Adolescents engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors: are they at risk for other health-compromising behaviors?
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to determine whether adolescents engaging in weight control behaviors are at increased risk for tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use; suicide ideation and attempts; and unprotected sexual activity.


METHODS
Data were collected on a nationally representative sample of 16,296 adolescents taking part in the 1993 Youth Risk Behavior Survey.


RESULTS
Adolescents using extreme weight control behaviors were at increased risk for health-compromising behaviors, while associations with other weight control behaviors were weak and inconsistent.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings have relevance to clinical work with youth, provide a better understanding of disordered eating, and open up a number of opportunities for future research.
Neumark-Sztainer
D
D
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota 55454, USA.
Story
M
M
Dixon
L B
LB
Murray
D M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology