Dieting and "watching" behaviors among adolescent females: report of a multimethod study.
OBJECTIVE
This study posits a distinction between "watching what you eat" and dieting behaviors in a sample of adolescent females. Findings suggest that the dichotomy of dieter/nondieter fails to capture a range of healthful behaviors practiced by many adolescent girls.


METHODS
Anthropologic and nutritional research methods were used in this study. Data were drawn from 1 year of a longitudinal study of food intake and dieting behaviors in a sample of 231 adolescent females. Multiple methods including one ethnographic interview, a survey questionnaire, a telephone interview, and food records were collected from each informant.


RESULTS
Although 44% of the girls in this sample reported trying to lose weight on the day of the survey, only 8.6% of the food records reflected dieting days. In interviews, many identified "watching what they eat" as a health-promoting strategy that allowed them to maintain their weight. Analysis of food record data confirmed a trend toward higher intakes of micronutrients.


CONCLUSIONS
Research concerned with adolescent weight loss behaviors has focused more on negative than positive health attitudes and behaviors. The present study identified the behavior of "watching" as distinct from dieting. "Watching" was widely utilized by girls in this sample as a way to maintain weight and promote health.
Department of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA.
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M
Nichter
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Ritenbaugh
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Nichter
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Vuckovic
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Aickin
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009042:Motivation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss