Normative beliefs as risk factors for involvement in unhealthy weight control behavior.
OBJECTIVE
The authors' aim in this study was to determine, after adjustment for the effects of body mass index and sociodemographic measures, whether sex-specific weight control norms would have significant independent relationships with the weight control behavior of college women and men.


METHODS
The authors used an anonymous questionnaire to assess a sample of 470 college students, aged 18 to 26 years, attending either a 2- year community college or a 4-year public university.


METHODS
To calculate body mass index, the authors objectively measured the height and weight of each participant. They conducted separate discriminant function analyses for women and men.


RESULTS
The discriminant function analyses clearly indicated that weight control norms of same-sex, close friends were the best discriminators of involvement in weight control.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate that perceived peer norms may be important but overlooked risk factors for engaging in unhealthy weight control practices. The authors discuss the implications of these findings in the context of student health promotion.
Clemens
Holly
H
Department of Health & Physical Education, Cuyahoga Community College-West, Parma, OH 44130, USA. holly.clemens@tri-c.edu
Thombs
Dennis
D
Olds
R Scott
RS
Gordon
Karen Lowry
KL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities