Dieting in adolescence

Question 1

What percentage of Ontario teenagers 12-18yo feel unhappy about their weight?

Answer 1

nearly 1/2

Question 2

What percentage of teenage girls have attempted weight loss in the past?

Answer 2

41-66%

Question 3

What percentage of teenage boys have attempted weight loss in the past?

Answer 3

20-31%

Question 4

What percentage of girls 12-18yo reported self-induced emesis for weight control?

Answer 4

8.2% Ontarians
4% BC
5-12%

Question 5

What percentage of girls 12-18yo reported fasting, skipping meals, and using crash diets for weight control?

Answer 5

22-46%

Question 6

What percentage of girls 12-18yo reported laxative and diuretic use for weight control?

Answer 6

1-4%

Question 7

What percentage of girls 12-18yo reported diet pill use for weight control?

Answer 7

3-10%

Question 8

What percentage of girls 12-18yo reported smoking cigarettes for weight control?

Answer 8

12-18%

Question 9

What percentage of girls are dieting based on weight?

Answer 9

36% normal weight girls
50% overweight girls
55% obese girls

Question 10

What are individual risk factors for dieting and unhealthy wight behaviors in teenagers?

Answer 10

1. Female
2. Overweight and obesity
3. Body image dissatisfaction and distortion
4. Low self-esteem
5. Low sense of control over life
6. Psychiatric symptoms: depression and anxiety
7. Vegetarianism
8. Early puberty

Question 11

What are family risk factors for dieting and unhealthy wight behaviors in teenagers?

Answer 11

1. Low family connectedness
2. Absence of positive adult role models
3. Parental dieting
4. Parental endorsement or encouragement to diet
5. Parental criticism of child’s weight

Question 12

What are environmental risk factors for dieting and unhealthy wight behaviors in teenagers?

Answer 12

1. Weight-related teasing
2. Poor involvement in school
3. Peer group endorsement of dieting
4. Involvement in weight-related sports

Question 13

What are other risk factors for dieting and unhealthy wight behaviors in teenagers?

Answer 13

1. Certain chronic illnesses, esp. diabetes

2. Presence of other risk behaviors: smoking, substance use, unprotected sex

Question 14

What are some potential physical consequences to dieting?

Answer 14

1. Nutritional deficiencies esp. Ca and Fe
2. Growth deceleration
3. Menstrual irregularity incld. secondary amenorrhea
4. Osteopenia and osteoporosis

Question 15

What are some potential psychological consequences to dieting?

Answer 15

1. Food preoccupation
2. distractibility
3. irritability
4. fatigue
5. tendency to overeat, binge eating
6. Worsened self esteem
7. increased risk of eating disorder
8. May promote weight gain

Question 16

What are the recommendations regarding eating for normal and overweight teenagers?

Answer 16

Eat according to the Canada Food Guide

Avoid fad diets, skipping meals, dietary supplements

Question 17

What are the recommendations regarding physical activity for normal and overweight teenagers?

Answer 17

Encourage age-appropriate physical activity in accordance with healthy active living guidelines
Teach all benefits of exercise

Question 18

What should clinicians screen for?

Answer 18

1. Dieting behaviors

2. Eating disorders in teenagers with more severe weight loss

Question 19

What are the recommendations re: dieting?

Answer 19

1. Teach healthy weights as per BMI
2. Understand weight loss attempts may not be due to weight
3. Educate teens re risks of self-induced vomiting, laxative and diuretic use, diet pills, and crash diets
4. Refer to multidisciplinary pediatric obesity programs NOT commercial weight loss programs