Dieting in Spanish adolescent girls.
This article examines the relation between dieting and non-dieting adolescent girls and body mass index (BMI), eating attitudes and the influence of the aesthetic body shape model. Three hundred forty-nine Spanish adolescent girls in their second year of secondary education were selected. The research design was a cross-sectional ex post facto study and validated measures were used to assess the main variables. Fourteen per cent of the sample was on a diet. Of this group, 69% were overweight, 70% had disordered eating attitudes and 70% were influenced by the current aesthetic body shape model. In all situations, the scores for dieters were significantly higher than those for non-dieters. Although there is not yet any clear consensus with regards to how adolescents interpret the term 'diet', the results indicate major differences between dieters and non-dieters and that those who self-report that they are on a diet present elements of the risk of developing eating and weight disorders.
López-Guimerà
Gemma
G
Department Psicología Clínica y de la Salud, Edificio B, Campus de la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. gemma.lopez@uab.es
Fauquet
Jordi
J
Portell
Mariona
M
Sánchez-Carracedo
David
D
Raich
Rosa M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain