title: Factors associated with weight concerns in adolescent girls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the association of weight concerns with potential risk factors for the development of eating disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-report survey was given to 103 elementary (Grades 4 and 5) and 420 middle (Grades 6-8) school students in Arizona and California. Of these, 78 elementary and 333 middle school students provided complete data and were used in the analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a multivariate stepwise regression analysis, the importance that peers put on weight and eating was most strongly related to weight concerns in the elementary school girls, accounting for 34% of the variance after adjusting for site differences. Trying to look like girls/women on TV and in magazines as well as body mass index (BMI) entered the final model that accounted for 57% of the variance in weight concerns. In middle school, the importance that peers place on weight and eating was also the strongest predictor accounting for 33% of the variance followed by confidence, BMI, trying to look like girls/women on TV and in magazines, and being teased about weight. Together these variables accounted for 55% of the variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevention programs aimed at reducing weight concerns need to address these factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305-5722, USA.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shisslak
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bryson
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Estes
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: McKnight
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crago
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Killen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D003625:Data Collection; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept