Abstract
Objective: Dieting and unhealthy weight control behaviors have been associated with negative outcomes. Most research has examined the prevalence of these behaviors in adolescence and young adulthood. Less is known about whether they persist further into adulthood. We examined patterns of weight control behaviors beyond young adulthood using data from 1,455 males and females participating in Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults), a 15-year population-based, longitudinal study. Method: Participants completed surveys assessing dieting, high-frequency dieting (i.e., 5+ times/year), unhealthy weight control (e.g., fasting), and extreme weight control (e.g., vomiting) at each 5-year assessment (Waves 1–4). Longitudinal logistic regression models tested trends in weight control behaviors across the waves. Likelihood of persisting or discontinuing each behavior from Wave 3 to Wave 4 was examined through cross tabulations. Results: Between Waves 3 and 4 in adulthood, dieting increased for both genders (Women: p <.001; Men: p =.004) and high-frequency dieting (p <.001) and unhealthy weight control behaviors (p =.011) increased for men. For both genders, dieting and unhealthy weight control patterns initiated in prior to young adulthood were more likely to persist than cease in adulthood (ps <.001). Discussion: Weight control behaviors continue to be prevalent in adulthood, and to especially increase among men. Research is needed to understand the consequences of weight control behaviors in different life stages; however, the results suggest that interventions to decrease unhealthy weight management practices may be needed well into adulthood.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1090-1097 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | International Journal of Eating Disorders |
| Volume | 51 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2018 |
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Keywords
- dieting
- disordered eating
- eating disorder
- longitudinal
- restrictive eating
- unhealthy weight control
Cite this
Patterns of weight control behavior persisting beyond young adulthood : Results from a 15-year longitudinal study. / Haynos, Ann F.; Wall, Melanie M.; Chen, Chen; Wang, Shirley B.; Loth, Katie; Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne.
In: International Journal of Eating Disorders, Vol. 51, No. 9, 09.2018, p. 1090-1097.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Patterns of weight control behavior persisting beyond young adulthood
T2 - Results from a 15-year longitudinal study
AU - Haynos, Ann F.
AU - Wall, Melanie M.
AU - Chen, Chen
AU - Wang, Shirley B.
AU - Loth, Katie
AU - Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne
PY - 2018/9
Y1 - 2018/9
N2 - Objective: Dieting and unhealthy weight control behaviors have been associated with negative outcomes. Most research has examined the prevalence of these behaviors in adolescence and young adulthood. Less is known about whether they persist further into adulthood. We examined patterns of weight control behaviors beyond young adulthood using data from 1,455 males and females participating in Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults), a 15-year population-based, longitudinal study. Method: Participants completed surveys assessing dieting, high-frequency dieting (i.e., 5+ times/year), unhealthy weight control (e.g., fasting), and extreme weight control (e.g., vomiting) at each 5-year assessment (Waves 1–4). Longitudinal logistic regression models tested trends in weight control behaviors across the waves. Likelihood of persisting or discontinuing each behavior from Wave 3 to Wave 4 was examined through cross tabulations. Results: Between Waves 3 and 4 in adulthood, dieting increased for both genders (Women: p <.001; Men: p =.004) and high-frequency dieting (p <.001) and unhealthy weight control behaviors (p =.011) increased for men. For both genders, dieting and unhealthy weight control patterns initiated in prior to young adulthood were more likely to persist than cease in adulthood (ps <.001). Discussion: Weight control behaviors continue to be prevalent in adulthood, and to especially increase among men. Research is needed to understand the consequences of weight control behaviors in different life stages; however, the results suggest that interventions to decrease unhealthy weight management practices may be needed well into adulthood.
AB - Objective: Dieting and unhealthy weight control behaviors have been associated with negative outcomes. Most research has examined the prevalence of these behaviors in adolescence and young adulthood. Less is known about whether they persist further into adulthood. We examined patterns of weight control behaviors beyond young adulthood using data from 1,455 males and females participating in Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults), a 15-year population-based, longitudinal study. Method: Participants completed surveys assessing dieting, high-frequency dieting (i.e., 5+ times/year), unhealthy weight control (e.g., fasting), and extreme weight control (e.g., vomiting) at each 5-year assessment (Waves 1–4). Longitudinal logistic regression models tested trends in weight control behaviors across the waves. Likelihood of persisting or discontinuing each behavior from Wave 3 to Wave 4 was examined through cross tabulations. Results: Between Waves 3 and 4 in adulthood, dieting increased for both genders (Women: p <.001; Men: p =.004) and high-frequency dieting (p <.001) and unhealthy weight control behaviors (p =.011) increased for men. For both genders, dieting and unhealthy weight control patterns initiated in prior to young adulthood were more likely to persist than cease in adulthood (ps <.001). Discussion: Weight control behaviors continue to be prevalent in adulthood, and to especially increase among men. Research is needed to understand the consequences of weight control behaviors in different life stages; however, the results suggest that interventions to decrease unhealthy weight management practices may be needed well into adulthood.
KW - dieting
KW - disordered eating
KW - eating disorder
KW - longitudinal
KW - restrictive eating
KW - unhealthy weight control
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85055501702&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85055501702&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/eat.22963
DO - 10.1002/eat.22963
M3 - Article
C2 - 30353938
AN - SCOPUS:85055501702
VL - 51
SP - 1090
EP - 1097
JO - International Journal of Eating Disorders
JF - International Journal of Eating Disorders
SN - 0276-3478
IS - 9
ER -