obesity between Latin‐American and Black Women

Objective: To date, no studies have examined dietary intake, physical activity, and body image in a large sample of Latin‐American and black women recruited using the same methodology. The aim of this study was to examine three potential correlates of obesity (dietary intake, body image, and physical activity) in a large sample of Latin‐American and black women across the weight spectrum. Research Methods and Procedures: Participants were black (n = 271) and Latin‐American (n = 234) adult women who completed a 24‐hour dietary recall and physical activity and body image questionnaires. Results: After controlling for BMI, education, marital status, and number of children, black women consumed more kilocalories, dietary fat (grams), and percent calories from fat than Latin‐American women, who consumed more carbohydrates (grams) and dietary fiber (total and soluble). Black women engaged in more sedentary behavior than Latin‐American women. Although Latin‐American women weighed less than black women, they perceived their current body image as heavier and reported greater body image dissatisfaction than black women. Black women also reported a higher ideal body image than Latin‐American women. Discussion: The combined effect of a diet higher in calories and fat, increased sedentary behavior, and more accepting body image could account for higher rates of obesity among black women. Future studies should further explore cultural attitudes and beliefs related to weight that could provide information for the development of culturally competent obesity interventions.     

The 100-calorie semi-solution: sub-packaging most reduces intake among the heaviest

This study addresses two questions about sub‐packaging: (i) Do 100‐calorie packages reduce the calorie intake of overweight individuals differently than normal‐weight individuals? (ii) Do they enable individuals to accurately track intake? Thirty‐seven undergraduates were randomly given either four 100‐calorie packages of crackers or one 400‐calorie package of crackers to eat while watching television. The average participant ate 25.2% (75.1 calories) less when given four 100‐calorie packages of crackers than when given one 400‐calorie package (P = 0.006). In addition, much of this influence was driven by overweight participants whose intake decreased by 54.1%. However, all of the participants underestimated their consumption by 60% or more, indicating that sub‐packaging does not appear to increase one's accuracy in estimating how much is consumed. Smaller sized sub‐packaging most greatly benefits those who are overweight, yet it does so without making people more aware of how much they have eaten.     

Stigmatized Students: Age,Sex, and Ethnicity Effects in the Stigmatization of Obesity

Objective: To assess the stigmatization of obesity relative to the stigmatization of various disabilities among young men and women. Attitudes across ethnic groups were compared. In addition, these findings were compared with data showing severe stigmatization of obesity among children. Research Methods and Procedures: Participants included 356 university students (56% women; mean age, 20.6 years; mean BMI, 23.3 kg/m²; range, 14.4 to 45.0 kg/m²) who ranked six drawings of same‐sex peers in order of how well they liked each person. The drawings showed adults with obesity, various disabilities, or no disability. These rankings were compared with those obtained through a similar procedure with 458 fifth‐ and sixth‐grade children. Results: Obesity was highly stigmatized relative to physical disabilities. African‐American women liked obese peers more than did African‐American men, white men, or white women [F (1, 216) = 4.02, p < 0.05]. Overweight and obese participants were no less stigmatizing of obesity than normal weight participants. Adults were more accepting than children of their obese peers [t (761) = 9.16, p < 0.001]. Discussion: Although the stigmatization of obesity was high among participants overall, African‐American women seemed to have more positive attitudes toward obesity than did white women, white men, or African‐American men. Participants’ weight did not affect their stigmatization of obesity: obese and overweight adults were as highly stigmatizing of obesity as non‐overweight adults. Such internalized stigmatization could help to explain the low self‐esteem and poor body image among obese young adults. However, adults seemed to have more positive attitudes about obesity than children. An understanding of the factors that limit the stigma of obesity among African‐American women could help efforts to reduce stigma.     

Dietary fat and weight gain among women in the Nurses' Health Study

Objective: To assess the association of dietary fat and weight gain among adult women and to investigate whether offspring of overweight parents have a greater predisposition to weight gain due to intake of dietary fat. Research Methods and Procedures: This was an 8‐year follow‐up of 41,518 women in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS), a population‐based, prospective cohort. The women were 41 to 68 years of age, free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes in 1986 when “baseline” weight and diet were assessed. Eight years later (1994), changes in weight and dietary intake were assessed. Linear regression models were used to relate change in weight to fat intake and change in fat intake, using the percentage of energy from carbohydrate as the comparison, adjusted for age, BMI in 1986, leisure time physical activity, time spent sitting, percent of calories from protein, and change in percentage of calories from protein. Results: Overall, there was a weak positive association between total fat intake (β = 0.11) and weight gain. Increases in monosaturated and polyunsaturated fat were not associated with weight gain, but increases in animal fat, saturated fat, and trans fat had a positive association with weight change. There was not strong evidence of effect modification by parental weight status (p = 0.7 to 0.8 for percentage of calories from total fat, animal fat, and vegetable fat); however, the associations were stronger among the overweight compared with leaner women (p < 0.05 for percentage of calories from each type of fat). Among overweight women, for every one percentage increase in percentage of calories from trans fat, women gained an additional 2.3 lb (95% confidence interval, 1.80 to 2.86). Conclusion: Our results show that, overall, percent of calories from fat has only a weak positive association with weight gain; however, percentage of calories from animal, saturated, and trans fat has stronger associations. There was no clear evidence that the diet‐weight gain association was stronger among offspring of overweight parents, but dietary fat was associated with greater weight gain among overweight women.     

Disgust sensitivity, obesity stigma, and gender: contamination psychology predicts weight bias for women, not men

Recent research has established a link between disgust sensitivity and stigmatizing reactions to various groups, including obese individuals. However, previous research has overlooked disgust's multiple evolved functions. Here, we investigated whether the link between disgust sensitivity and obesity stigma is specific to pathogen disgust, or whether sexual disgust and moral disgust--two separate functional domains--also relate to negative attitudes toward obese individuals. Additionally, we investigated whether sex differences exist in the manner disgust sensitivity predicts obesity stigma, whether the sexes differ across the subtypes of obesity bias independent of disgust sensitivity, and last, the association between participants' BMI and different subtypes of obesity stigma. In study 1 (N = 92), we established that obesity elicits pathogen, sexual, and moral disgust. In study 2, we investigated the relationship between these types of disgust sensitivity and obesity stigma. Participants (N = 387) reported their level of disgust toward various pathogen, sexual, and moral acts and their attitudes toward obese individuals. For women, but not men, increased pathogen disgust sensitivity predicted more negative attitudes toward obese individuals. Men reported more negative general attitudes toward obese individuals whereas women reported greater fear of becoming obese. The sexes also differed in how their own BMI related to the subtypes of obesity stigma. These findings indicate that pathogen disgust sensitivity plays a role in obesity stigma, specifically for women. Defining the scope of disgust's activation in response to obesity and its relationship with other variables can help identify possible mechanisms for understanding and ultimately alleviating prejudice and discrimination.     

The effects of reality television on weight bias: an examination of The Biggest Loser

Weight-loss reality shows, a popular form of television programming, portray obese individuals and their struggles to lose weight. While the media is believed to reinforce obesity stereotypes and contribute to weight stigma, it is not yet known whether weight-loss reality shows have any effect on weight bias. The goal of this investigation was to examine how exposure to 40-min of The Biggest Loser impacted participants' levels of weight bias. Fifty-nine participants (majority of whom were white females) were randomly assigned to either an experimental (one episode of The Biggest Loser) or control (one episode of a nature reality show) condition. Levels of weight bias were measured by the Implicit Associations Test (IAT), the Obese Person Trait Survey (OPTS), and the Anti-fat Attitudes scale (AFA) at baseline and following the episode viewing (1 week later). Participants in The Biggest Loser condition had significantly higher levels of dislike of overweight individuals and more strongly believed that weight is controllable after the exposure. No significant condition effects were found for implicit bias or traits associated with obese persons. Exploratory analyses examining moderation of the condition effect by BMI and intention to lose weight indicated that participants who had lower BMIs and were not trying to lose weight had significantly higher levels of dislike of overweight individuals following exposure to The Biggest Loser compared to similar participants in the control condition. These results indicate that anti-fat attitudes increase after brief exposure to weight-loss reality television.     

Internalization of weight bias: Implications for binge eating and emotional well-being

Objective: This study examined the relationship between internalization of negative weight‐based stereotypes and indices of eating behaviors and emotional well‐being in a sample of overweight and obese women. Research Method and Procedures: The sample was comprised of 1013 women who belonged to a national, non‐profit weight loss organization. Participants completed an on‐line battery of self‐report questionnaires measuring frequency of weight stigmatization and coping responses to deal with bias and symptoms of depression and self‐esteem, attitudes about weight and obesity, and binge eating behaviors. In addition, participants were asked to list the most common weight‐based stereotypes and whether they believed them to be true or false. Results: Participants who believed that weight‐based stereotypes were true reported more frequent binge eating and refusal to diet in response to stigma experiences compared with those who reported stereotypes to be false. The degree to which participants believed stereotypes to be true or false was not related to types or amount of stigma experiences reported, self‐esteem, depression, or attitudes toward obese persons. In addition, engaging in weight loss strategies as a response to bias was not predicted by stereotype beliefs or by actual stigma experiences, regardless of the amount or types of stigma reported. Discussion: These findings suggest that obese individuals who internalize negative weight‐based stereotypes may be particularly vulnerable to the negative impact of stigma on eating behaviors and also challenge the notion that stigma may motivate obese individuals to engage in efforts to lose weight. This study highlights a new area of research that warrants attention to better understand weight stigma and its potential consequences for health.     

Feeding Frequency and Appetite in Lean and Obese Prepubertal Children

To determine the effect of feeding frequency on appetite in normal weight (NW) and obese (OB) prepubertal children, we carried out a prospective, randomized interventional study of 18 NW and 17 OB children ages 6–10. Children received three or five feedings in random order on separate days. Total calories, carbohydrate, protein, and fat composition on each day were equal. Two hours following the last feeding, children were offered ice cream ad lib. The major outcome variable was kilocalories ice cream consumed. A visual analog scale to assess fullness was also administered before consumption of ice cream. We observed that OB children consumed 73.0 ± 37.4 kcal more after five feedings than after three feedings whereas the NW children consumed 47.1 ± 27.8 kcal less. There was significant interaction between meal pattern and weight group indicating that this change in ice cream consumption differed significantly between groups (P = 0.014 by two‐factor analysis). Ice cream intake/kg was less in OB compared to NW subjects (P = 0.012). Fullness ratings before ice cream did not differ by meal pattern or weight group. However, pre‐ice cream fullness predicted ice cream intake in NW but not OB children. In summary, OB and NW children differed in appetite response to meal frequency. Our data suggest that: (i) satiety in OB children is related more to proximity of calories (larger supper) than to antecedent distribution of calories and; (ii) NW children may be more prone to restrict intake based on subjective fullness.     

Measuring Weight Self‐stigma: The Weight Self‐stigma Questionnaire

Stigma associated with being overweight or obese is widespread. Given that weight loss is difficult to achieve and maintain, researchers have been calling for interventions that reduce the impact of weight stigma on life functioning. Sound measures that are sensitive to change are needed to help guide and inform intervention studies. This study presents the weight self‐stigma questionnaire (WSSQ). The WSSQ has 12 items and is designed for use only with populations of overweight or obese persons. Two samples of participants—one treatment seeking, one nontreatment seeking—were used for validation (N = 169). Results indicate that the WSSQ has good reliability and validity, and contains two distinct subscales—self‐devaluation and fear of enacted stigma. The WSSQ could be useful for identifying individuals who may benefit from a stigma reduction intervention and may also help evaluate programs designed to reduce stigma.     

Frequency and Circadian Timing of Eating May Influence Biomarkers of Inflammation and Insulin Resistance Associated with Breast Cancer Risk

Emerging evidence suggests that there is interplay between the frequency and circadian timing of eating and metabolic health. We examined the associations of eating frequency and timing with metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers putatively associated with breast cancer risk in women participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination 2009–2010 Survey. Eating frequency and timing variables were calculated from 24-hour food records and included (1) proportion of calories consumed in the evening (5pm-midnight), (2) number of eating episodes per day, and (3) nighttime fasting duration. Linear regression models examined each eating frequency and timing exposure variable with C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Each 10 percent increase in the proportion of calories consumed in the evening was associated with a 3 percent increase in CRP. Conversely, eating one additional meal or snack per day was associated with an 8 percent reduction in CRP. There was a significant interaction between proportion of calories consumed in the evening and fasting duration with CRP (p = 0.02). A longer nighttime fasting duration was associated with an 8 percent lower CRP only among women who ate less than 30% of their total daily calories in the evening (p = 0.01). None of the eating frequency and timing variables were significantly associated with HOMA-IR. These findings suggest that eating more frequently, reducing evening energy intake, and fasting for longer nightly intervals may lower systemic inflammation and subsequently reduce breast cancer risk. Randomized trials are needed to validate these associations.     

Body size phenotypes and inflammation in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study

Individuals with "metabolically benign" obesity (obesity unaccompanied by hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes) are not at elevated 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to normal weight individuals. It remains unclear whether these obese individuals or normal weight individuals with clustering of cardiometabolic factors display heightened immune activity. Therefore, we characterized levels of acute-phase reactants (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), white blood cell (WBC) count), adhesion molecules (E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1), and coagulation products (fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)) among four body size phenotypes (normal weight with 0/1 vs. ≥2 metabolic syndrome components/diabetes and overweight/obesity with 0/1 vs. ≥2 metabolic syndrome components/diabetes) in cross-sectional analyses of 1,889 postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI-OS) nested case-control stroke study. Higher levels of all three inflammatory marker categories were found among women with overweight/obesity or ≥2 metabolic syndrome components or diabetes. Compared to normal weight women with 0 or 1 metabolic syndrome components, normal weight women with ≥2 metabolic syndrome components or diabetes were more likely to have ≥3 inflammatory markers in the top quartile (multivariate odds ratio (OR) 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-3.0), as were overweight/obese women with 0 or 1 metabolic syndrome components (OR 2.3; 95% CI: 1.5-3.5). Overweight/obese women with ≥2 metabolic syndrome components or diabetes had the highest OR (OR 4.2; 95% CI: 2.9-5.9). Despite findings that metabolically benign obese individuals are not at increased 10-year risk of CVD compared to normal weight individuals, the current results suggest that overweight/obese women without clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors still possess abnormal levels of inflammatory markers.     

Physical Activity Patterns in Normal-Weight and Overweight/Obese Pregnant Women

The aims of the present study were to assess the volume of physical activity (PA) throughout pregnancy in normal-weight vs overweight/obese women, and to investigate which factors may predict compliance to PA recommendations in these women throughout gestation. In 236 pregnant women, 177 normal-weight and 59 overweight/obese (median[IQR] BMI 21.2[19.9–22.8] vs 26.5[25.5–29.0] kg/m2, respectively), medical history, anthropometry and clinical data, including glucose tolerance, were recorded. In addition, pre-pregnancy PA was estimated by the Kaiser questionnaire, while total, walking and fitness/sport PA during pregnancy were assessed by the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) modified questionnaire, at 14–16, 24–28 and 30–32 weeks of gestation. PA volume was very low in the first trimester of pregnancy in both groups of women. However, it increased in the second and third trimester in normal-weight, but not in overweight/obese subjects. Higher pre-pregnancy PA was a statistically significant predictor of being physically active (>150 minutes of PA per week) during all trimesters of gestation. In conclusion, physical activity volume is low in pregnant women, especially in overweight/obese subjects. PA volume increases during pregnancy only in normal-weight women. Pre-pregnancy PA is an independent predictor of achieving a PA volume of at least 150 min per week during pregnancy.     

Diet and Physical Activity Behaviors among Americans Trying to Lose Weight: 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Objective: To examine the prevalence and correlates of trying to lose weight among U.S. adults, describe weight loss strategies, and assess attainment of recommendations for weight control (eating fewer calories and physical activity). Research Methods and Procedures: This study used the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a state‐based telephone survey of adults ≥18 years of age (N = 184, 450) conducted in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in 2000. Results: The prevalence of trying to lose weight was 46% (women) and 33% (men). Women reported trying to lose weight at a lower BMI than did men; 60% of overweight women were trying to lose weight, but men did not reach this level until they were obese. Adults who had a routine physician checkup in the previous year and reported medical advice to lose weight vs. checkup and no medical advice to lose weight had a higher prevalence of trying to lose weight (81% women and 77% men vs. 41% women and 28% men, respectively). The odds of trying to lose weight increased as years of education increased. Among respondents who were trying to lose weight, ～19% of women and 22% of men reported using fewer calories and ≥150 min/wk leisure‐time physical activity. Discussion: A higher percentage of women than men were trying to lose weight; both sexes used similar weight loss strategies. Education and medical advice to lose weight were strongly associated with trying to lose weight. Most persons trying to lose weight were not using minimum recommended weight loss strategies.     

Relationship between sleep quality and quantity and weight loss in women participating in a weight-loss intervention trial

Evidence suggests that individuals who report fewer total hours of sleep are more likely to be overweight or obese. Few studies have prospectively evaluated weight-loss success in relation to reported sleep quality and quantity. This analysis sought to determine the association between sleep characteristics and weight loss in overweight or obese women enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of a weight-loss program. We hypothesized that in overweight/obese women, significant weight loss would be demonstrated more frequently in women who report a better Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Global Score or sleep >7 h/night as compared to women who report a worse PSQI score or sleep ≤7 h/night. Women of ages 45.5 ± 10.4 (mean ± SD) years and BMI of 33.9 ± 3.3 (n = 245) were randomized and completed PSQI at baseline and 6 months; 198 had weight change assessed through 24 months. At baseline, 52.7% reported PSQI scores above the clinical cutoff of 5. Better subjective sleep quality increased the likelihood of weight-loss success by 33% (relative risk (RR), 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.52-0.86), as did sleeping >7 h/night. A worse Global Score at 6 months was associated with a 28% lower likelihood of continued successful weight loss at 18 months, but unassociated by 24 months. These results suggest that sleep quality and quantity may contribute to weight loss in intervention-based studies designed to promote weight control in overweight/obese adult women.     

Obesity and the likelihood of sexual behavioral risk factors for HPV and cervical cancer

Obesity is associated with higher cervical cancer mortality, but its relationship with sexual behavioral risk factors that predispose women to human papilloma virus (HPV) and cervical cancer is unclear. We used data from 3,329 women participants, aged 20-59 years, of the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, to analyze the relationship between BMI and age at first intercourse, number of sexual partners, condom use during sexual activity, history of sexually transmitted disease (STD), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) seropositivity, and HPV prevalence. BMI was not associated with the prevalence of HPV. Mildly obese women (BMI 30.0-34.9 kg/m(2)) were least likely to report a STD history (9% vs. 13% in normal weight) and >or=2 sexual partners in the previous year (8% vs. 13%) while overweight women (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m(2)) were least likely to report >or=10 lifetime partners; among those with multiple partners, BMI was not associated with sexual activity without condoms in the past month. After adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, and education, women with higher BMI were less likely to report sexual behavioral risk factors than normal-weight women; however, odds ratios were only significant for mildly obese women for reporting a STD history (0.74, 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.99) and having >or=2 sexual partners in the last year (0.57, 0.39-0.85). Higher BMI was not associated with HSV-2 seropositivity after adjustment. HPV and sexual behavioral risk factors for HPV and cervical cancer are not more prevalent in obese than normal-weight women and unlikely to account for higher-observed cervical cancer mortality in obese women.     

Ethnic and sex variations in overweight self-perception: relationship to sedentariness

Objective: With increasing frequency, health promotion messages advocating physical activity are claiming weight loss as a benefit. However, messages promoting physical activity as a weight loss strategy may have limited effectiveness and cross‐cultural relevance. We recently found self‐perceived overweight to be a more robust correlate of sedentary behavior than BMI in Los Angeles County adults. In this study, we examined ethnic and sex differences in overweight self‐perception and their association with sedentariness in this sample. Research Methods and Procedures: We conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses of cross‐sectional survey data from a representative sample of Los Angeles County adults. Results: Women were more likely to perceive themselves to be overweight than men overall (73.2% of overweight/non‐obese and 24.1% of average weight women vs. 44.5% of overweight/non‐obese and 5.6% of average weight men) and within each ethnic group. African‐Americans were least likely (41.3% of overweight/non‐obese African‐Americans self‐identified as overweight) and whites were most likely to consider themselves overweight (60.6% of overweight/non‐obese whites self‐identified as overweight). Overweight (vs. average weight) self‐perception was correlated with sedentariness among average weight adults (45.3% vs. 33.0%, p < 0.001), overweight adults (43.4% vs. 33.6%, p < 0.001), men (average and overweight: 38.4% vs. 27.8%, p < 0.001), overweight whites (41.9% vs. 29.7%, p = 0.0012), and African‐Americans and Latinos (41.6% vs. 33.9%, p = 0.005). Discussion: These data suggest that our society's emphasis on weight loss rather than lifestyle change may inadvertently discourage physical activity adoption/maintenance among non‐obese individuals. However, further research is needed, particularly from prospective cohort and intervention studies, to elucidate the relationship between overweight self‐perception and healthy lifestyle change.     

Reversal of Small,Dense LDL Subclass Phenotype by Normalization of Adiposity

Excess adiposity and high‐carbohydrate diets have been associated with an atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype (ALP) characterized by increased concentrations of small, dense low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) particles (pattern B). We tested whether weight loss and normalization of adiposity could reverse ALP in overweight men with pattern B. After consuming a moderate‐carbohydrate, high‐fat diet for 3 weeks, pattern B and nonpattern B (pattern A) men were randomized to a weight loss (n = 60 and n = 36, respectively) or control weight‐stable arm (n = 20 and n = 17, respectively). Men in the weight loss arm consumed ～1,000 fewer calories per day over 9 weeks to induce an average ～9 kg weight loss. In the control group, weight stability was maintained for 4 weeks after randomization. Weight loss led to the conversion of pattern B to pattern A in 58% of baseline pattern B men. Among men who achieved BMIs of <25 kg/m² (62% of pattern B men vs. 83% of pattern A men), 81% of pattern B men converted to pattern A. Weight loss was associated with a significantly greater decrease in small, dense LDL subclass 3b in pattern B relative to pattern A men. The lipoprotein profiles of pattern A men who converted from pattern B were comparable to those of men with pattern A at baseline. Conversion of LDL subclass pattern B to pattern A and reversal of ALP can be achieved in a high proportion of overweight men by normalization of adiposity.     

Weight perceptions among overweight and obese women: a US-Mexico binational perspective

We examined actual and perceived weight in nationally representative cohorts of adults in Mexico (n = 9,527) and the United States (n = 855) using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (waves 2001-2006) and Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey (2006). Actual weight was assessed by health technicians using BMI and perceived weight was collected through self-report. The prevalence of overweight or obesity (OO) in Mexican women was 72% and in Mexican-American women was 71%. OO Mexican-American women were more likely than OO Mexican women to label themselves as "overweight" (86% vs. 64%, P < 0.001), and this difference was significant while controlling for socio-demographic and weight-related variables. Among OO women from both populations, those who had been told by a health provider that they were OO were much more likely to perceive themselves as such (odds ratio = 5.3; 95% confidence intervals: 3.8-7.3). Significantly fewer OO women in Mexico than in the United States (13% vs. 42%, P < 0.0001) recalled having been screened for obesity by their health care provider. Weight misperceptions were common in both populations but more prevalent in Mexico, and low screening by health providers may be an important contributor to poor weight control in both countries.     

Parental Weight Status and Girls’ Television Viewing,Snacking, and Body Mass Indexes

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether television viewing (TVV) provides a context for patterns of snacking fostering overweight in young girls from overweight and non‐overweight families. Research Methods and Procedures: Participants were 173 non‐Hispanic white girls and their parents from central Pennsylvania, assessed longitudinally when girls were 5, 7, and 9 years old. Path analysis was used to test patterns of relationships among girls’ TVV, snacking while watching television, snacking frequency, fat intake from energy‐dense snack food, and girls’ increase in body mass index (BMI) from age 5 to 9. Results: In both overweight and non‐overweight families, girls who watched more television consumed more snacks in front of the television. In families where neither parent was overweight, television viewing was the only significant predictor of girls’ increase in BMI. In families where one or both parents were overweight, girls who watched more television snacked more frequently, and girls who snacked more frequently had higher intakes of fat from energy‐dense snacks, which predicted their increase in BMI from age 5 to 9. TVV did not directly predict girls’ increase in BMI in girls from overweight families. Discussion: The results of this study support and extend previous findings that have shown that excessive television viewing and snacking patterns are risk factors for the development of overweight in children; however, patterns of relationships may differ based on parental weight status. For overweight families, TVV may provide a context for excessive snack consumption, in addition to inactivity.