Are overweight adolescents at higher risk of engaging in unhealthy weight-control behaviours?
OBJECTIVE
To examine correlates of unhealthy weight-control behaviours (UNWCB), and to explore possible associated variables.


METHODS
Sample included 3762, 8th and 10th grade public school Portuguese students who participated in the 2002 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC)/World Health Organization (WHO) survey of adolescent health. Factor analysis was used, and two scales were identified as 'healthy weight-control behaviours' (HWCB) and 'UNWCB' through Kaiser criteria analysis. Frequency scores were developed and used in analysis of variance (ANOVAs) test as dependent variables, according to gender and age. Pearson correlations and post-hoc analysis were performed to identify potential associations.


RESULTS
UNWCB were significantly higher among those who were dieting or not dieting, but considering they should, and were significantly and progressively increasing from those perceiving themselves as thin, to those perceiving themselves as being the right size and those perceiving themselves as fat. Overweight reported more frequently than non-overweight, both HWCB and UNWCB. Finally, there were significant differences concerning alcohol use, with UNWCB increasing progressively from reporting 'drinking rarely or never' to 'drinking every week' and 'everyday'.


CONCLUSIONS
Because UNWCB are associated with both medical and psychological health risks, routine screening is warranted. Special attention needs to be directed towards youth at greatest risk for disordered eating, including overweight youth.
Fonseca
Helena
H
Department of Paediatrics, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal. helena.fonseca@armail.pt
Matos
Margarida G
MG
Guerra
António
A
Pedro
J Gomes
JG
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D015431:Weight Loss; D014892:Weight Perception