title: The relationship between self-efficacy for behaviors that promote healthy weight and clinical indicators of adiposity in a sample of early adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Examine the relationship between self-efficacy and various measures of adiposity in a sample of teens.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 132 teens were selected from schools participating in an existing research study titled Teen Eating and Activity Mentoring in Schools (TEAMS). Teens completed demographic questionnaires and healthy eating-specific and physical activity-specific measures of self-efficacy. Waist circumference (WC), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), and body mass index (BMI) percentile scores were also obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analyses indicated that healthy eating-specific and physical activity-specific measures of self-efficacy predicted WC and TSF. ANOVA revealed significant differences in healthy eating-specific self-efficacy levels between students of recommended weight and overweight/obese status. Supplemental analyses showed significant negative relationships between a student's ideal BMI ratio and self-efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because self-efficacy may be amenable to change, these findings could inform future efforts aimed at increasing behaviors that promote healthy weight status among early adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5214, USA. steele@auburn.edu
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: Kenn B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Daratha
authors.forename: Ruth C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bindler
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Power
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015205:Northwestern United States; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D055105:Waist Circumference; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods