title: Weight-related concerns and diet behaviors among urban young females: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Females are more likely than males to perceive themselves as too heavy, this has been explained in terms of the equation of "female beauty with extreme thinness." Therefore, females are in general prone to develop unhealthy behaviors for weight management. Wrong weight control behaviors have significant health consequences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the body weight concerns, body satisfaction, and weight control behaviors among young females and their association with age and socioeconomic status (SES).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study conducted in urban areas from a major city in South India. About 650 healthy unmarried females aged 15-25 years formed the study population. Self-reporting questionnaires were used to obtain relevant data. The categorical data were analyzed using Chi-square, correlation, and regression analyses by SPSS version 16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most overweight and obese subjects perceived themselves as overweight. Adolescents were more likely to report themselves as overweight. The perceived weight, body satisfaction, and weight control behaviors are influenced by weight status and age of the subjects. However, SES of the participants did not exhibit effect of others' opinion about their weight and body satisfaction as well as weight management behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of weight-related concerns suggests that all females should be reached with appropriate information and interventions. Healthy weight control practices need to be explicitly promoted and unhealthy practices discouraged. Young females need special attention toward weight management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Mazandaran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shabnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Omidvar
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Mazandaran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh Nasiri
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Amiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Mazandaran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bakouei
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Mysore, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Khyrunnisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Begum
keywords: Behaviors; females; overweight; weight concerns; weight management