title: Body change techniques in Iranian adolescents. Relationship to sex and body weight status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several studies indicated that techniques to change body weight and appearance were prevalent and different among adolescents. The aim of the study, therefore, was to assess differences in frequency and type of body change techniques used among adolescents by sex and body weight status.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 758 adolescents aged 12-18 years were recruited from private and public schools in Tehran. Information about socio-demographic background and body change techniques were collected via a self-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high percentage of adolescents used body change techniques frequently to alter their body appearance. Girls changed normal eating pattern significantly (p=0.007) to lose weight more frequently than boys while boys used this method significantly (p=0.01) to gain weight more frequently than girls. Overweight/obese adolescents exercised significantly to change muscle size (p=0.03) and changed normal diet to lose weight (p<0.001) more frequently than normal weight adolescents. The relation between sex and body weight status with body change techniques (p<0.0) implied that male and female adolescents especially overweight/obese adolescents were frequently trying to change their body appearance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant differences existed in using body change techniques according to sex and body weight status and these should be considered in obesity prevention programs for adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Monireh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatami
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: nasir@medic.upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Mohd Nasir
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Mohd Taib
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rosita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jamaluddin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hazizi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abu Saad
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abolghasem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Djazayery
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss; D044465:White People