TY - JOUR
T1 - Covariations of unhealthy weight loss behaviors and other high-risk behaviors among adolescents
AU - Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne
AU - Story, Mary
AU - French, Simone A.
PY - 1996/3
Y1 - 1996/3
N2 - Objectives: To determine if unhealthy weight loss methods are associated with other health-compromising behaviors among adolescents and to examine covariation patterns across gender and age groups. Study Design and Participants: The study sample was drawn from a larger population of 123 132 adolescents in the 6th, 9th, and 12th grades in Minnesota who completed a statewide school-based survey. The index group included all adolescents who used unhealthy weight loss methods (n=4514), and the comparison group comprised a random sample of 4514 adolescents who did not use these methods and who were matched for gender, ethnicity, and grade. Main Outcome Measures: Unhealthy weight loss methods included vomiting and use of laxatives, diuretics, and diet pills. Other health-compromising behaviors that were assessed included suicide attempts; delinquency; tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use; unprotected sexual intercourse; and multiple sexual partners. Results: Adolescents who used unhealthy weight loss methods were more likely to engage in other health-compromising behaviors. Odds ratios ranged from 1.9 to 14.8, and odds ratios were all highly significant among boys and girls in early, middle, and late adolescence. Among the girls, a monotonic decrease in the strength of all associations was found with increased age. Conclusions: Adolescents who engage in unhealthy weight loss methods are more likely to engage in a range of other health-compromising behaviors. Different perceptions of unhealthy weight loss behaviors (eg, normative vs problematic) may in part explain the differences in the strengths of associations between different grade and gender groups. Our results suggest that screening and counseling of adolescents who engage in unhealthy weight loss methods should he comprehensive and intervention programs aimed at the secondary prevention of disordered eating need to address other problematic behaviors.
AB - Objectives: To determine if unhealthy weight loss methods are associated with other health-compromising behaviors among adolescents and to examine covariation patterns across gender and age groups. Study Design and Participants: The study sample was drawn from a larger population of 123 132 adolescents in the 6th, 9th, and 12th grades in Minnesota who completed a statewide school-based survey. The index group included all adolescents who used unhealthy weight loss methods (n=4514), and the comparison group comprised a random sample of 4514 adolescents who did not use these methods and who were matched for gender, ethnicity, and grade. Main Outcome Measures: Unhealthy weight loss methods included vomiting and use of laxatives, diuretics, and diet pills. Other health-compromising behaviors that were assessed included suicide attempts; delinquency; tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use; unprotected sexual intercourse; and multiple sexual partners. Results: Adolescents who used unhealthy weight loss methods were more likely to engage in other health-compromising behaviors. Odds ratios ranged from 1.9 to 14.8, and odds ratios were all highly significant among boys and girls in early, middle, and late adolescence. Among the girls, a monotonic decrease in the strength of all associations was found with increased age. Conclusions: Adolescents who engage in unhealthy weight loss methods are more likely to engage in a range of other health-compromising behaviors. Different perceptions of unhealthy weight loss behaviors (eg, normative vs problematic) may in part explain the differences in the strengths of associations between different grade and gender groups. Our results suggest that screening and counseling of adolescents who engage in unhealthy weight loss methods should he comprehensive and intervention programs aimed at the secondary prevention of disordered eating need to address other problematic behaviors.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029868561&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029868561&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1001/archpedi.1996.02170280074014
DO - 10.1001/archpedi.1996.02170280074014
M3 - Article
C2 - 8603226
AN - SCOPUS:0029868561
SN - 1072-4710
VL - 150
SP - 304
EP - 308
JO - Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
JF - Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
IS - 3
ER -