title: Body weight and body shape concerns and related behaviours among Indian urban adolescent girls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the associations of body weight and body shape concerns and related behaviours with actual weight status among urban adolescent girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present cross-sectional study, a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on body weight and body shape concerns and related behaviours. Sociodemographic information was collected using a pre-tested schedule. Weight and height of each girl were measured to assess actual weight status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah, West Bengal, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1223 adolescent girls aged 14-19 years were selected from nine schools in Kolkata and Howrah in West Bengal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many overweight girls perceived themselves as overweight and engaged in weight-reducing activities. However, several normal-weight girls also perceived them as overweight and attempted to lose weight. Unhealthy eating practices to reduce weight were followed by both overweight and normal-weight girls and even by a few underweight girls. Multivariate binary logistic regression showed a significant association between actual weight status and use of unhealthy weight-loss measures. The likelihood of adopting unhealthy eating practices was significantly higher among overweight than normal-weight girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health education programmes should be introduced at schools to promote effective weight-control practices that help dispel myths about weight loss.
authors: Indian Statistical Institute,Biological Anthropology Unit,203 Barrackpore Trunk Road,Kolkata 700108,India.
authors: Nivedita
authors: N
authors: Som
authors: Indian Statistical Institute,Biological Anthropology Unit,203 Barrackpore Trunk Road,Kolkata 700108,India.
authors: Susmita
authors: S
authors: Mukhopadhyay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000328:Adult; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008960:Models, Psychological; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D057566:Self Report; D013851:Thinness / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Urban adolescent girls