Prevalence of Adolescents' Self-Weighing Behaviors and Associations With Weight-Related Behaviors and Psychological Well-Being

Abstract Purpose To examine the relationships between self-weighing frequency, and weight-related behaviors and psychological well-being in a population-based sample of adolescents. Methods This study compared weight-related behaviors between infrequent and frequent self-weighers, stratified by weig...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of adolescent health 2013-06, Vol.52 (6), p.738-744
Main Authors: Quick, Virginia, Ph.D., R.D, Loth, Katie, M.P.H., R.D, MacLehose, Richard, Ph.D, Linde, Jennifer A., Ph.D, Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescents
Attention
Biological and medical sciences
Body Image
Body Weight
Boys
Cross-Sectional Studies
Developmental psychology
Diet, Reducing - psychology
Exercise - psychology
Extremes
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Girls
Health Behavior
Humans
Male
Minnesota
Obesity
Overweight - psychology
Pediatrics
Psychological wellbeing
Psychology, Adolescent
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Quality of Life - psychology
Risk Factors
Self Concept
Self-weighing
Sex Factors
Weight control behaviors
Weight monitoring
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Summary:Abstract Purpose To examine the relationships between self-weighing frequency, and weight-related behaviors and psychological well-being in a population-based sample of adolescents. Methods This study compared weight-related behaviors between infrequent and frequent self-weighers, stratified by weight status and gender. Data were from Project EAT 2010 (Eating and Activity in Teens), a population-based study of 2,778 adolescents. Results Approximately 14% of girls and boys weighed themselves frequently (weekly or more). In comparison to girls who were infrequent self-weighers, girls who were frequent self-weighers were more likely to diet, engage in unhealthy and extreme weight control behaviors, use unhealthy muscle-enhancing behaviors, and have lower self-esteem and greater body dissatisfaction. In comparison to boys who were infrequent self-weighers, boys who were frequent self-weighers were more likely to diet, engage in unhealthy and extreme weight control behaviors, use unhealthy muscle-enhancing behaviors, and report greater depressive symptoms. Among overweight adolescents, in addition to being associated with these harmful outcomes, frequent self-weighing was associated with the use of healthy weight control behaviors and with higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous activity. Conclusions Findings indicate that adolescents who frequently self-weigh themselves are at increased risk for a number of problematic health behaviors and poorer psychological outcomes. For overweight adolescents, frequent self-weighing was additionally associated with a number of positive outcomes. Based upon these findings, any recommendations for weight monitoring should be made cautiously; all adolescents, including overweight adolescents, should be advised not to engage in frequent self-weighing behaviors. Furthermore, any adolescents engaging in frequent self-weighing behaviors should be monitored for problematic outcomes.
ISSN:1054-139X
1879-1972
DOI:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.11.016