Weight-Related Sports and Unhealthful Weight Control Behaviors among Adolescents
Participation by adolescents, especially males, in sports emphasizing weight, such as ballet, gymnastics and wrestling, is strongly associated with both unhealthful weight-control behaviors and steroid use, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota.
The researchers studied more than 4,500 adolescents from 31 public middle and high schools in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The students were asked if in the past week or the past year they had engaged in self-induced vomiting, used diet pills or laxatives or engaged in any other extreme weight-control behavior.
The strongest positive associations between weight-related sport participation and unhealthful weight-control behaviors were found in males:
- 5.8 percent of males who reported participation in a weight-related sport had induced vomiting in the past week, compared with 0.9 percent of males who did not participate in a weight-related sport.
- Use of diuretics within the past year was reported by 4.2 percent of males in a weight-related sport compared with 0.8 percent who did not participate in weight-related sports.
For females, vomiting, laxative use and steroid use were significantly associated with weight-related sports participation:
- 6.6 percent of females who participated in a weight-related sport had vomited in the past week compared with 3.2 percent of females who did not.
- Steroid use was reported by 6.5 percent of females who perceived their sport as weight-related, compared to 2.3 percent of females who did not participate in a sport they perceived as weight-related.
“Preventive efforts, targeting parents, coaches and adolescents are needed to decrease this risk,” the researchers conclude.
Adolescent Dieting May Predict Weight Gain
Adolescents who go on diets to lose weight may be significantly increasing their odds of gaining weight, say researchers at the University of Minnesota.
The researchers studied results of Project EAT (Eating Among Teens) surveys, conducted in 1999 and 2000, and results of Project EAT II surveys, conducted in 2003 and 2004, to “understand the perplexing finding, that has been reported in several longitudinal studies, whereby dieting predicts greater weight gain over time in adolescents.”
According to information provided by more than 2,500 adolescents, dieting predicted increased binge eating and decreased breakfast consumption among girls, “with a nonsignificant trend toward decreased fruit and vegetable intake.” Among boys, dieting predicted “increased binge eating, decreased physical activity and a trend toward decreased breakfast consumption. These behaviors were also associated with increases in body mass index,” according to the researchers.
The researchers conclude that dieting may lead to weight gain among adolescents in part “via the long-term adoption of behavioral patterns that are counterproductive to weight management.”
Frequency of Dietary Supplement Use for Weight Loss
More than one in seven American adults have used nonprescription dietary supplements to try to lose weight, according to researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Nearly 9,500 people over age 18 were asked about “the prevalence and duration of nonprescription weight-loss supplement use, associated weight-control behaviors, discussion of use with a health-care professional and specific ingredient use.”
Approximately 15 percent of the respondents said they had used weight-loss supplements, and 8.7 percent said they had done so in the past year. The highest use was among women 18 to 34 years old (16.7 percent). Nearly three-fourths of respondents (73.8 percent) said they have used a supplement containing a stimulant including ephedra, caffeine and/or bitter orange.
The researchers conclude: “Qualified professionals should inquire about use of supplements for weight loss to facilitate discussion about the lack of efficacy data, possible adverse effects, as well as dispel misinformation that may interfere with sound weight-management practices.”
Additional research articles in the March Journal of the American Dietetic Association include:
- “Supplementation with Soy-Protein-Rich Foods Does Not Enhance Weight Loss”
- “Safety and Efficacy of a Ginkgo Biloba Containing Dietary Supplement on Cognitive Function, Quality of Life and Platelet Function in Healthy Cognitively Intact Older Adults”
- “Accuracy of Resting Energy Expenditure Prediction in Hospitalized Patients”
- “Nutrition Support Following the American Dietetic Association Medical Nutrition Therapy Protocol for Radiation Oncology Patients Improves Dietary Intake Compared with Standard Practice”
- “Preferences of Dietitians and Nurses Recommending Artificial Nutrition and Hydration for Elderly Patients ”
- “Feeding Practices of Severely Ill Intensive Care Unit Patients: An Evaluation of Energy Sources and Clinical Outcomes.”
The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and is the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition and dietetics.
With approximately 65,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. To locate a registered dietitian in your area, visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org.
The March 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association contains articles and research studies you may find of interest. Above is a summary of some of this month’s articles. For more information or to receive a copy of a Journal article, e-mail media@eatright.org.
Journal
Journal of the American Dietetic Association