title: Are adolescents harmed when asked risky weight control behavior and attitude questions? Implications for consent procedures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explores whether asking minors about risky weight control behaviors and attitudes increases the frequency of those behaviors and attitudes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 115 sixth-grade girls who responded to questions on risky weight control behaviors and attitudes at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. An additional 107 girls, who had not been part of the baseline, provided data only at follow-up. The two groups were compared on risky weight control behaviors and attitudes at follow-up using chi-square analyses, Mann-Whitney U tests, Cohen's effect sizes, and odds ratios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No evidence of a negative effect in the twice-assessed group was found. All rates decreased from baseline to follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is only minimal risk and perhaps even some benefit of asking questions about risky weight control behaviors and attitudes. Implications for determining appropriate consent procedures are discussed.
authors.affiliation: San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, USA. btaylor@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Angela A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Celio
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bryson
authors.forename: Joel D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Killen
authors.forename: C Barr
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000209:etiology; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D033282:Parental Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010552:Personality Assessment; D019724:Presumed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012650:Self Disclosure