Due to the absence of studies concerning perceived stress and eating behaviors in the AA population, this study
attempted to examine these relationships to stimulate further investigation of the stress-eating link among ethnic
minorities. As such, one of the goals of the current study was to examine the relationship between perceived stress and
high fat eating behaviors in a community-based sample of AAs. The second goal of the study was to examine whether
the relationship between perceived stress and high fat eating behaviors is stronger among overweight participants in the
sample. The final goal of the study was to examine whether the relationship between perceived stress and high fat
eating behaviors is mediated by haphazard meal planning.