title: Does weight status influence weight-related beliefs and the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food purchases in adolescents?
abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine if weight status affects the relationship between weight-related beliefs and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and fast and convenience store food purchases (FCFP).  DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional.  SETTING: Twin Cities Metropolitan area, Minnesota, USA.  METHODS: Body composition and psychosocial survey were obtained for 345 adolescents. General Linear Models tested adjusted (age and sex) associations between weight-related beliefs and consumption of SSB and FCFP. Significant associations were tested for moderation by weight status.  RESULTS: SSB was positively related to perceptions that people worry too much about their weight (β = 0.103, p = 0.016), with no moderation present. FCFP were positively associated to perceived barriers to maintaining a healthy weight (β = 0.042, p = 0.004) with a subsequent significant interaction by weight status. Stratified models showed a significant association between perceived barriers to a healthy weight and FCFP for overweight adolescents (β = 0.345, p = 0.022).  CONCLUSIONS: Addressing perceived barriers to a healthy diet may lead to important risk reduction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota.
authors.forename: Mary O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Hearst
authors.forename: Keryn E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Pasch
authors.forename: Jayne A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fulkerson
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lytle