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Psychosocial concerns and health-compromising behaviors among overweight and nonoverweight adolescents.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Neumark-Sztainer, D; Story, M; French, SA; Hannan, PJ; Resnick, MD; Blum, RW
Published in: Obes Res
May 1997

OBJECTIVE: To compare weight-specific and global psychosocial concerns and health-compromising behaviors among overweight and nonoverweight youth across gender and ethnicity. METHODS: A cross-sectional school-based survey of 31,122 adolescents in grades 7 to 12. Based on self-reported heights and weights, respondents were categorized as nonoverweight (body mass index (BMI) < 85th percentile), moderately overweight (85th percentile < BMI < 95th percentile), or severely overweight (BMI > 95th percentile). RESULTS: Global psychosocial concerns, such as emotional well-being, suicidal ideation, future job concerns, and peer concerns, did not differ greatly between nonoverweight, moderately overweight, and severely overweight adolescents. Substance abuse behaviors were equally or less prevalent among the overweight group. Overweight girls were significantly less likely to consume alcohol, whereas overweight boys were at lower risk for marijuana use. In contrast, overweight youth were more likely to perceive their health as only fair or poor and were more likely to express weight-specific concerns and engage in behaviors such as chronic dieting and binge eating than nonoverweight youth. Overweight American Indian girls perceived their physical health more positively than nonoverweight American Indian girls. Strong associations were found between overweight status and chronic dieting among African American boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional counseling and educational programs need to address the weight-specific concerns and behaviors of overweight adolescents. However, assumptions regarding global psychosocial concerns and health-compromising behaviors among overweight adolescents of different genders and ethnicities should be avoided. These broad issues need to be explored in more depth at both the research and intervention levels.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Obes Res

DOI

ISSN

1071-7323

Publication Date

May 1997

Volume

5

Issue

3

Start / End Page

237 / 249

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Social Support
  • Self Concept
  • Risk-Taking
  • Regression Analysis
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Obesity
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Behavior
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Neumark-Sztainer, D., Story, M., French, S. A., Hannan, P. J., Resnick, M. D., & Blum, R. W. (1997). Psychosocial concerns and health-compromising behaviors among overweight and nonoverweight adolescents. Obes Res, 5(3), 237–249. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1550-8528.1997.tb00298.x
Neumark-Sztainer, D., M. Story, S. A. French, P. J. Hannan, M. D. Resnick, and R. W. Blum. “Psychosocial concerns and health-compromising behaviors among overweight and nonoverweight adolescents.Obes Res 5, no. 3 (May 1997): 237–49. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1550-8528.1997.tb00298.x.
Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, French SA, Hannan PJ, Resnick MD, Blum RW. Psychosocial concerns and health-compromising behaviors among overweight and nonoverweight adolescents. Obes Res. 1997 May;5(3):237–49.
Neumark-Sztainer, D., et al. “Psychosocial concerns and health-compromising behaviors among overweight and nonoverweight adolescents.Obes Res, vol. 5, no. 3, May 1997, pp. 237–49. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/j.1550-8528.1997.tb00298.x.
Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, French SA, Hannan PJ, Resnick MD, Blum RW. Psychosocial concerns and health-compromising behaviors among overweight and nonoverweight adolescents. Obes Res. 1997 May;5(3):237–249.

Published In

Obes Res

DOI

ISSN

1071-7323

Publication Date

May 1997

Volume

5

Issue

3

Start / End Page

237 / 249

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Social Support
  • Self Concept
  • Risk-Taking
  • Regression Analysis
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Obesity
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Behavior