Objective To develop an algorithm for determining the stage of change for dietary fat intake in African-American women.Design We examined the relationships between stage of change, dietary fat intake, and associated eating behaviors and developed an assessment tool for placing subjects in their appropriate stage of change.Subjects Working class and middle-income African-American women in Nashville, Tenn; 174 in study 1 and 208 in study 2.Statistical analyses Fat and fiber intake by stage of change was examined using multivariate analysis of variance. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed using Ward's method.Results A significant difference in fat intake was noted between women trying to change their intake and those not trying to change in study 1 (P