Psychosocial and behavioral correlates of dieting among overweight and non-overweight adolescents.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
PURPOSE: To examine correlates of dieting behavior in overweight and non-overweight youth. METHODS: Data came from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens), a study of eating and weight-related attitudes, behaviors, and psychosocial variables among 4746 adolescents in public schools. Logistic regression was used to compare dieters and non-dieters, and to examine interactions of dieting and overweight status. RESULTS: Approximately one third (31.8%) of the sample was overweight. Dieting in the previous year was reported by 55.2% of girls and 25.9% of boys. Dieting was associated with similarly elevated rates of extreme weight control behaviors, body dissatisfaction, and depression in both the non-overweight and overweight groups for both boys and girls. Girls reporting dieting behavior in both the non-overweight and overweight groups had similarly elevated risk for cigarette use, alcohol use, and marijuana use. CONCLUSIONS: The negative correlates of dieting are similarly common among teens of varying weight status. These data suggest that dieting may not be a preferred method of weight management, even for overweight adolescents. Regardless of weight status, dieting may be a marker for other unhealthy behaviors and depressed mood in adolescents.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Crow, S; Eisenberg, ME; Story, M; Neumark-Sztainer, D
Published Date
- May 2006
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 38 / 5
Start / End Page
- 569 - 574
PubMed ID
- 16635769
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1879-1972
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.05.019
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States