[A study of the psychological factors underlying weight-loss behavior among female adolescents].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of present study was to investigate to the relationship between tendency to diet and psychological factors in female adolescents who were not obese.


METHODS
The Japanese Decisional Balance Inventory (KC-DBI), Japanese Situational Appetite Efficacy (KC-SAM) and Japanese Diet Efficacy Measure-6 (KC-DEM6) were assessed. The participants were 853 female college students who were divided into underweight and normal groups with reference to their BMI.


RESULTS
The results showed that score for KC-DBI, KC-SAM (negative feeling, hunger, relaxation) and KC-DEM6 differed with the degree of appetite change. A main effect on body figures was indicated only for KC-SAM (relaxation). There were no interactions in this analysis. Active participants showed a tendency to consider weight loss as a merit and to have fewer difficulties in controlling urges to overeat when they were feeling negative than the others. Furthermore, they had-little efficacy in controlling their desire to be thin. We suggest that discussion of the merits of weight loss and interventions to enhance eating behavior are effective for health promotion in female adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates some suggestions for educating female adolescents about the problems related to inappropriate dieting, and the results can used in the development of intervention programs.
Akamatsu
R
R
Kyoto University Graduate School of Pubic Health.
Shimai
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012063:Relaxation; D015431:Weight Loss