An attempt to modify unhealthful eating attitudes and weight regulation practices of young adolescent girls.
This is the first long-term, controlled study evaluating the effectiveness of a prevention curriculum designed to modify the eating attitudes and unhealthful weight regulation practices of young adolescent girls. Nine hundred sixty-seven sixth and seventh-grade girls were randomized to experimental healthy weight regulation curriculum or no-treatment control classes. A prevention intervention was developed around three principal components: (1) Instruction on the harmful effects of unhealthful weight regulation; (2) promotion of healthful weight regulation through the practice of sound nutrition and dietary principles and regular aerobic physical activity; (3) development of coping skills for resisting the diverse sociocultural influences that appear linked to the current popular obsessions with thinness and dieting. The intervention failed to achieve the hoped-for impact. We did observe a significant increase in knowledge among girls receiving the intervention and among high-risk students only, there was a small albeit statistically significant effect on body mass index. These findings question the wisdom of providing a curriculum directed at all young adolescents, most of whom are not at risk to develop an eating disorder. Rather than targeting the entire population, a healthy weight curriculum designed to modify the eating attitudes and unhealthful weight regulation practices of young adolescent girls might better focus on "at risk" students.
Killen
J D
JD
Division of Epidemiology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20852.
Taylor
C B
CB
Hammer
L D
LD
Litt
I
I
Wilson
D M
DM
Rich
T
T
Hayward
C
C
Simmonds
B
B
Kraemer
H
H
Varady
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012307:Risk Factors